Growing up isn't always fun in real life, but in the world of FoxTrot, it's always worth a laugh. Between overblown science experiments, babysitting jobs from hell, and sibling rivalry honed to an art form, the Fox household reverberates the sounds of a far-out, yet familiar, family life.
One of FoxTrot's great appeals is its understanding of the pains and pleasures of youth. The Fox kids-little brother Jason, the mischievous genius; sister Paige, the boy-crazy shopping fanatic; and big brother Peter, a sports fan with aspirations to be a sports star-interact naturally, which is to say loudly and vigorously. In addition, creator Bill Amend uses many real-life situations and dilemmas modern kids face to frame his stories. "It's a tricky balance," says the artist. "On one hand I have this wonderful opportunity to present good role models to younger readers, but at the same time I want to be funny." And he succeeds. In At Least This Place Sells T-Shirts, parents Andy and Roger continue to preside over the unpredictable household antics of the Fox family.
Bill Amend was named Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society in 2007. He creates "FoxTrot "cartoons for Sunday newspapers and maintains an online presence at foxtrot.com. He lives in the Midwest, with his wife and two children.