Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and "Mars Needs Moms!" (Philomel, $16.99), a new picture book by Berkeley Breathed (ask Mom if she likes the "Bloom County" or "Opus" comic strips) has a theme that works for all ages.

It also has some of the most beautiful, funny, goofy illustrations you could imagine.

The book tells the story of a boy named Milo who just doesn't understand why moms are special — until his mother is kidnapped by Martians.

This book presents an opportunity for kids big and little to curl up with Mom and read together. We're pretty sure she would think that was a great Mother's Day present — even if it does describe mothers as "bellowing broccoli bullies and carrot-cuddling cuckoos."