I know this is a Peanuts comics oriented blog, but I’m going to begin this post with a digression (which I’m not sure it technically accurate phrasing; can one truly being something with a digression? But I digress.) In the history of Archie Comics publishing, there is a series titled Archie and Me and a series entitled Betty and Me. Now, the “Me” in Betty and Me is Archie; the “Me” in Archie and Me is not, although perhaps it would be more interesting if it were, as it would be either a curiously egotistical effort or a curiously insane one, perhaps the Archieverse equivalent of The United States of Tara or some other multiple personality fiction. In point of fact, the “Me” in Archie and Me is Mr. Weatherbee, principal of Riverdale High School, which Archie intends; Mr. Weatherbee is certainly not Archie, nor shall he ever be. My point is that “Me” in a title is not a fixed reference, even among related titles.

Which brings me to All About Me, the Peanuts book. In this, a personal diary and description book which was sold by Funk & Wagnalls as an adjunct to their Charlie Brown’s ‘Cyclopedia set, “Me” is quite clearly you, the reader, or at least whomever chooses to write in the book (which counts me out; my copy is minty-mint and I would not degrade it with the humdrum details of my existence.)

Unless, of course, you’re talking about All About Me, the Peanuts book, but the one which came in recent Wendy’s Kid’s Meal boxes. In that case “Me” is neither you nor me, but Snoopy – who is just about the sole character in it, from front cover to back cover (Woodstock makes a brief appearance). This board book is five two-page spreads, each of which illustrates and labels Snoopy in a different status: “Hungry”, “Tired”, “Love”, “Surprised”, and “Happy”. Apparently, that’s all there is about Snoopy; he is never jealous, vengeful, hopeful, querulous, satisfied, or gassy. (It’s actually similar in that concept to one of the soft Snoopy baby books we have around here, which my daughter enjoyed me reading to her at a wee age, mostly because of the emotional investment I put into each word.  That one did include “satisfied”… which was actually a very satisfying word to read. It was fun to use a voice of breathy contentment for it.)]

I do hope that someday, these two books are combined into a single volume, All About Me and Me. Just to keep readers on their toes.

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