‘Peanuts Snoopy features as the Sportsman’
‘Peanuts Snoopy features as the Sportsman’ by Charles M. Schulz
This is a thin comic book but the fun it brings to you is big. You will be amazed by the wisdom and humour of Mr Schulz. Reading it is a good pastime. Though the comic was finished decades ago, the philosophy holds true in any century.
1. Lucy: ‘According to the latest survey, sixty percent of the girls said they play sports because it’s fun…’
(A baseball fell on Lucy’s head, producing the sound ‘bonk’)
Lucy: ‘ Stupid survey!’ (You may hurt yourself when doing sports, this could be called the ‘hidden cost’ of pleasure)
2. Woodstock and Snoopy are walking in the yard. Woodstock, followed by Snoopy, is holding a board saying ‘We’re Number One!’
Snoopy: ‘In this corner of the back yard, that is’ (One should be aware that no matter how well you perform, there could be someone that is better than you. So be humble)
3. A baseball dropped behind Lucy when Lucy was about to catch it.
Lucy told Charlie Brown, ‘Sorry I missed that one manager…I was hoping I’d catch it.’
Lucy walked and thought: ‘Hope got in my eyes!’ (Not easily affected by emotion is the key to success)
4. Charlie Brown told Marcie, ‘Marcie, you should be out in right field…’
Marcie replied, ‘I’m happier standing here with you, Charles…’
Charles said, ‘But what if someone hits a ball to right field?’
Marcie, ‘Who cares? I’m happy just standing here next to you, Charles’
Charles said, ‘ We don’t win any games, but I have happy players…’ (Somebody may favour process over result.)
5. Snoopy is trying hard to lift a dumbbell.
Lucy asked, ‘What’s so great about lifting two angel food cakes?’ (One may think he has tried his best but the others may expect you to do even better)
6. Peppermint Patty was holding a bowling ball, telling Marcie, ‘I’m gonna enter the junior bowling tournament, Marcie.’
She continued, ‘I love to knock down those pins!’
Marcie replied, ‘You’re very aggressive, aren’t you, Sir?’
Patty queried, ‘Aggressive?’
Marcie explained, ‘In a nice way, of course.’ (Being aggressive is essential in your job but doing too much may scare off your friends.)
‘Jasmine — — Missing coin’
‘Jasmine — — Missing coin’ by Sarah Nathan
Disney Press launched a series of books featuring different princesses several years ago. The main character of this book, Jasmine, was a princess in the Arabian world. Her husband, Prince Aladdin had recently developed interest in collecting gold coins. Unfortunately, the coin of camel could not be found and Aladdin was desperate to get it for a complete collection. Jasmine knew it well so she set off on a magic carpet to a distant country, Zagrabah. The adventure was thrilling but in the end, she could fulfill her husband’s dream and made two new friends.
To be frank, this was the first time that I read a complete Disney novel, though a short one for this book. Children would be delighted for the well-written story. Meanwhile, some sentence structures were deliberately put here and there by the author. So you can learn some English as well as having fun. On the other hand, someone may say happy endings are unrealistic but why do we have to ruin the hope of kids?
