Why, Charlie Brown, Why?: A Story About What Happens When a Friend Is Very Ill [Hardcover]

Charles M. Schulz (Author)

Book Description

In this timeless classic, the Peanuts gang faces the serious sickness of a good friend with all the sensitivity, caring, and warmth that is the trademark of Charles Schultz’s work. Why, Charlie Brown, Why? is a heartwarming story of a child dealing with great challenges and profound questions.

When young Janice is diagnosed with leukemia, Charlie Brown looks for answers, Linus becomes her protector, Lucy doesn’t understand, Snoopy dons his '”World’s Greatest Surgeon” togs, and the whole gang does some soul searching. In his own inimitable style, Charles Schulz brings this touching tale to life. With charm and compassion, he tells of the effect of Janice’s illness on her family, her classmates, and, of course, her friends.

For more than a decade, Why, Charlie Brown, Why? has helped children to understand what happens when someone they love is sick. Now this wonderful book is available once again to serve as a guide for future generations.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

In this timeless classic, the Peanuts gang faces the serious sickness of a good friend with all the sensitivity, caring, and warmth that is the trademark of Charles Schultz?s work. Why, Charlie Brown, Why? is a heartwarming story of a child dealing with great challenges and profound questions.

When young Janice is diagnosed with leukemia, Charlie Brown looks for answers, Linus becomes her protector, Lucy doesn?t understand, Snoopy dons his '?World?s Greatest Surgeon? togs, and the whole gang does some soul searching. In his own inimitable style, Charles Schulz brings this touching tale to life. With charm and compassion, he tells of the effect of Janice?s illness on her family, her classmates, and, of course, her friends.

For more than a decade, Why, Charlie Brown, Why? has helped children to understand what happens when someone they love is sick. Now this wonderful book is available once again to serve as a guide for future generations.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (August 27, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345455312
• ISBN-13: 978-0689848216
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #724,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charles M. Schulz was born November 25, 1922 in Minneapolis. His destiny was foreshadowed when an uncle gave him, at the age of two days, the nickname Sparky (after the racehorse Spark Plug in the newspaper strip Barney Google).

In his senior year in high school, his mother noticed an ad in a local newspaper for a correspondence school, Federal Schools (later called Art Instruction Schools). Schulz passed the talent test, completed the course and began trying, unsuccessfully, to sell gag cartoons to magazines. (His first published drawing was of his dog, Spike, and appeared in a 1937 Ripley's Believe It Or Not! installment.) Between 1948 and 1950, he succeeded in selling 17 cartoons to the Saturday Evening Post--as well as, to the local St. Paul Pioneer Press, a weekly comic feature called Li'l Folks. It was run in the women's section and paid $10 a week. After writing and drawing the feature for two years, Schulz asked for a better location in the paper or for daily exposure, as well as a raise. When he was turned down on all three counts, he quit.

He started submitting strips to the newspaper syndicates. In the spring of 1950, he received a letter from the United Feature Syndicate, announcing their interest in his submission, Li'l Folks. Schulz boarded a train in June for New York City; more interested in doing a strip than a panel, he also brought along the first installments of what would become Peanuts--and that was what sold. (The title, which Schulz loathed to his dying day, was imposed by the syndicate). The first Peanuts daily appeared October 2, 1950; the first Sunday, January 6, 1952.

Diagnosed with cancer, Schulz retired from Peanuts at the end of 1999. He died on February 13, 2000, the day before Valentine's Day--and the day before his last strip was published--having completed 17,897 daily and Sunday strips, each and every one fully written, drawn, and lettered entirely by his own hand--an unmatched achievement in comics.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exceptional Peanuts Book, October 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Why, Charlie Brown, Why?: A Story About What Happens When a Friend Is Very Ill (Hardcover)

This book, or the video by the same title, is excellent for elementary school aged children confronting cancer in themselves or their families. I have donated multiple copies of the book and video to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago for their use with young cancer patients and their families. The story is especially good for siblings of children with cancer, since it shows how they sometimes feel that they are being ignored, and their sister or brother is getting all of the attention. It also teaches a child how to defend a classmate against bullying, when the girl with cancer is made fun of for having lost her hair. My only reservation would be not to use this book with a child who has extremely advanced cancer, since of course the story has a happy ending, and it might cause the child to wonder why they don't seem to be recovering. Overall: well done, Charles Schulz!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Helpful Guide for Classmates, July 22, 2004

By 

mad mom - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why, Charlie Brown, Why?: A Story About What Happens When a Friend Is Very Ill (Hardcover)

As a parent of a child who has been through leukemia treatment, I can't tell you how many times the video (didn't even know there was a book until now) of this story has been recommended to new parents, and for sharing with classmates of a leukemia patient. Along with our copy of "Sesame Street Goes to the Hospital," and Mister Rogers' "Going to the Hospital," this is part of our 'permanent collection.'

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I remeber this Video and I am glad there is a book, December 30, 2005

By 

Kevin Weaver "Snoopyaholic" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Why, Charlie Brown, Why?: A Story About What Happens When a Friend Is Very Ill (Hardcover)

I am appauld by the person whom posted a comment regarding that children have enough to deal with in the world. I am a survivor of Childhood Cancer and I wish that this was a book and video played in my class when I was sick.

I was picked on for having no hair, being bald in first grade, throwing up on the play ground and being laughed at.

What would you feel like it you were diagnosed with cancer and not sure if you were going to live to see second grade.

Charles Schulz was a great man, and he helped bring lessons to children and adults through his strip.