Sparky & Spike Charles Schulz and the wildest, smartest dog ever

Good grief! Drawing comics can be difficult. But not for Sparky only his teachers call him by his real name, Charles because he has Spike for inspiration. The antics of a boy and his dog are always appealing, but they're even more enjoyable in this picture-book biography of Charles Schulz. Focusing on his childhood, it begins as a traditional story, describing the friendship between Sparky and Spike, who has eaten screws, razor blades, and more without getting sick and who can tell time, like when it's 9:00 on Saturday night. That's when Sparky's dad drives them to the drugstore to pick up the Sunday comics. Although the boy has talent and dreams of being a cartoonist, he constantly doubts himself until his dog gives him an idea. He submits a drawing of Spike to Ripley's Believe It or Not!, but it takes patience to wait for his big break into the Sunday comics. Of course, he goes on to draw more cartoons of his dog, whom he later names Snoopy. The illustrations' vintage-comics style, with era-appropriate colors and pixelization, completes the narrative. The rounded heads of children are reminiscent of Schulz's Peanuts; the inclusion of the letter Schulz sent to Andreasen, then a budding illustrator, and concluding photos of the real Sparky and Spike add more charming details. Doggone fun!--Angela Leeper Copyright 2019 Booklist

Behind every canine character is the real dog that served as inspiration. In the case of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz (nicknamed Sparky as a boy), he based his famed Snoopy on Spike, his childhood dog. Spike is unique: he can ring the doorbell, "knows more than fifty words" (including potato, which he fetches), and can eat almost anything without getting sick. Young Sparky lives for the Sunday comics, and he sends a drawing of Spike to the comic strip Ripley's Believe It or Not!, where it is published with the description, "A hunting dog that eats pins, tacks, screws, and razor blades." Andreasen illustrates in a style distinct from, yet complementary to, Schulz's-Sparky has a round face and a cowlick, while broad backspace and use of comic-style panels hint at the young Schulz's future work. Back matter comes full circle, presenting a letter that Andreasen received from Schulz after writing to the cartoonist as a child; an author's note shows photos of Sparky and Spike. Ages 4-8. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

How young Sparky and Spike became the famous cartoonist Charles Schulz and his beloved creation Snoopy.Sparky's dog, Spike, white with black spots, is the "wildest and smartest dog ever." He drinks from the bathroom faucet, fetches potatoes on command, and eats seemingly anything (razor blades!) without getting sick. He can tell time, letting Sparky's father know on Saturday evening when it's time to head to the drugstore for the Sunday funny pages. Sparky loves to draw cartoons. When his teacher predicts he will be an artist someday, Sparky is determined "notto be just any artisthe is going to be a cartoonist." When Sparky sends a letter about Spike to Ripley's Believe It or Not! and it's published in the Sunday comics along with his drawing of Spike, Sparky is inspired. And, indeed, as explained in the author's note (which includes family photos of Sparky and Spike), Charles grew up to create "Peanuts." In the illustrator's note, Andreasen reveals that when he was a young boy he sent a drawing to Charles Schulz and got a personal reply (included in the backmatter) that inspired him, like Sparky, to become an illustrator. Andreasen does not try to emulate Schulz's iconic style, instead rendering delicately hashed, fairly realistic cartoons, placing his mostly white cast on funny-pages-bright backdrops.A fetching story, perfect for budding artists and lovers of the funnies. (Picture book/biography. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.