It is ever amazing that we have such an abundance of worthy picture book biographies to share with children at home and in school. There are many worthy subjects, and no shortage of writers and artists willing to help tell their stories. The Peanuts comic strip is a family favorite, and has long been so. To learn more about Charles Schulz and his journey to creating this gang of friends is most enjoyable for me as a reader and fan.
Attention from a kindergarten teacher about one one of his works of art was the impetus for 'Sparky' to begin to believe in himself and his artistic talent. He loved drawing and spent his time at it as much as possible. The family read the comics together, and it wasn't long until Sparky was copying his favorite images. Practice led to success and recognition from his classmates. When his entry of a picture of his dog, Spike, led to a contest win at Believe It or Not, he was hooked.
After he finished school, he began drawing in earnest and sending his work, hoping for publication, to a variety of magazines. Having his work rejected time and time again dashed his dreams for a while. Service in the army interrupted any plans for the near future. Once he returned from that service, he went back to his art. With motivation from his friends, he began drawing kids. He kept sending his cartoons to national magazines and newspapers. Finally, he sold a cartoon to the Saturday Evening Post. Success at last! Soon, Peanuts became a national hit.
Craig Orback's images are created with pen and ink, colored pencil, and gouache paint. Their inclusion is as important as the story told, showing major events from Charles' life. They show his dedication to his craft and to the cast of characters he so lovingly created for a rapt audience.
Back matter offers the rest of his story, with the inclusion of an author's note, a note from the artist, a list of his beloved characters, a list of places to visit, sources and further notes.
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