Two new books compiled from the daily newspaper comic strips feature artists seen in The Honolulu Advertiser.

"Frazz" tells the story of an elementary school janitor who, like his creator, competes in triathlons. Filled with grade-school situations and slapstick humor, there's always a moral; Jef Mallett didn't win this year's Wilbur Award for excellence in communicating values and ethics from the Religion Communicators Council for nothing.

"Bo Nanas: Monkey Meets World" is by former art director and filmmaker John Kovaleski, who created Bo Nanas, a monkey who manages the road bumps of life as best he can. You can tell Kovaleski also worked in advertising — he takes jabs at the hard-sell. In "Bo Nanas," he also turns his observant eye on dating, healthy bowel habits and negligent pet owners. Can you say irreverent charm?

"Frazz: Live at Bryson Elementary" by Jef Mallett; Andrews McMeel Publishing, $10.95

"Bo Nanas: Monkey Meets World" by John Kovaleski; Andrews McMeel Publishing, $10.95