Snoopy vs. the Red Baron

The latest of Fantagraphics' gorgeous Peanuts collections is guaranteed to fly off shelves faster than usual, centering as it does on the strip's true star, Snoopy, battling his perennially unseen archenemy. Schulz's characters are indelibly etched in our cultural history, his large-headed, emotive tykes among the most beloved figures for all ages. Though Schulz's signature melancholy may, on the surface, seem incongruous among Snoopy's breathless flying ace battles, it remains absolutely necessary to the emotionally rich experience he offers young readers. Longing and humor are, as always, elegantly alternated: one second Snoopy is perfecting a heartfelt poem from the WWI trenches, and the next Peppermint Patty gets the old heave-ho when she calls the beagle's doghouse-biplane a zamboni. Peanuts aficionados will also delight in the opportunity to see the strip's artistic and philosophical evolution play out in selections culled from 50 years of strips. If any library ever needed another reason to acquire a Peanuts collection, the beloved characters recently began a new life in movie theaters.--Karp, Jesse Copyright 2015 Booklist