Rainy Day Recess: The Complete Steven's Comics #[nn]

David Kelly's complete collection of Steven's Comics arrives in one handsome volume, with a cover that perfectly captures the spirit of the strip: a bright-eyed, blonde kid in a red-and-yellow striped shirt lounging contentedly on his stomach, absorbed in a colorful comic book of his own. A side panel of charming spot illustrations shows the same boy in various poses — painting, playing superhero, relaxing — hinting at the warmth and range of personality packed inside. With a foreword by Dan Savage, founder of the It Gets Better Project, this 2011 collection from Northwest Press carries a sense of purpose alongside its easygoing, nostalgic charm.