Harvey Award Hall of Fame inductee and MUTTS creator Patrick McDonnell celebrates the 20th anniversary of his all-ages masterpiece The Gift of Nothing with a heartfelt sequel, The Gift of Everything. The Gift of Everything and The Gift of Nothing Anniversary Edition were both published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on October 7, 2025.
Read the full description of “The Gift of Everything” below.
In The Gift of Everything, Mooch the cat searches for the perfect present for his best friend Earl the dog. But what makes Mooch so perfect? Mooch quickly discovered the answer. Everyone… everywhere… everything! Seeing the world around him with new eyes and a fresh appreciation, Mooch is happy to have the right person to share it all with. In this delightfully rhyming translation of The Gift of Nothing, the stars of the popular comic strip MUTTS discover and celebrate the precious gift of being alive.
The Beat spoke to McDonnell via email about his recently published book, The Gift of Everything, why gratitude is so important, and how he’s grown through his work as a creator.
Ollie Kaplan: The Gift of Everything has been described as a “fun rhyming companion” to The Gift of Nothing. Can you tell us more about the relationship between the two books?
Patrick McDonnell: Twenty years ago, I wrote The Gift of Nothing, inspired by the two-week MUTTS comic story where Mooch tries to find the perfect gift for his best friend Earl. He realized that the best gift is to give of yourself and spend time together.
Gift of Everything continues its journey. It’s a fun, rhyming celebration of life’s richness: friendship, nature, love, and gratitude. If The Gift of Nothing is about inner peace and simplicity, The Gift of All Things is about opening yourself to the richness of the world.
Kaplan: From comics to large-scale paintings, how has your artwork evolved over your career?
McDonnell: When you’re doing something like comics almost every day, you can’t help but evolve with it. It’s slow and steady growth. You don’t even notice the change. Characters, storytelling, and art style all change naturally. You can see that by looking at the history of certain comics.
I see an evolution in my drawings, but it’s happening at a faster pace. This medium leaves much more room for experimentation and play.
It’s about learning things, but it’s also about unlearning what you’ve learned. You live for happy surprises. It’s all part of one creative practice.
Kaplan: On a related note, how has the evolution of your artwork influenced your practice, or vice versa?
McDonnell: The more I drew MUTTS and tried to see the world through the eyes of animals, the more I felt connected to all living things. These words are displayed in my studio. The most important question to ask about any job is, “How does this help the world?”
Kaplan: Similar to Mutts’ recently released collection, The Little Things, your next book, The Gift of Everything, seems to emphasize mindfulness, gratitude, and the concept of “everything” as a gift. How do you understand “everything” in this context, and how do you want your readers to interpret it?
McDonnell: Mooch sees the world with wonder, realizing that everything is a gift. “Everything” is the sunlight, the air we breathe, the people and animals we love, all the little miracles we usually take for granted.
I hope that everyone, young and old, will finish reading this book with a greater awareness of how rich their lives are already. Gratitude helps us realize that we already have everything we need.
Kaplan: Why is gratitude so important?
McDonnell: Gratitude changes the way we experience the world. It turns what we have into more than enough. It helps us live in the moment and notice the beauty that is always around us. It is the basis of kindness, empathy, and joy.
Kaplan: Is appreciating the little things one of the reasons your MUTTS strips are so meta?
McDonnell: MUTTS was, and still is, inspired by my research into pets. In other words, it was always the “little things” that mattered. A nap under the sunlight filtering through the trees, a walk with a friend, a kind attitude. I love exploring life from an animal’s perspective. Because animals remind us that we are here now. A book I co-authored with Eckhart Tolle describes our animal companions as guardians of existence.
Meta moments, like when Mooch and Earl seem to realize they’re in a comic, are a playful way of reminding us to stop and notice the moment we’re in. I’ve always loved art about art.
Kaplan: As someone who lives in the San Diego area, I’m intrigued by your book tour’s stop in Encinitas, California…were you hoping to partner with other humanitarian organizations during the tour, or was there something unique about this event?
McDonnell: Thank you for asking about this. My friends Pam and Jerry Cezak are hosting this fundraiser in partnership with the Rancho Coastal Humane Society. This link has more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/patrick-mcdonnell-with-jerry-cesak-rancho-coastal-fundraise-event-tickets-1717290144049
Please join us! I have been fortunate to partner with many humane organizations and shelters over the years. Through MUTTS, we have helped raise awareness and funds for animal adoption. This stop celebrates the continuing connection between art, community, and compassion.
Kaplan: You’ve talked about how The Gift of Everything was inspired by your niece’s comments. How has writing it (and perhaps promoting it) changed your own life or relationships?
McDonnell: My niece jokingly said that after “The Gift of Nothing,” I should write “The Gift of Everything.” I laughed at first, but the thought stayed with me. As I write this, I myself become more conscious and aware of how much I have to be grateful for. It was a lot of fun promoting this book. Because it reminds me every day to strive to live the message of this book: that every moment, every person, every breath is part of that gift.
Kaplan: I’m personally interested in studying the medium of comics’ unique ability to generate empathy… What are your views?
McDonnell: Daily comics enter your life every day, and after a while the characters become old friends and part of your family. Because it simplifies the world, it creates empathy in a unique way. Emotions and truths can be revealed in just a few lines. Its simplicity allows readers to project themselves into the story. You can imagine how the characters feel. It’s amazing how a simple picture of a cat and dog can open people’s hearts to kindness towards all beings. That’s the magic of comics.
Kaplan: Can you share one of your favorite animal memories and what did you learn about your own humanity in that moment?
McDonnell: For me, it’s when I look into the animal’s eyes. Looking back at me, I can feel the connection of another soul. We are all one and here together in this time.
Kaplan: Is there anything else you would like to add?
McDonnell: We’re grateful to be able to share these stories and for our readers to continue to connect with them. The world may feel overwhelming at times, but if you slow down and take a closer look, there is still so much beauty and goodness everywhere. That is the true meaning of “all gifts.”
Check out the preview page below.
Gift of Everything is available now. Get your copy here!
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