Sparky & Spike: Charles Schulz and the Wildest, Smartest Dog Ever

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.)