Book Review: The Peanuts Book: A Visual History of the Iconic Comic Strip by Simon Beecroft

The Peanuts Book: A Visual History of the Iconic Comic Strip
by Simon Beecroft (741.524 SchYb)

As a lifelong fan of the comic strip called “Peanuts” by Charles Schulz, I was thrilled to see a brand-new book out about the long-running comic and its creator. The Peanuts Book is large, colorful, and jam-packed with information about each character, the creation of the strip, and the man who made it all happen. The book features a chronology of events and a superb index to help you find the information you seek. I was especially impressed with all of the photographs included from the life of Charles Schulz as well as photographs of Peanuts toys and memorabilia to be found commercially. There are tributes to Peanuts from several famous comic artists and examples of art that had been inspired by the characters drawn by Schulz. The best part, of course, is the inclusion of samples of comics from the nearly 50 years of its running. I highly recommend this book for any Peanuts fan!

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Around the World in 45 Years: Charlie Brown’s Anniversary Celebration by Charles M. Schulz, Born to Draw Comics: The Story of Charles Schulz and the Creation of Peanuts by Ginger Wadsworth or Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography by David Michaelis.]

[ publisher’s official The Peanuts Book web site ] | [ official Charles M. Schulz Museum web site ]

 

See Becky W.C.’s review of Charles M. Schulz’ Snoopy’s Guide to the Writing Life in the July 2006 Staff Recommendations on BookGuide

See Scott C.’s review of David Michaelis’ biography Schulz and Peanuts in the April 2008 Staff Recommendations on BookGuide

 

Recommended by Kim J.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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Book Review: Born to Draw Comics by Ginger Wadsworth

Born to Draw Comics: The Story of Charles Schulz and the Creation of Peanuts
by Ginger Wadsworth (j Biography Schulz)

Charming illustrated biography of author/artist Charles M. Schulz, intended for younger readers. Done is something like a “graphic novel” format, this lovely book covers the span of Sparky’s life, from his childhood in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota through his experiences in World War II and his professional life in Sebastopol and Santa Rosa, California. Author/artist Ginger Wadsworth does an excellent job capturing the personality of Schulz at various ages, and peppers little visual references throughout the book that long-time Peanuts fans will enjoy looking for. It’s always fascinating to read about the inspirations for iconic literary characters, and knowing the background of some of the Peanuts characters, especially when told in an illustrated format, is great.

Definitely worth a quick read. Although Born to Draw Comics is cataloged in the libraries’ youth collection, it is equally well suited for adult readers, who may appreciate some of the subtle details that kids may not “get”.

[ official Ginger Wadsworth web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library – Public Service

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Book Review: The Peanuts Papers, edited by Andrew Blauner

The Peanuts Papers: Writers and Cartoonists on Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Gang, and the Meaning of Life
edited by Andrew Blauner (741.59 Pea)

If you love “Peanuts”, Charles Schulz’s life’s work about a boy, his dog, and their world of little folks with grown-up sensibilities, you may like this collection of essays by other cartoonists, artists, and esteemed authors such as Umberto Eco and Ann Patchett – 33 in fact. What is clear is that the influence of these fictional characters made of few lines and copious observations on life is far-reaching and, in many cases, of lasting comfort and inspiration. From analyses of Lucy’s Psychiatric Booth to reverence for the economuy with which Schulz could convey complex emotions, to a declaration that Peanuts was as culturally significant in its way as the Beatles were in theirs. If you love Peanuts, you will want to take a look at this. And even if you don’t love Peanuts, it may get you to appreciate what it meant and still means to millions of other people.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition, by Lee Mendelson, Snoopy’s Guide to the Writing Life, by Charles M. Schulz, The Gospel According to Peanuts.]

[publisher’s official The Peanuts Papers web page ] | [ Andrew Blauner biography on the Blauner Books site ]

Recommended by Becky W.C.
Walt Branch Library

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A Charlie Brown Christmas (on DVD)

A Charlie Brown Christmas
[DVD j741.5 Sch 2002 (and) Hoopla] 

Don’t let the cataloging designation dissuade you from re-watching (or watching for the first time) this now classic “Peanuts” story. Originally quite innovative for its jazzy score, animation style, and content when it premiered in 1966, this exploration of what the Christmas observance “is all about” holds up to the test of time very well. The trials and triumphs of Charlie Brown and his child peers are translatable to all ages and many experiences and they offer some enduring lessons about community, acceptance, and faith.

