Since their debut in 1950 — 75 years ago! — Charlie Brown and friends have written a lot of book reports. Their required reading included some hefty tomes: Anna Karenina, War and Peace, The Brothers Karamazov, Crime and Punishment — not the kind of homework you’d give your average third grader! To honor Charles Schulz’s beloved comic strip, we’re assigning the Peanuts gang grown-up books a bit more suited to their personalities. Whether you’re a baseball enthusiast, a budding philosopher, or a girlboss in the making, your next read is just around the corner.
Charlie Brown – Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 Moments by Joe Posnanski
Chuck might not be the greatest pitcher the game has ever seen, but he’s certainly one of the most passionate. His love of the game endures through rain, snow, and loss after crushing loss — a reminder to all of us why we keep coming back even when our team has no chance of making the playoffs.
Sports writer Joe Posnanski’s tribute to the US’s national pastime chronicles its 200-year history through 50 significant moments spanning from the days of Babe Ruth to the era of Shohei Ohtani. Some are classic: Bobby Thomson’s Shot Heard ‘Round the World, Willie Mays’ famed 1954 Catch. Others are perhaps more obscure, like middling ballplayer turned fan-favorite broadcaster Duane Kuiper’s lone career home run in 1977. Schulz’s (and my) beloved San Francisco Giants are well represented here, but no matter which team you root, root, root for, this book will make you fall in love with the game all over again.
Sally Brown – Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson
Much like her brother, Sally is a hopeless romantic — so naturally, she needs a great love story to tide her over until her sweet babboo comes around. Set in the cozy fictional town of Bramble Falls, Connecticut, Falling Like Leaves is the type of romance Sally would surely curl up with in her favorite beanbag chair. When her parents divorce, Ellis reluctantly moves with her mother from Manhattan to Bramble Falls. Ambitious, career-oriented Ellis finds herself forced to slow down, distracted from her senior year plans by the upcoming Falling Leaves Festival and her old-friend-turned-cute-barista, Cooper Barnett. Sweet and wonderfully autumnal, this novel will appeal to anyone who’s ever spent the night in a pumpkin patch with their crush, waiting for their dreams to come true.
Linus van Pelt – The Believer: Encounters with the Beginning, the End, and Our Place in the Middle by Sarah Krasnostein
An old soul with wisdom far beyond his years, Linus is the Peanuts gang’s resident philosopher. Known for his insightful observations and tendency to quote scripture, Linus views the world with an admirable combination of calm rationality and childlike earnestness. Most notably, despite being surrounded by naysayers and enduring yearly disappointment, he maintains a steadfast belief in the Great Pumpkin.
Linus would certainly appreciate The Believer, Sarah Krasnostein’s exploration of personal faith amid the unknowable. The six profiles Krasnostein intertwines throughout her book encompass more than just belief in a higher power. They range from the extraordinary (ghosts, UFOs, creationism) to the ordinary (accountability, death with dignity, a life of integrity). At the root of each story is sincere certainty in the face of the unknowable, sure to resonate with our blanket-wielding theologian.
Lucy van Pelt – Bossypants by Tina Fey
Our favorite problematic feminist icon might object to being called “bossypants” (even if it is true). But she surely won’t mind comparisons with Tina Fey, whose hilarious memoir recounts the comedian’s life story with her trademark sharp wit. Best known for her tenure on Saturday Night Live, Fey’s no stranger to navigating a man’s world and carving out a space for herself there. She shows us what a future version of Lucy might look like: a little less crabby, a little more willing to laugh at herself, but no less in charge.
Schroeder – Beethoven Variations: Poems on a Life by Ruth Padel
We’d be hard-pressed to find anything Schroeder loves more than his piano or his musical idol (sorry, Lucy). Ruth Padel reinterprets Beethoven’s life through a series of poetic vignettes, drawing heavily from his own personal correspondence. In gorgeous, striking verse, Padel humanizes the incomparable composer, illuminating his triumphs and struggles in vivid detail. It’s easy to imagine Schroeder reading this collection in between practice runs of Moonlight Sonata, his massive collection of marble Beethoven busts looking on.
