Waiting For The Great Pumpkin (Peanuts Seasonal Collection)

This slender, handsome little volume collects the daily comic strips from 1959-1962 that gave rise to the Great Pumpkin, the Halloween equivalent of Santa Claus in the Peanuts universe. Or, rather, in the mind of Linus in the Peanuts universe. It's a fun little book, and anyone familiar with the iconic cartoon "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" will recognize where much of that show's moments came from. In fact, it's fascinating to see how the cartoon was stitched together from ideas, moments, lines, and tableaus scattered across a few years' worth of October strips.It's equally fascinating to see what was left out, including some relatively harsh ridiculing of Linus, which is a bit more hard-edged than what was seen in the cartoon. The spooky, otherworldly, and almost somber atmosphere of the TV show is not in evidence here, stripping the basic idea down into its essence. Also absent here is any hint of Snoopy's "Red Baron" interludes and Charlie Brown's repeated lament "I got a rock!" Whether these moments appeared elsewhere, or were created for the TV cartoon, I don't know (of course, Snoopy's "Red Baron" fantasies were a staple of the strip in general). I'm a fan of Peanuts from way back, but even I can't say that I've read every strip of the 18,000+ Schulz created.The layout is attractive and evocative, and includes panels and parts of panels from Great Pumpkin strips that came after the cartoon, with later-era Peanuts characters like Peppermint Patty. The strips are organized into thematic chapters: "You Believe in Santa Claus and I'll Believe in the Great Pumpkin!," "Santa Claus vs. the Great Pumpkin," "Oh, Great Pumpkin, You're Going to Drive Me Crazy!," and "True Love Revealed in the Pumpkin Patch."Overall, this is a fun book to have as a companion for the TV show, or just as a standalone for a Peanuts fan.

This is the cover from the book I received. I wanted to buy the book with the cover shown in the picture. Also, there was a terrible delay in the delivery.

Great book to read to kindergarten ers

This book looks sort of "old fashioned" the way the illustrations are colored, which I loved since it is such a classic Peanuts story. I gave this as a gift to my son, who played "Linus" in the play Snoopy! The Musical and he loved it!

Got it for my almost two year old grandson who went as Charlie Brown for his first treat or treat.

a must buy for those who are fans of the Peanuts gang.

Great collections of classics comics for the Halloween seasons. Still the humor is good and a strangely an interesting introspection on beliefs.

Great childhood memories are contained within this small book. My only complaint would be that it isn't long enough. Eagerly await a second volume

i like any story related to Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin.

Very cute.