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Peanuts Classics
Love Is Walking Hand-in-Hand
The first edition of Love Is Walking Hand-in-Hand, written and illustrated by world-famous cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, appeared in 1965.
This little volume followed the lead of an earlier Schulz triumph, Happiness Is a Warm Puppy, and became an immediate success.
Now Love Is Walking Hand-in-Hand is back in a new and enlarged version. This revised edition, all in color, contains three times as many pages, full of new Schulz drawings and sentiments.
Snoopy and the entire Peanuts gang are on hand again - and that means a whole lot of fun as well as a whole lot of LOVE!
Don't forget to ask for the new and enlarged version of Happiness Is a Warm Puppy, too.
This little volume followed the lead of an earlier Schulz triumph, Happiness Is a Warm Puppy, and became an immediate success.
Now Love Is Walking Hand-in-Hand is back in a new and enlarged version. This revised edition, all in color, contains three times as many pages, full of new Schulz drawings and sentiments.
Snoopy and the entire Peanuts gang are on hand again - and that means a whole lot of fun as well as a whole lot of LOVE!
Don't forget to ask for the new and enlarged version of Happiness Is a Warm Puppy, too.
126 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1965
195 people want to read
About the author
Charles M. Schulz
3,039 books1,650 followersCharles Monroe Schulz was an American cartoonist, whose comic strip Peanuts proved one of the most popular and influential in the history of the medium, and is still widely reprinted on a daily basis.
Schulz's first regular cartoons, Li'l Folks, were published from 1947 to 1950 by the St. Paul Pioneer Press; he first used the name Charlie Brown for a character there, although he applied the name in four gags to three different boys and one buried in sand. The series also had a dog that looked much like Snoopy. In 1948, Schulz sold a cartoon to The Saturday Evening Post; the first of 17 single-panel cartoons by Schulz that would be published there. In 1948, Schulz tried to have Li'l Folks syndicated through the Newspaper Enterprise Association. Schulz would have been an independent contractor for the syndicate, unheard of in the 1940s, but the deal fell through. Li'l Folks was dropped from the Pioneer Press in January, 1950.
Later that year, Schulz approached the United Feature Syndicate with his best strips from Li'l Folks, and Peanuts made its first appearance on October 2, 1950. The strip became one of the most popular comic strips of all time. He also had a short-lived sports-oriented comic strip called It's Only a Game (1957–1959), but he abandoned it due to the demands of the successful Peanuts. From 1956 to 1965 he contributed a single-panel strip ("Young Pillars") featuring teenagers to Youth, a publication associated with the Church of God.
Peanuts ran for nearly 50 years, almost without interruption; during the life of the strip, Schulz took only one vacation, a five-week break in late 1997. At its peak, Peanuts appeared in more than 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries. Schulz stated that his routine every morning consisted of eating a jelly donut and sitting down to write the day's strip. After coming up with an idea (which he said could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours), he began drawing it, which took about an hour for dailies and three hours for Sunday strips. He stubbornly refused to hire an inker or letterer, saying that "it would be equivalent to a golfer hiring a man to make his putts for him." In November 1999 Schulz suffered a stroke, and later it was discovered that he had colon cancer that had metastasized. Because of the chemotherapy and the fact he could not read or see clearly, he announced his retirement on December 14, 1999.
Schulz often touched on religious themes in his work, including the classic television cartoon, A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), which features the character Linus van Pelt quoting the King James Version of the Bible Luke 2:8-14 to explain "what Christmas is all about." In personal interviews Schulz mentioned that Linus represented his spiritual side. Schulz, reared in the Lutheran faith, had been active in the Church of God as a young adult and then later taught Sunday school at a United Methodist Church. In the 1960s, Robert L. Short interpreted certain themes and conversations in Peanuts as being consistent with parts of Christian theology, and used them as illustrations during his lectures about the gospel, as he explained in his bestselling paperback book, The Gospel According to Peanuts, the first of several books he wrote on religion and Peanuts, and other popular culture items. From the late 1980s, however, Schulz described himself in interviews as a "secular humanist": “I do not go to church anymore... I guess you might say I've come around to secular humanism, an obligation I believe all humans have to others and the world we live in.”