Peppermint Patty – All In: An Autobiography by Billie Jean King
She might not be a straight-A student, but Peppermint Patty is undeniably a powerhouse athlete. And as a kid growing up during the rise of women’s sports, she was a huge fan of Billie Jean King — a close friend of Charles Schulz! More than a tennis legend, King paved the way for women beyond the sports world. All In takes readers through the many personal and political challenges she’s endured over the years, from carrying the mantle for women’s rights against Bobby Riggs to concealing, and eventually publicly embracing, her queer identity. It’s a fascinating account of an extraordinary life, one even Peppermint Patty wouldn’t mind doing her book report on.
Marcie – Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert’s Story by Debbie Tung
I have a confession to make: I struggled with this one. I’m ashamed to admit it, because Marcie is my favorite Peanuts character — we’re both awkward, bookish introverts with short hair and glasses. We’re great in supporting roles but shy away from the spotlight. I haven’t actually watched One-of-a-Kind Marcie, but when I inevitably do I’ll probably end up sobbing.
We wanted a book to honor a character who’s content to work quietly from the sidelines and doesn’t need to be the center of attention. This graphic memoir from Debbie Tung fits the bill perfectly. Spanning three years of Tung’s life from college to early adulthood, Quiet Girl in a Noisy World illustrates the life and minor challenges of navigating the world as an introvert. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood by well-meaning peers or struggled to balance social demands with a limited social battery, then this book will make you feel seen — much as Marcie did for me.
Franklin – The Birth of Breaking: Hip-Hop History from the Floor Up by Serouj “Midus” Aprahamian
Introduced in the wake of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, Franklin broke new ground for representation in comics. Though he doesn’t get as much time in the spotlight as his friends, we do know from the animated specials that the kid can bust a move. The Birth of Breaking traces the evolution of breaking — the dance Franklin excels at — from its roots in African American culture to its impact on hip-hop. Featuring testimonials from over 50 of the movement’s pioneers, Serouj “Midus” Aprahamian sheds light on the often obscured history of this formative subculture.
Woodstock – On Wings of Song: Poems About Birds edited by J.D. McClatchy
We may not know what species he is, but between his vibrant yellow feathers and his lopsided, low-altitude flying, we’d know Woodstock anywhere. It’s only fitting that one of the most famous birds in media receive a fitting literary tribute from not just one renowned poet, but dozens. On Wings of Song anthologizes odes to our feathered friends across thousands of years, sectioned by species, habitat, and behavior (e.g. nest-building, birdsong). It’s a collection that would make any bird proud of its plumage.
Snoopy – Fighting the Flying Circus by Eddie V. Rickenbacker
We had to save the best for last, naturally.
Internationally renowned and recognizable, Snoopy is a man — er, beagle — of many talents, interests, and alter egos. Trying to pick which one to recommend a book for was easier said than done: Do we appeal to the Beagle Scout or the World Famous Novelist? Joe Cool or the Masked Marvel?
Ultimately, we’ve gone with perhaps his best known persona: the World War I Flying Ace. Eddie Rickenbacker was a renowned fighter pilot, receiving a Medal of Honor for his combat against the Germans. Though Snoopy is surprisingly dismissive of “Rick” in this 1967 comic strip, we’ve no doubt he’d enjoy reading about his heroic exploits.
BONUS:
Charles M. Schulz: The Art and Life of the Peanuts Creator in 100 Objects by Benjamin L. Clark and Nat Gertler
I’d be remiss not to include any books about the strip itself — or the man behind the pen. Originally curated and published for Schulz’s 100th birthday, this book takes readers into the world of Peanuts’ creator using 100 artifacts from throughout his life. Meet the cartoon horse who gave Schulz his nickname (“Sparky”), as well as the many elements of his upbringing that influenced the strip. Dive into his service in World War II, or explore the early stages of his career before Peanuts’ explosion into worldwide popularity. Clark and Gertler’s Eisner winner — created in partnership with Schulz’s namesake museum — demonstrates just how much of himself the artist put into every panel.
Speaking of the museum, if you (like me) simply can’t get enough Peanuts history, consider stopping by the Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, CA, the cartoonist’s adopted hometown. You can explore the history of the strip, go on a scavenger hunt for statues of the gang around the city, and even take a skate on Snoopy’s Home Ice!
Which Peanuts character is your favorite? Which of these books are you adding to your TBR? Let us know on Instagram, Bluesky, or Facebook, and remember: Happiness is a warm puppy, and a great book.
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