Calvin and Hobbes was a daily comic strip written and illustrated by Bill Watterson, following the humorous antics of Calvin, an energetic and imaginative six-year-old boy, and Hobbes, his equally-energetic and sardonic (and stuffed) tiger.
  Syndicated from November 18, 1985 until December 31, 1995, at its height Calvin and Hobbes was carried by over 2,400 newspapers worldwide. To date, more than 30 million copies of Calvin and Hobbes books have been printed.

  Personally, I love the Calvin and Hobbes characters partly because I can see my own son in Calvin, and myself in Calvin's mom. My son was born in 1989, and I 'discovered' Calvin a few years later, when I happened to see the book "Something Under the Bed is Drooling" at a friends house.
  I laughed so hard that tears flowed, and I've been a huge fan ever since. I don't own all the books (yet) but the ones I have are favorites, and a bit worn from so many re-readings. I'll put my little smiley-star by the ones I have.

The two main characters in this strip are Calvin and his Stuffed Tiger Hobbes
  Calvin is six-year-old with a vivid imagination and when the real world gets a little too boring, he's somewhat prone to daydreaming... often imagining himself as the superhero Stupendous Man or as the private eye Tracer Bullet, sometimes he is the intrepid Spaceman Spiff - often with hilarious results as his imaginary worlds collide with reality and his teacher, babysitter or his parents try to make sense of his often bizarre antics.
  Hobbes is, as mentioned earlier, a Stuffed Tiger, (Think of Tigger from the Pooh books as a teenager; well read & articulate, with a tigers-eye view of the world). Only Calvin can see Hobbes as alive, to everyone else Hobbes is just a toy.

  The following books contain all of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strips published in the ten years that the strip was in syndication. The 3-volume boxed set at the bottom has all that, plus extra illustrated stories and poems, and a new introduction by Bill Watterson. To see a bunch of Calvin and Hobbes strips visit this page: Snow Art and this one: Snow Art in Colour ~ they will give you an idea of the imagination this wonderful six year old has.

      The Books:

Calvin and Hobbes

  The first Calvin and Hobbes collection, originally published in April 1987, covering strips from the first on November 18, 1985 to August 17, 1986. In addition, the book includes a foreword by Garry Trudeau.
ISBN 0836220889

The Cast of Characters:

Calvin's Alter-Egos:

Stupendous Man
Champion of Liberty and Defender of Free Will, he could be vanquished only by his "evil archenemy: Mom-Lady." Somehow, he tends to save Calvin from work rather than saving the world from danger.

Tracer Bullet
Tracer is a drinking, smoking private eye with an attitude. The Tracer Bullet strips are all done in black and white, recreating the gritty atmosphere of the 50's style PI movies.

Spaceman Spiff
Spiff is my favorite of all the imaginary characters; he often sees the other characters as slobbery aliens that try to make him eat disgusting goo (dinner) or simply need to be blasted by Spiffs blaster (squirt gun).

Mom and Dad
Dad sometimes contributes to Calvins flights of fancy by answering a question with less truth than imagination, while Mom is a bit more concerned with keeping the lid on the house while Calvin tries to amuse himself.

Rosalyn
Calvin's babysitter Rosalyn is the only teenager who will agree to sit with Calvin, but you better believe that Mom and Dad pay a premium for her services.

Susie Derkins
Calvin is always trying to pelt Susie with snowballs or gross her out, (Maybe because he secretly likes her), but usually Susie turns the tables on him.

Miss Wormwood
Class seems to be the place where Spaceman Spiff makes the most appearances, which drives Miss Wormwood up the wall. His antics drive her to smoke a lot and she may even be on medication.

Moe
Moe is the school bully, not too smart but plenty big enough to pound on Calvin and take his lunch money. Calvin seems to have a little fun confusing and insulting him.

Something Under the Bed is Drooling

  Published in April 1988 this collection covers strips from August 18, 1986 to May 17, 1987. Includes foreword by Pat Oliphant.
ISBN 0836218256

The Essential Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury

  This collection from September 1988 includes cartoons from Calvin and Hobbes and Something Under the Bed is Drooling. Plus, a foreword by Charles M. Schulz and an original illustrated poem, "A Nauseous Nocturne."
ISBN 0836218051

Yukon Ho!

  Collection from March 1989, covering strips from May 24, 1987 to February 1988. Includes the new original content: The "Yukon Song".
ISBN 0836218353

The Calvin and Hobbes Lazy Sunday Book: A Collection of Sunday Calvin and Hobbes Cartoons

  A collection of favorite Sunday comics published in September 1989. Includes the ten-page story "Spaceman Spiff: Interplanetary Explorer Extraordinaire!"
ISBN 0836218523

Weirdos from Another Planet!

  Collection from March 1990, covering strips from February 1988(?) to December 4, 1988. Calvin and Hobbes are tired of the pollution on Earth, and decide to move out. In a wagon they leave for Mars. They find out that the Martians are scared of them, because earthlings pollute the environment, so they go back home.
ISBN 0836218620

The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes

  This treasury from October 1990 includes cartoons from Yukon Ho! & Weirdos From Another Planet!. Plus an unforgettable seven-page story in which Calvin becomes an elephant.
ISBN 0836218221

Revenge of the Baby-sat

  This collection, published in April 1991, covers strips from December 5, 1988 to September 1989(?).
ISBN 0836218663

Scientific Progress Goes "Boink"

  This October 1991 Collection covers the strips from September 1988 to July 7, 1990.
ISBN 0836218787

Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons

  This April 1992 collection covers strips from July 8, 1990 to April 10, 1991.
ISBN 0836218833

The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes

  This treasury from October 1992 includes cartoons from The Revenge of the Baby-Sat and Scientific Progress Goes "Boink".... Plus Several illustrated poems.
ISBN 0836218981

The Days Are Just Packed: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection
  This October 1993 collection covers strips from April 11, 1991 to November 1, 1992.
ISBN 0836217357

Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat

  This collection from October 1994 covers the strips from November 2, 1992 to August 29, 1993.
ISBN 0836217691

The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book

  Published in October 1995, this collection spans 208 pages of favorites, and includes original commentary by Watterson and annotations on individual strips.
ISBN 0836204387

There's Treasure Everywhere

  This March 1996 collection covers the strips from August 30, 1993 to April 8, 1995. (Some strips are in "It's A Magical World", next.)
ISBN 0836213122

It's a Magical World

  Watterson's final collection, published October 1996, covers the strips from March 20, 1995 to the last strip on December 31, 1995. (Some strips are in "There's Treasure Everywhere".)
ISBN 0836221362

Calvin & Hobbes Sunday Pages 1985-1995

  A 96-page collection of favorite Sunday comic strips, published in September 2001. Includes original sketches and commentary by Watterson.
ISBN 0740721356

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes

  Released in October 2005, this whopping (3 volumes, 1440 pages and 22.5 Pounds!) hardback boxed set contains all Calvin & Hobbes comic strips. Includes Spiff features, the illustrated poems, and color prints of other cover art... plus introduction and commentary by Bill Watterson, who is now happily teaching himself to paint.
ISBN 0740748475