Schulz's first regular cartoons, Li'l Folks, were published from 1947 to 1950 by the St. Paul Pioneer Press; he first used the name Charlie Brown for a character there, although he applied the name in four gags to three different boys and one buried in sand. The series also had a dog that looked much like Snoopy. In 1948, Schulz sold a cartoon to The Saturday Evening Post; the first of 17 single-panel cartoons by Schulz that would be published there. In 1948, Schulz tried to have Li'l Folks syndicated through the Newspaper Enterprise Association. Schulz would have been an independent contractor for the syndicate, unheard of in the 1940s, but the deal fell through. Li'l Folks was dropped from the Pioneer Press in January, 1950.
Later that year, Schulz approached the United Feature Syndicate with his best strips from Li'l Folks, and Peanuts made its first appearance on October 2, 1950. The strip became one of the most popular comic strips of all time. He also had a short-lived sports-oriented comic strip called It's Only a Game (1957–1959), but he abandoned it due to the demands of the successful Peanuts. From 1956 to 1965 he contributed a single-panel strip ("Young Pillars") featuring teenagers to Youth, a publication associated with the Church of God.
Peanuts ran for nearly 50 years, almost without interruption; during the life of the strip, Schulz took only one vacation, a five-week break in late 1997. At its peak, Peanuts appeared in more than 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries. Schulz stated that his routine every morning consisted of eating a jelly donut and sitting down to write the day's strip. After coming up with an idea (which he said could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours), he began drawing it, which took about an hour for dailies and three hours for Sunday strips. He stubbornly refused to hire an inker or letterer, saying that "it would be equivalent to a golfer hiring a man to make his putts for him." In November 1999 Schulz suffered a stroke, and later it was discovered that he had colon cancer that had metastasized. Because of the chemotherapy and the fact he could not read or see clearly, he announced his retirement on December 14, 1999.
Schulz often touched on religious themes in his work, including the classic television cartoon, A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), which features the character Linus van Pelt quoting the King James Version of the Bible Luke 2:8-14 to explain "what Christmas is all about." In personal interviews Schulz mentioned that Linus represented his spiritual side. Schulz, reared in the Lutheran faith, had been active in the Church of God as a young adult and then later taught Sunday school at a United Methodist Church. In the 1960s, Robert L. Short interpreted certain themes and conversations in Peanuts as being consistent with parts of Christian theology, and used them as illustrations during his lectures about the gospel, as he explained in his bestselling paperback book, The Gospel According to Peanuts, the first of several books he wrote on religion and Peanuts, and other popular culture items. From the late 1980s, however, Schulz described himself in interviews as a "secular humanist": “I do not go to church anymore... I guess you might say I've come around to secular humanism, an obligation I believe all humans have to others and the world we live in.”
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 19, 2018
"Love" is reading this book.
November 21, 2018
It is really f***ing dark out there right now. Mass shootings. The rise of fascism. Racist asswipes. Environmental collapse. Divisive politics. Destructive wildfires. Someone shot a dolphin last week. A dolphin! The headlines all suck. Social media is a vampire on humanity. Everything is terrible.
So I needed to read Love is Walking Hand in Hand. Maybe you do too. This book can't fight fires or bring back white rhinos. It's unlikely that it will stop a mass murderer from shooting up a bar full of college kids. It's plausible that a racist could read this book and come away with a love of other races - but it's highly improbable that cute pictures of Linus and Violet and Charlie Brown will have any impact on the racist's thought processes.
But it's what I needed today. It made me feel slightly better. A bit more hippy dippy inside, like everything possibly was going to be okay, if I just for a moment believed in the philosophy of Charles Schulz. Try it.
So I needed to read Love is Walking Hand in Hand. Maybe you do too. This book can't fight fires or bring back white rhinos. It's unlikely that it will stop a mass murderer from shooting up a bar full of college kids. It's plausible that a racist could read this book and come away with a love of other races - but it's highly improbable that cute pictures of Linus and Violet and Charlie Brown will have any impact on the racist's thought processes.
But it's what I needed today. It made me feel slightly better. A bit more hippy dippy inside, like everything possibly was going to be okay, if I just for a moment believed in the philosophy of Charles Schulz. Try it.
December 26, 2014
This is the cutest, most innocent, sincerest and truest book about love I've ever read. No need for complex, poetic and deep explanations about love. Just plain descriptions would do. With a little help from Peanuts illustrations of course. I privately read this on a bookstore and I regret it now that I didn't buy it. That kid who got it was so lucky—he will now, at least, understand love without all the zigzags.
