Review: Snoopy’s Christmas Surprise

The just-released kids storybook, Snoopy’s Christmas Surprise, is one of the lesser of writer Jason Cooper’s efforts on the characters, at least for my tastes (but admittedly, this book is not aimed at those of us in the double-digits of years, which I most definitely am.) The story – Snoopy is missing Spike, who cannot afford to come visit for Christmas, so the kids try to cheer him up – doesn’t feel particularly Peanutsy. It’s a basic, ultimately-feel-good story that could be told with any characters, with some Peanuts character aspects layered on, but blandly.

But the sticker page in the back? Ahhh, that’s very Peanutsy! Snoopy sleeping on his back on a Christmas tree! Santa Snoopy! A joyous Santa Charlie Brown! Peppermint Patty sledding down a hill with a scared Marcie on the sled behind her! A Christmas tree cactus! The sticker page is joyous!

Classic finds
English Phrases to Comfort Your Heart

The next book in my Amazon Japan shipment falls into the adorable category of “Peanuts used to explain American culture”. English Phrases to Comfort Your Heart with Snoopy by Nobu Yamada falls into that category. It also falls into the category of “books which are meant to be destroyed”, as each …

New releases
Look! A mook!

Mooks – that is, items with magazine-like content but sold more like a book – are popular in Japan. Many of them come bundled with extra items, and there have been a fair number with Peanuts items. Most often these are bags – a handbag or a tote of some …

New releases
Bringing up the rear

I’m interrupting my coverage of the shipment of books I got from Japan to cover another foreign book that just arrived. Now, I don’t try to collect every foreign Peanuts book. My collection is out of control as it is. I try to find books in languages that I don’t …