Sparky: The Life and Art of Charles Schulz [Hardcover]

Beverly Gherman (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 4 and up

As the artist behind the beloved Peanuts comic strip for more than 50 years, Charles Schulzarguably the most famous cartoonist in the worldcreated a colorful cast of characters that continues to bring humor and comfort to millions of readers. In this distinctively designed yet highly accessible book, renowned children's biographer Beverly Gherman traces both the life events that shaped Schulz's art and the various ways in which art influenced his life in return. Acclaimed by artists ranging from Andrew Wyeth to Mo Willems, the artistic elements of Schulz's work are brought to life in a colorful layout and thoroughly explored in an enchanting text that will draw in even the most reluctant readers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-9–Upon initial glance, this volume resembles a gift book with its multicolored pages and large font. However, the text flows beautifully and is organized into 11 clear chapters that highlight important events and people in Schulz's life that influenced his work. Many Peanuts characters, for instance, were based on actual people. There was the “Red-Haired Girl,” who was based on the woman who turned down Shulz's marriage proposal. Lucy was based on the artist's ex-wife. While Gherman paints her subject in an overall positive light as an adoring father and artistic perfectionist, she doesn't shy away from more difficult topics such as his initial difficulty finding employment, his mother's death, and his divorce. Old comic strips, drawings, and photographs are interspersed throughout and provide lively and appropriate support for the biography. A great recreational read as well as an adequate source for reports.Kim T. Ha, Elkridge Branch Library, MD
© Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

Peanuts has a good claim on being the quintessential comic strip, as universally recognizable and as comfortable to experience as the bond between a boy and his dog. Fittingly, in a comfortable and easy-to-read format, Sparky presents a portrait of a friendly man who accomplished his life's dream of making people happy through a deep commitment to his craft and penchant for never giving up. Alternating each page of simple prose with photographs and reproductions of Schulz's work, Gherman makes it clear how the life of the solidly blue-collar, WWII veteran was always reflected in his work and how his own setbacks and perseverance created Charlie Brown, the most famous long-suffering optimist in history. Tracking the rise of Peanuts' success from growing syndicated strip to award-winning television property, even younger readers will get a sense that a comic strip that's ostensibly humorous in nature must also offer human insight—a sense of life's disappointments and the power of imagination—to achieve the immortality of Schulz's beloved characters. Grades 2-5. --Jesse Karp

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (April 21, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811867900
• ISBN-13: 978-0811867900
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > Art

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars He never got his picture on bubblegum cards, did he?, April 20, 2010

By 

E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sparky: The Life and Art of Charles Schulz (Hardcover)

Sitting in the biography section of my children's room are crisp, new, clean, pristine biographies of all sorts of people. Saints and sailors, presidents and queens, you name it. We got `em. But roundabout the "sch" side of things lies an old autobiography circa 1980. It's called "Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Me : And All the Other Peanuts Characters." by Charles M. Schulz with R. Smith Kiliper. I think that back in the day my library had tons of copies of this title in all the library branches, but due to the sheer amount of use that number has dwindled down to a measly two copies. The worst part is that we can't get rid of them either! This is the only Charles Schulz biography for kids out there and by gum we're going to keep it until it falls apart . . . or until we see something better. Enter "Sparky: The Life and Art of Charles Schulz". Author Beverly Gherman has, probably unbeknownst to her, answered my prayers. A biography that is not only necessary and desirable but also beautifully designed and fun to read, kids who have never even heard of "Peanuts" (and they exist) will be inclined to read about this shy Minnesota boy who went on to become a war hero and America's most successful comic strip artist.

Born November 26, 1922, Charles Monroe Schulz grew up a shy, bespectacled boy when a penchant for drawing. His nickname "Sparky" turned out to be almost portentous, coming as it did from a horse in the comic strip "Barney Google". After graduating from art school he served in the army with distinction. After that he started drawing cartoons and one in particular, a comic strip with a title he never really liked, took off. "Sparky" is the story of the man behind "Peanuts" and not the story of the strip alone. Still, by looking at Mr. Schulz's life, kids can see how art is influenced by experience, even when the person doing the drawing can't see how much of their life escapes through their pen.

Kids read biographies for a variety of different reasons. They're given a biographical assignment or they have to research a certain person at a certain time. The kids I like are the ones who have an interest in reading up on famous figures that touch them in some way just for fun. And Charles Schulz, like it or lump it, is one such fella. We have biographies of Walt Disney and Jim Henson in our children's rooms. Why not Charles Schulz? The thing is, "Sparky" is heads and tales better than any of those Disney/Henson bios (at least for now). It knows how to make its subject palatable, and it's complemented by a well designed text that gives you enough "Peanuts" comic strips and photographs to keep you interested, but not so many that they distract from the story of Sparky's life.

A couple years ago a very different Charles Schulz biography came out. Called "Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography", author David Michaelis was writing for adults and so made no bones about some of the unhappier episodes on Sparky's life. Readers of that book might be baffled as to how such a man could be honestly portrayed in a children's biography. Gherman doesn't shrink from the prospect, and neither does she paint Schulz's existence as a never-ending series of puffy pink clouds and rainbows. We live in an age when a children's biography can show the complexity of its subject without dwelling on the gory details of adulthood. So it is that we learn about the "Little Redheaded Girl" who jilted Sparky, his divorce from his first wife, and his childhood shyness and unhappiness at times. On the flip side, no mention is made of Michaelis's contention that Sparky's mother was domineering. The loss is not keenly felt. Indeed, you get the feeling that there is little speculation going on in this book. Gherman has chosen to pull from a variety of sources, including Michaelis, and rounds out her research with the archives of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center, as well as interviews with Jeannie Schulz (second wife), Monte Schulz (son), Amy Schulz Johnson (daughter), and Jill Schulz Transki (daughter). The result is a biography compelling in its openness and honesty.

Insofar as I can tell, the publication page seems to be saying that one Jennifer Bostic of Paper Plane Studio did the design of this book. If this is true, can someone go on out and buy Jennifer Bostic some kind of big shiny award or something? Designers come and designers go but coming up with a design for a children's biography that pleases the adult gatekeepers and is enjoyable enough to be read by the small fry voluntarily is no walk in the park. On top of that, it does an excellent job with the large font. Though it comes in at 128 pages, the book really isn't that long. And with the visual elements and colors constantly shifting, it's anything but a dry read. A page of white text on blue paper can turn to yellow text on green paper with the flip of a page and for some reason it doesn't jar the reader's senses. Add in all the photographs, Peanuts strips, and old drawings and you've a book any kid would be mighty pleased to read. The design fits the subject matter.

I'm reminded of the power of "Peanuts" any time I try to read the very first one and not laugh out loud. "Good ol' Charlie Brown . . . How I hate him." Hate Charlie Brown if you must, but hating Charles Schulz would take some doing. Kids looking for a book about the "Peanuts" comic strips won't find a book that's all about Snoopy or anything like that. This is just the story of a cartoonist. An artist that all kids can appreciate and maybe hope to become. Good writing, good images, good design, good deal. A bio too long in coming. Let's hope that there are more of its ilk coming down the pike.

Ages 8 and up.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great biography -- Works on a kid and adult level, September 5, 2010

By 

NY Reader & Viewer (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sparky: The Life and Art of Charles Schulz (Hardcover)

One of my grade school-aged daughters read "Sparky" on her own, and so loved the book, that she suggested I read it. I read it out loud to her younger sister. We both loved the book. The story of an artist, "Sparky" was a very inspirational book for my daughters. They loved how early failures and frustrations never stopped Mr. Schulz from pursuing his dreams. On page after page, the author brings Sparky's story vividly to life. The writing is intelligent (simple enough for children, but never condescending). The old photographs and original drawings further accent the book.

I also need to point out that the author doesn't shy away from the difficult parts of Mr. Schulz's life (war, his mother's death, etc.). However, these aspects of Sparky's life are simply and directly handled in such a graceful manner that these difficult events did not disturb my usually very sensitive children. Kudos!

Finally, the design of the book is beautiful.

Highly recommended on all counts!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, September 26, 2011

By 

Ana in Sonoma - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sparky: The Life and Art of Charles Schulz (Hardcover)

Great read for a 10 year old looking for a biography for a school book report. Great pictures and easy to read but informative.