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You Need to Read: Charlie Brown

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Growing up, Charlie Brown's movies were a staple of my elementary school around the holidays.  Halloween?  "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."  Thanksgiving?  "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving."  Christmas?  "A Charlie Brown Christmas."  You couldn't hit a major holiday without at least one teacher, and sometimes several, showing a Charlie Brown movie in class.  I think we can all agree that a movie in class equaled the best day ever.  So it's maybe no surprise that I equate Charlie Brown with holidays and good times.  As a gift to Charlie Brown for all the fun holiday times had NOT doing schoolwork, I've compiled a list of books tailored just for his unique interests and challenges. 

To give Charlie Brown an excuse to quit trying to kick that dang football-

Written by Tim Green
Harper Collins Children's Books, 2021. Fiction. 296 pgs.

After Ben's dad, a former NFL player, receives a heartbreaking ALS diagnosis--connected to all those hard hits and tackles he took on the field--Ben's mom becomes more determined than ever to get Ben to quit football. But Ben isn't playing just for himself. This might be his dad's last chance to coach and his teammates need a quarterback that can lead them to the championships. But as Ben watches the heavy toll ALS takes on his dad's body, he begins to question his decision to play.

To introduce Charlie Brown to his creator-

Written by Joan Holub
Penguin Workshop, 2022. Biography. 108 pgs. 

Charles Schulz loved drawing from the time he was a young child, and as he grew older, he turned this passion into a  successful career writing the beloved Peanuts comic strip. Follow his path from youth to adulthood and learn how Peanuts came to be.

To assist Charlie Brown in finding his inner-strength and confidence in himself, all without paying an underage narcissist a nickel to be his therapist-

Written by Fatima Doman
Next Century Publishing, 2018. Informational. 

Help children discover their strengths and learn how to use them consistently. "True You! Authentic Strengths for Kids" reveals pathways to engagement at school, in relationships and in life, bringing out the best in children.

To help Charlie Brown deal with bullying in a healthy way-

Written by Holly Duhig
Kid Haven Publishing, 2019. Informational.

Using a scrapbook-style format, "Dealing with Bullying" helps readers answer common questions about dealing with bullying. 

To show Charlie Brown that he's not the only lover of tiny, tired Christmas trees-

Written by E.E. Cummings
Illustrated by Deborah Kogan Ray
Dragonfly Books, 1994. Informational.

In this beautiful picture book featuring the beloved Christmas poem, "Little Tree," e.e. cummings describes the wonder and excitement of a young brother and sister who find a little tree on a city sidewalk and carry it home, where they adorn it with Christmas finery.
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