December 13, 2018
A book full of quotes of what love is. This is how I define love:
"Love is letting someone read when you wanna talk.
Love is putting down your book & listen to your friend."
March 21, 2026
This is a solid gift book featuring simple phrases and beloved peanuts characters. I'm having difficulty parting with my copy, not because its exceptional, but because my mom handwrote a dedication to my dad on the inside cover, "to my love, on his birthday."
December 23, 2025
Love is letting him win even though you know you could slaughter him
Love is hating to say good-bye
Love is being able to spot her clear across the playground among four hundred other kids
Love is the whole world
Love is hating to say good-bye
Love is being able to spot her clear across the playground among four hundred other kids
Love is the whole world
November 20, 2022
Please read this to your children. I loved this book so much. It was sincere, true, and easy to understand. Love doesn’t need to be complicated.
June 28, 2023
A lovely little nostalgic pick-me-up. I know why it's heteronormative, but it still threw me a little since I've been reading more queer fiction lately.
July 6, 2019
I've been going through some of my older books lately, sometimes re-reading them and other times simply making sure I've rated/reviewed them here. I was born in 1965 and I have a collection of books from that year because, well, I'm a little weird and goofy.
I'm a huge Peanuts fan and this book, while quite short and simple, doesn't disappoint. It's a series of Schulz's cartoons alongside little quotes of what "Love is." There was a point early in my healing journey from childhood abuse where I sought to undefine what love had been in my life. I sought outside sources and new definitions. I sought role models. This little book became one of my sources and I'm eternally grateful for it.
There's a 2006 edition that has been updated. I have read and still own the original 1965 edition.
I'm a huge Peanuts fan and this book, while quite short and simple, doesn't disappoint. It's a series of Schulz's cartoons alongside little quotes of what "Love is." There was a point early in my healing journey from childhood abuse where I sought to undefine what love had been in my life. I sought outside sources and new definitions. I sought role models. This little book became one of my sources and I'm eternally grateful for it.
There's a 2006 edition that has been updated. I have read and still own the original 1965 edition.
June 20, 2008
There was a copy of this book at my grandmother's house and I read it over and over as a child. It has a sweet message and you gotta love the Peanuts gang.
February 9, 2022
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...
LOVE IS WALKING HAND IN HAND is a small picture book designed to be a gift for Peanut fans. Each page contains a sentence that begins with "Love is" and features a sketch of Peanuts characters related to it. For instance, the title is featured on one of the pages, but they also include things like valentines with lace around the edges, letters on pink paper, mussing up someone's hair, and getting someone a glass of water in the middle of the night. Altogether, they add up to showing that it's the little ways in which we express our love every day.
What I loved: This was a simple book that would work well as a gift for Peanuts fans. The simple text alongside simple sketches are placed upon brightly colored pages in a red, orange, and purple scheme that has a vintage Valentine's Day feel. There is a large variety of moments captured throughout this book, and gift givers could add a personal touch by marking off the ones they relate to the most. A to/from page at the beginning aids in the gifting potential of the book.
What left me wanting more: While I do understand that this is based off of the Peanuts characters and their typical flaws, I was a little disappointed by some of the phrases. For instance, "Love is not nagging," where Lucy is holding her mouth while sitting next to Schroeder. This feels a bit loaded. I was also not a particular fan of "Love is letting him win even though you know you could slaughter him," which also features Lucy and Schroeder but playing chess this time. I am not sure about the messages these send. There were a few others that I found a bit questionable. However, the ones that bothered me are certainly outweighed by plenty of others which are more benign or sweet.
Final verdict: Overall, LOVE IS WALKING HAND IN HAND is a gift book that will work well for Peanuts fans.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
LOVE IS WALKING HAND IN HAND is a small picture book designed to be a gift for Peanut fans. Each page contains a sentence that begins with "Love is" and features a sketch of Peanuts characters related to it. For instance, the title is featured on one of the pages, but they also include things like valentines with lace around the edges, letters on pink paper, mussing up someone's hair, and getting someone a glass of water in the middle of the night. Altogether, they add up to showing that it's the little ways in which we express our love every day.
