A Charlie Brown Christmas

Rating:
Summary: Watch the TV Show
Review: "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is one of the greatest television shows of all time, thanks to a classic script by one of the greatest cartoonists of all time.

But this book just does not capture its flavor. The art is not by Schulz, and though loyal to his style, does not FEEL like Schulz. Couldn't they have used images from the actual show?

Worse, important moments are lost, probably due to space constraints. For instance, Linus's stirring soliloquy, performed solo in the show, here takes place in a crowded room for storytelling purposes.

I got this book for an office mate because she loves Schulz and because it was the only color Peanuts book I could find that was in the $5-10 price range dictated by our office Christmas pool.

People may well love this book because they love the TV show (and there's nothing wrong with that), but I don't think anyone would ever love it for itself.

Rating:
Summary: A Keepsake!
Review: I don't know, the book is a bit too wordy to read to a class, but it gives me memories of a wonderful TV special. I like the book for that reason.

Rating:
Summary: Should have just reissued the original
Review: I love "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and so was completely disappointed by this paperback book edition of the story.
The "By Charles M. Schulz" on the cover and in the listing hides the fact that the text is not by Schulz, but is "adapted" by other people. The text adaptation is painfully bad -- I could barely force myself to read it to my child the other night. The text is way too wordy, which contradicts the whole style of Schulz's comic strip, and changes key dialog of characters.

The illustrations are okay, but why not just use the original drawings by Schulz himself?

A book version of A Charlie Brown Christmas was printed in the 1960's; the publishers would have been smarter to reissue the original book rather than create this new version.

If you want to have a book version of A Charlie Brown Christmas, I highly recommend that you spend a bit more money and buy the hardcover book, "A Charlie Brown Christmas: the Making of a Tradition". You won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Should have just reissued the original
Review: I love "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and so was completely disappointed by this paperback book edition of the story.
The "By Charles M. Schulz" on the cover and in the listing hides the fact that the text is not by Schulz, but is "adapted" by other people. The text adaptation is painfully bad -- I could barely force myself to read it to my child the other night. The text is way too wordy, which contradicts the whole style of Schulz's comic strip, and changes key dialog of characters.

The illustrations are okay, but why not just use the original drawings by Schulz himself?

A book version of A Charlie Brown Christmas was printed in the 1960's; the publishers would have been smarter to reissue the original book rather than create this new version.

If you want to have a book version of A Charlie Brown Christmas, I highly recommend that you spend a bit more money and buy the hardcover book, "A Charlie Brown Christmas: the Making of a Tradition". You won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Uh, it's okay?
Review: I thought Mr. Schulz's lawyer said "no" to any depiction of his characters ever to be done by the other artists after his death? As a result, this is a rather pale copy of the original art style and thus it looks a bit weird. So I think I'll go tell the lawyer on Paige Braddock.

Rating:
Summary: No Match for the Real Christmas Special
Review: Pay attention to the reviews on this book - it is not the real thing and fails to capture the magic of the special you saw on TV as a kid. It does clearly state on the title page that this is adapted from the special. I failed to comprehend what that meant. It means the story is abrigded - incredibly abrigded. Unfortunately at the same time it is also wordy. Nothing along the lines of reading the Peanut comic strips. The drawings also look off. Again nothing like the comic strip. A true adaptation of this special would be appropriate for children and adults. This book may work for kids but if you plan to give it to an adult friend to capture the magic of Christmas(as was my intention) don't bother. Very disappointing.

Rating:
Summary: Good Grief!, It's Christmas Everyone.
Review: This delightful book successfully adapts the wonderful, classic television special of A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS to the page. The book is filled with many pictures from the special and most of the televised story remains intact in written form (about the only thing missing is Snoopy winning the decoration competition). The words and text to "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" are even printed on the inside back cover. Children of all ages love this book and it is sure to be a family holiday favorite to read every year.