[Also available in traditional print format.] [ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

Recommended by Becky W.C.
Walt Branch Library

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Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown! (on DVD)

Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown! (and Don’t Come Back!)
[j DVD Bon]

I had this movie on tape when I was a kid, so when I saw the library had it on DVD, I had to check it out. There are some movies I enjoyed as a kid and watching them as an adult is just not the same. This one though, was just as good as I remember it being. Charlie Brown, Linus, Peppermint Patty, and Marcie all go to France as exchange students; Snoopy and Woodstock tag along. The girls stay at one house and the boys and Snoopy stay at a chateau. It’s dark and stormy as they arrive at the Chateau after dropping off the girls, and no one is home. Snoopy acts as guard dog, but eventually heads for the pub for a night of root beer and jukebox tunes. It’s mystery and comedy as they try to figure out who and where the chateau owners are. It’s Peanuts, so it’s suitable and enjoyable for all ages.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try A Boy Named Charlie Brown, also on DVD.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

Recommended by Kristen A.
Gere Branch Library

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The Peanuts Movie on DVD

The Peanuts Movie [j DVD Peanuts]

In a year (2015) filled with some tremendously popular films, I will have to admit that The Peanuts Movie was my favorite film that I saw in a theatre. Written by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz’s children, The Peanuts Movie manages to capture the emotional tone and sense of humor of the original comic strip, as well as the classic original animated specials from the 1960s and early 1970s, like A Charlie Brown Christmas, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! The animation in this film is absolutely superb…giving an almost three dimensional quality to the characters, never previously accomplished on screen. The music by Christophe Beck pays appropriate tribute to the classic jazz riffs Vince Guaraldi created for the early Peanuts TV specials. I especially appreciated that the producers/director chose to use child actors as the voices of the dozens of classic Peanuts characters — just like all the original TV special did. The film is comprised of a number of separate short stories, encompassed by an overarching plot in which everyman Charlie Brown pines for the new kid in his class…the little red-haired girl. Hoping to impress her, his efforts over an entire year of school result in personal disasters and awkwardness. But in the end, the emotional payoff for these characters is sweet and intense. As always, fan-favorite character Snoopy gets a lot of screen time, as his many imaginative adventures come to life — Snoopy vs. The Red Baron, etc.

This film was an obvious labor of love — love for this huge family of beloved characters, and love for all the fans of Peanuts that have shared the stories over multiple generations. It is a marvelous little gem of a film, complete in and of itself. I hope they don’t try to make a sequel, because this film is perfect by itself! If you can’t tell…I love this movie!

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to revisit all the classic old animated TV specials, as mentioned in the review above.] [ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official The Peanuts Movie web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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A Charlie Brown Christmas (soundtrack on CD)

A Charlie Brown Christmas
by Vince Guaraldi [various call numbers]

This soundtrack album is essential holiday listening for me - in fact, if prompted to complete one of those "what music would you want to have with you if trapped on a desert island?" quizzes, this would be one of my choices. Having grown up watching the A Charlie Brown Christmas special on television, Vince Guaraldi's jazzy, light-hearted yet sentimental riffs perfectly capture the Christmas season for me. Of course, the "Linus and Lucy" track is probably the best-known, and carried over thematically to the many other Peanuts television specials. But the soft, thoughtful, vaguely plaintive "Christmastime is Here", in either instrumental only, or even better with vocals, snaps me back to my childhood, being comforted by family gatherings, festive decorations and smells, and a general sense of seasonal well-being. The only other album that does that is John Denver and the Muppets - A Christmas Together. If you're a Peanuts fan, you probably already own this CD. If it is not already part of your holiday music rotation, consider checking it out...it will most likely bring back a lot of memories! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Scott's Reviewer Profile and more of his reviews ]

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the actual DVD of A Charlie Brown Christmas -- the music is also available in various printed sheet-music collections for various instrumentations.]

[ Bibliography of Vince Guaraldi music ] | [ official Vince Guaraldi web site ]

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