MARS NEEDS MOMS!

In a typically frenetic outing, the creator of the “Bloom County” and “Outland” comic strips pays tribute to motherhood. Though resentfully regarding Moms as “giant, summer-stealing, child-working, perfumy garden goblins,” Milo gives interplanetary chase when his own mom is abducted by Martians. They, as it turns out, have no mothers of their own, and so no one to do the housework or the driving to soccer practice and playdates. Only when he breaks his filched space helmet and his mother nearly makes the ultimate sacrifice to save him does the lad (and the chastened Martians) come to realize that Momhood includes loving him, as she puts it, “to the ends of the universe.” Breathed places digitally painted caricatures—including some comically ugly humans, jellybean-hued Monsters, Inc.–style aliens and a short blond lad with a graceful, gorgeous mother—against elaborate, out-of-focus backgrounds. He closes with a cozy scene of mother and child snuggled together in their Earthly bed, oblivious to a trio of antennaed peeping toms peering sentimentally through the window. Not exactly subtle, but likely to earn a chuckle or two from the No, David! crowd. (Picture book. 6-8)