Cartoonist jerry van Amerongen is an intellectual cartoonist with a loopy sense of humor and a richly subtle drawing style. In Minnows in the bath Van Amerongen gathers together his best canine cartoons. The droll dogs of Ballard street Are often hailed as among the cartoonist s strongest characters. Dogs who wear hats dogs that catapult from trampolines and dogs that outthink their human counterparts highlight van Amerongen s humorous way with hounds. Through his comedic canines van Amerongen wants to share his world. some of the messages are profound; some are just plain silly. Some are geared for big laughs others a quiet smile the cartoonist says. it s what s rattling around in my brain at the time. In 1980 Jerry Van Amerongen left a successful career in corporate america to work full-time on his cartoon The neighborhood. after a decade he decided it was time for a change so he began developing Ballard street. a graduate of ferris state college van amerongen lives in minneapolis.