What I loved: This was a simple book that would work well as a gift for Peanuts fans. The simple text alongside simple sketches are placed upon brightly colored pages in a red, orange, and purple scheme that has a vintage Valentine's Day feel. There is a large variety of moments captured throughout this book, and gift givers could add a personal touch by marking off the ones they relate to the most. A to/from page at the beginning aids in the gifting potential of the book.
What left me wanting more: While I do understand that this is based off of the Peanuts characters and their typical flaws, I was a little disappointed by some of the phrases. For instance, "Love is not nagging," where Lucy is holding her mouth while sitting next to Schroeder. This feels a bit loaded. I was also not a particular fan of "Love is letting him win even though you know you could slaughter him," which also features Lucy and Schroeder but playing chess this time. I am not sure about the messages these send. There were a few others that I found a bit questionable. However, the ones that bothered me are certainly outweighed by plenty of others which are more benign or sweet.
Final verdict: Overall, LOVE IS WALKING HAND IN HAND is a gift book that will work well for Peanuts fans.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
July 20, 2018
This is another book from my childhood that I remember reading over and over again. It was on my mom's shelf rather than the "kids" shelf, so it felt extra special to get to read it!
January 28, 2019
Love is your smile turning these pages for you :)
February 19, 2019
Just love Peanuts! Such a cute and sincere book about love
December 18, 2020
Absolute gem of a book! So sweet, honest and innocent expression of love. Loved every page.
December 2, 2022
1965 classic
January 20, 2024
Loved this little book about love. It includes Peanuts characters.
March 7, 2025
Was sort of corny to my 5 yr old self.
February 14, 2026
valentine’s day essential …. i <3 love and i <3 Peanuts
February 17, 2025
My boyfriend got me this as a Valentine's Day gift :) I'm a sucker for sweet little illustrated books. And I cheered and applauded whenever they referenced the holiday specials.
January 1, 2023
I think Charles Schulz did an excellent job creating how these children describe what love is with the simplest things in life and not ONLY the connection between a boy and girl.
It's true that there's more to love than what a lot of adults would like to think.
It's true that there's more to love than what a lot of adults would like to think.
January 21, 2012
This book just made me really sad.
This one made me especially sad: "Love is being able to spot her clear across the playground among four hundred other kids." That happened to me once.
Mostly, this book is inane. Who is this book intended for? Kids? Adults? I just stuck it on the misc. shelf, and now I'm done with it.
This one made me especially sad: "Love is being able to spot her clear across the playground among four hundred other kids." That happened to me once.
Mostly, this book is inane. Who is this book intended for? Kids? Adults? I just stuck it on the misc. shelf, and now I'm done with it.
August 21, 2013
This short book is adorable, warm, witty, and, like most Peanuts books, valuable for people of any age. I was surprised how well it goes along with bell hooks' All About Love: New Visions which I am also reading at the moment.
April 4, 2016
Kok lušne misli o ljubezni od Snupijeve druščine :)
Love is making fudge together.
Love is walking hand in hand.
Love is being happy just knowing that she's happy... but that isn't so easy.
Love is loaning your best comic magazines.
Love is letting him win even though you know you could slaughter him.
Love is the whole world.
Love is making fudge together.
Love is walking hand in hand.
Love is being happy just knowing that she's happy... but that isn't so easy.
Love is loaning your best comic magazines.
Love is letting him win even though you know you could slaughter him.
Love is the whole world.
December 4, 2007
This is the cutest book ever...although all the illustrations are in this crazy bright / dark color scheme. One of the "love books" my dad gave my mom...so I thumbed through it a lot as a kid and tried to understand what it was all about.
August 7, 2009
OMG...i loved this book as kid and still have my copy from when i was 5 (i know because I marked the book on the inside cover "Amita Desai, Age 5" haha. it is so worn becuase i used to read it over and over and over.
March 28, 2014
My father bought this book for my sister and I when we were kids. I think it was for Valentine's Day. His words to us were, "You will have many types of love in your life, here's a reminder to not overlook those moments."
Thanks, Daddy. This has remained in my top 5 books of all time.
Thanks, Daddy. This has remained in my top 5 books of all time.
January 25, 2024
This is so outdated and harmful. One page reads Love is letting him win even though you know you could slaughter him. Never lessen yourself for someone else. Never. Love is not nagging. Love is tickling. I love Peanuts but not this one.
June 9, 2008
Ahhh!Yes, it is sort of like those posters of puppies or kittens but we all need a little soft, tenderness now and then, right?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews