It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Peanuts TV Specials #1966

by Justine Korman Fontes (Adaptor), Ron Fontes (Adaptor), Paige Braddock (Illustrator)

It's Halloween! Time for ghosts, ghouls, and... the Great Pumpkin? Linus is sure that this year the Great Pumpkin will finally appear. Join Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang for some spooky tricks and hilarious treats in this thirty-fifth anniversary adaptation of the television special!

Genres: Halloween, Childrens, Picture Books, Holiday, Fiction, Classics, Comics

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Justine Korman is the author of over 600 children's books, including mega-selling adaptations of Disney hits like THE LION KING, plus her original popular GRUMPY BUNNY series for Scholastic.

Justine has been writing all her life. She worked part-time in publishing while earning her B.A. in English Literature, Phi Beta Kappa from New York University. While an editorial assistant at Golden Books, she met her future husband and partner, Ron Fontes, an artist in the Whitman Comics department, who moved on to mighty Marvel Comics.

When Justine started getting freelance writing assignments, Ron pitched in and a children's book writing team was born! Ron brought visual storytelling, theatre, and history; Justine enthusiasm, humor, and a straight-A attitude.

In 1988, the couple moved to Maine, where they have written everything from beginning readers and novelty books to historical fiction and graphic novels.
Justine's hobbies include fitness, juggling, gardening, cooking, and playing the ukulele. She also enjoys making movies with Ron.

The prolific couple's goal is to write 1001 children's books.

Reviews

[Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though the book was adapted for the television classic, both are classics as far I'm concerned! Adorable Linus with his faithful blankie give up trick-or-treating to sit in the pumpkin patch waiting for The Great Pumpkin. In the meantime, Chairlie Brown is having wardrobe malfunctions with his costume.
Halloween is my FAVORITE holiday and I adore all books that bring out the child in us during this time of year. I also totally relate to Linus and his desire to see the Great Pumplin! There is Santa Claus, Leprechauns, the Easter Bunny...why don't we ever see the Great Pumplin?!? Oh well, there's always next year!

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book every year for Halloween...always puts a smile on my face. I am still waiting in my pumpkin patch...next year will be the year it all pays off (I keep telling myself). But I still think that the waiting is special even if GP never shows up - because as log as you are waiting the inner child in you still is having a great time.

[Melina Souza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Começando a Spookathon com uma leitura fofa e nostálgica :)
Para saber mais sobre a Spookathon: http://bit.ly/2n2hJMN :D

[jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

you can't have halloween without costumes, candy, and charlie brown.


the next day charlie brown tried to make linus feel better. "don't take it too hard. i've done a lot of stupid things in my life too."

"waiting for the great pumpkin isn't stupid!" linus replied. "just wait until next year, charlie brown. you'll see. i'll find a pumpkin patch that's real sincere and i'll wait until the great pumpkin rises up..."

and who knows? maybe next year...

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

What kid didn't watch the Peanuts specials religiously as a kid back in the day? But I don't think I ever really paid attention to what a sad-sack Charlie Brown really is.

But this book was fun just for me and my kids to laugh at Charlie Brown getting a bag full of rocks while trick-or-treating or how his ghost sheet/costume consists of 6 holes instead of just two. (Modern day Charlie Brown would totally snap from being bullied so much and end up mowing down everyone in his path.)

[Abbi Kraus · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Linus persists on his quest to wait for the Great Pumpkin to come on Halloween to give gifts to all of the good girls and boys. His sister Lucy carries him home from the pumpkin patch after finding him asleep. This is a fun book for Halloween to show how differently people interpret holidays.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This classic is a must read for every elementary class around Halloween. We have it on our Nook and my boys love hearing it read there and all the interactives with it there. Linus believes that the Great Pumpkin is real and comes around every Halloween and he tries to convince his friends of this. Sweet story!

[Melea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snoopy. Linus waiting in the pumpkin patch. Lucy screaming "AUGH! my lips touched dog lips!" And Charlie Brown's "I got a rock." What else can I say? It's a classic, whether on TV or in book form. Perfect Halloween reading!

[Mary Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for fans of Charlie Brown, and it is perfect for the night before Halloween. I think this is a must have for classrooms of all ages, as it will be familiar to older students who grew up watching Charlie Brown, and funny for younger children as a Halloween book.

[The Badger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course I've read it--it's a classic!

[LLeG84 · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the classics! So good!!!!

[Wit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the closest publication to the copy I have (the Signet Comic published in 1967).
Such a cute little Halloween story with Charlie Brown and Snoopy. The tv special is a tradition I never miss!

[Ali Mousavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linus: What's cure for disillusionment Charlie brown?
Charlie: A chocolate-cream and a friendly pay on the back
Linus: Good ol' Charlie Brown

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, another cool Charlie Brown book. This one features the Great Pumpkin (GP). At the outset of this slender volume, Linus is writing a note: "Dear Great Pumpkin, I am looking foreward to your arrival on Halloween night." Snoopy and Lucy thought it was foolhardy, whereas Sally bought into the idea. . . . The nature of GP? Lines says that "Each year on Halloween night, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere and flied through the air with his pack of toys for all the good little children in the world."

The story goes on from there. Does Linus actually see the Great Pumpkin? Are toys delivered? Read the book and find out!

[Trisha Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the Great Pumpkin!

I love Linus' faith in all things. He has got to be the most optimistic character in the entire Peanuts bunch! He has such optimism that everything is going to work out okay. I had never heard of the Great Pumpkin until the Peanuts but I liked how it was tied back to Snoopy. I did not like how Charlie Brown only received rocks. One positive thing from the story was Lucy lighting up on her brother. It was very nice of her getting extra candy for him and caring him inside from the pumpkin patch.

[Cortney Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The classic book that follows all of your favorite peanuts characters at Halloween. Linus waits in the pumpkin patch for the great pumpkin to show up. The rest of the gang trick or treat and get Halloween candy. It is a short and fun read for any age students. It would be an excellent way to incorporate some fun Halloween activity or just read when you have a few spare minutes in between transitioning classes or before dismissal.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This timeless classic still stands out as a great Halloween story.

[Mira Prater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me: why does Charlie Brown only get rocks while trick or treating?
Theo: this was a good book!

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
Honestly I never really liked the peanuts like I just don’t think it’s funny or cute. Like this is a staple for Halloween and it’s good for that. I just really don’t love peanuts. Also is peanuts meant for adults or children? Cause some of these jokes a child would not get.

[Jeff Grosser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this classic! So much so that I just might spend Halloween night in the most sincere pumpkin patch singing pumpkin carols.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always enjoyed the peanuts holiday specials, and the halloween one is no different. while I didn't enjoy reading it as much as I do watching it, it's still charming and cute. I read the simon spotlight edition and found that the art was solid, though the flatness of the pumpkins deserves a bit of critique. linus, you'll see that great pumpkin someday.

"Peculiar thing about this document," said Lucy, "it was never notarized."

[Punkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not impressed. Yay for Linus'optimism.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/12/2024 - A must-read for the Halloween season!

[Jay Gabler · Rating 2 out of 5]

This adaptation resists the weirdness of this story. You really have to steer into it.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linus creates a charming Christmas style myth around Halloween. As long as your pumpkin patch is sincere then maybe The Great Pumpkin will visit.

[Paris]

I dont think I've ever read a peanuts book.

[Vaishali · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only went through this to relive some wonderful childhood memories, and to revisit the infamous piano song that plays as Lucy tucks Linus back into bed :) I had forgotten about poor Charlie and his bag of rocks :( :( :(

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

#childhood
#memories

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the classic show more. Is that so wrong?

[Sultan * Baby Mama Smut-a-teer* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story! my kid loves the movie. We were both sad to discover that Snoopy's little flight/ red barron part was not in the book.