Like the biography of Wayne Thiebaud, "Delicious", this biography will be colourful, fascinating, easily accessible to children, and packed with th...
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reviews
Mar 30, 2011
Christina
rated it: 
I heard about this biography of Charles Schulz when I was attending a summer workshop for teachers and librarians. I decided to buy this book for my school library. I loved this book! The pages were colorful, and the words were big, but not too big. The author didn't used hard words to describe Charles's life. Beverly also was honest about what happened in Charles's life, but described his life on simple terms that children can understand. I also loved the pictures and the cartoons in the book.
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Feb 13, 2011
Karen
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A colorful biography of one of the most successful and best-known American cartoonists! Charles Schulz was born in 1922 and grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota during the Great Depression. He was always doodling and drawing, and ended up taking art school correspondence courses (he got his assignments in the mail and then mailed in his finished work). He graduated from art school six days before Pearl Harbor was bombed, and he was drafted into the Army months later. Before he shipped out to Europe
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Oct 20, 2010
David
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This biography is colourful, fascinating, easily accessible to children, and packed with the art and cartoons of the beloved creator of Snoopy and Charlie Brown. (Goodreads Summary)
Sparky: The Life and Art of Charles Schulz by Beverly Gherman covers the life and cartooning career of one of my favorite cartoon artists. This juvenile biography is clearly organized, accessible, and fun to read. Gherman did extensive research, including conducting interviews with Schultz's wife and child More...
Sparky: The Life and Art of Charles Schulz by Beverly Gherman covers the life and cartooning career of one of my favorite cartoon artists. This juvenile biography is clearly organized, accessible, and fun to read. Gherman did extensive research, including conducting interviews with Schultz's wife and child More...
Jul 26, 2010
Margo
rated it:
Like so many millions around the world, I grew up reading Peanuts, perhaps the most beloved comic strip ever. So I was excited to learn from Betsy Bird at Fuse #8 of a new biography of this comic book icon for young people. Beverly Gherman's book is sure to find a place on library shelves everywhere, and is a must-have for Peanuts fans as well.
Gherman's book, at 125 pages, provides enough biographical information to be useful for school reports, but the striking layout and graphic d More...
Gherman's book, at 125 pages, provides enough biographical information to be useful for school reports, but the striking layout and graphic d More...
Oct 01, 2011
Janne
rated it: 
I've been having a really rough time lately, struggling with sleep problems. I suffer from insomnia, frequent awakenings, but most of all nightmares. This has gone on for almost two months now, rendering me so exhausted and generally messed up and unfocused that I've been unfit to do my job, attend rehearsal, or do much of anything, really. I've been in and out of the doctor's office (still am, though the last week has been a little bit easier on me), trying a few different sleeping pills (none
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Apr 20, 2010
Elizabeth
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Sitting in the biography section of my children's room are crisp, new, clean, pristine biographies of all sorts of people. Saints and sailors, presidents and queens, you name it. We got `em. But roundabout the "sch" side of things lies an old autobiography circa 1980. It's called Charlie Brown Snoopy and Me And All the Other Peanuts Characters. by Charles M. Schulz with R. Smith Kiliper. I think that back in the day my library had tons of copies of this title in all the library branch
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Apr 22, 2011
Jennifer
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I can't remember a time in which I didn't love Peanuts. Every Halloween and Christmas, I check the TV listings to make sure that I don't miss It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Yes, we have both DVDs but a) they're always checked out during the holidays and b) it's just not the same watching it on DVD (weird, I know). Later, when I began to follow comics in the newspaper, I would always look for Peanuts.
Several years ago, David Michaelis wrote an ex More...
Several years ago, David Michaelis wrote an ex More...
Dec 20, 2010
Amy
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I wanted to like this book more...I love reading biographies...especially the new type of biographies being written for children & young adults. I loved the layout and look of this book but I thought the writing and information provided was really random and disjointed. It was interesting learning about this man and his work. I grew up on a very healthy "diet" of Peanuts but realized I knew nothing about its creator. This is a decent (albeit incomplete) introduction to this man.
Aug 06, 2010
Marcia
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This book has the feel of a "gift book" that you would buy at a card shop--the pages and text are all different colors and glossy with lots of pictures. Fortunately, it is an nice biography of the creator of Peanuts perfectly geared to the grade 4-6 crowd. The book bathes Shultz's idiosyncrasies, failed marriage and love for his comic strip characters in a flattering light. Will be enjoyed by fans of Peanuts.
Dec 09, 2010
Lisa
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It was fun to learn more about the creator of Peanuts, and especially interesting to learn where some of the characters' names came from. For example, on her death bed Schulz's mother told him to name his next dog Snoopy. The Little Red Haired Girl was based on a red-haired woman who refused Schulz's marriage proposal.
Feb 03, 2012
Barbara
rated it:
This is a nice biography of Charles Schulz with some great information about his growing up years and how he came to be a cartoonist. The inclusion of vintage strips and photos makes it especially appealing. It is easily accessible to middle grades kids who will be happy to devour this whimsical and entertaining look at a favorite comic.
May 04, 2011
Sandra
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I love the colorful cartoon strips on the cover and the cartoons interspersed throughout the book. Our grandkids found this a fun book to read and yet learned a lot about the serious side of Schulz's life as well. All in all, a good overview of Schulz's life.
Nov 07, 2010
Jenny
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Yes, Charlie Brown, there really was a red-headed girl who broke your creator’s heart. This fact and others delight and entertain, in a book certain to be popular with kids as well as their parents who grew up reading Charles Schulz’s comic strip.
Feb 02, 2011
Childrens
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Quick read biography of Charles Schulz that answers questions like, how did he start drawing cartoons, and just who is the little red headed girl? A gem perfect for someone looking for a relatively short contemporary biography.
- DeAnn
- DeAnn
Jan 06, 2012
I've read a couple really LONG books about Charles Schulz, but this really tells you everything you need to know. Nicely done. I think a lot of young Peanuts fans and aspiring artists would find this interesting.
Mar 09, 2011
Jamie
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Beautifully designed and very accessible to children. It really made me want to read the David Michaelis adult version.
I really wish goodreads would let us give half stars! This is totally 3.5, really!
I really wish goodreads would let us give half stars! This is totally 3.5, really!
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Dec 03, 2010
Anne
rated it:
A lovely, well-designed book that tells Charles Schulz's life story in a conversational and inspiring w ay, with plenty of photos and cartoons to keep young readers laughing.
Oct 07, 2011
Heather
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Well-told, and the comic-strip styles and colors as well as text broken up by photos and strips make for a very clever and attractive presentation.
Dec 04, 2010
Rachel
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This was a quick look at the life of Charles Schulz. I especially enjoyed the pieces of his work chosen to illustrate the book.
Feb 08, 2012
Shiralea
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A fun book for anyone who's grown up reading "Peanuts" and enjoying "A Charlie Brown Christmas" every year!
Dec 27, 2010
Tamsyn
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Enjoyed learning about Charles Schulz and the origins of the Peanuts characters from this colorful book.
Dec 30, 2011
Deb
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Fantastic! What an enjoyable read! Can't wait to recommend this to my middle grade students.
Apr 20, 2010
Franki
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Great book. Will do a blog post about it soon. So excited about it. Read it in one sitting!
Aug 05, 2011
Keith
rated it:
Excellent short biography of Charles Schulz. Very fun to read and pleasing to the eye.
