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!

New releases
A pop-up shows up

Here Comes Charlie Brown!: A Peanuts Pop-up, Gene Kannenberg, Jr.’s adaptation of the very first Peanuts strip, is not the first Peanuts book to reprint only a single strip. There was at least one board book that did much the same thing. However, that board book was, at heart, a …

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 …