Charles M. Schulz

Hello there. My name is Charles M. Schulz, but all my friends and family had a special nickname for me: Sparky. I was born a long time ago, on November 26th, 1922, in a city called Minneapolis. Ever since I was a little boy, my favorite thing to do was draw. I would take my pencil and paper everywhere. I especially loved reading the Sunday comics in the newspaper. They were filled with funny pictures and amazing stories that made me laugh. I had a dog named Spike who was my very best friend. He was black and white and did the silliest things. I would watch him play and think, "One day, I'm going to draw a dog just like him." Spike and I were a team, and my love for drawing grew bigger every single day, just like he did.

When I grew up, I had a big dream. I wanted to be a cartoonist and create my own comic strip for the newspaper, just like the ones I loved as a kid. It wasn't easy, and sometimes people told me my drawings weren't good enough. But I remembered how much I loved to draw, and I said to myself, "I won't give up." So, I kept practicing every single day. I started drawing a group of kids and called my comic strip 'Li'l Folks.' I sent my drawings to many places, and finally, a company liked them. They wanted to change the name, though. They decided to call it 'Peanuts.' On a very special day, October 2nd, 1950, my first 'Peanuts' comic strip was in the newspaper for everyone to see. I was so excited. The main character was a boy named Charlie Brown. He was a lot like me—a little bit clumsy, sometimes worried, but always trying his best. And of course, Charlie Brown needed a dog. So, I drew a dog inspired by my old friend, Spike. I named him Snoopy.

Guess what happened next? People all over the world started to love Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and all their friends like Lucy and Linus. My little comic strip started appearing in newspapers in different countries. It was like my friends were traveling the globe and making new friends everywhere they went. It made me so happy to know that my drawings were making people smile. Soon, we even started making TV shows. Maybe you've seen 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'? Making that show was so much fun because we got to see our characters move and talk and sing. For almost 50 years, I drew a brand new 'Peanuts' comic strip every single day. I never missed a day. It was my job, but it was also my greatest joy. I loved waking up in the morning, sitting down at my drawing table, and thinking about what adventures Charlie Brown and Snoopy would have next. Sharing their stories with you was the best part of my life.

After many, many years of drawing, my hands got tired, and I knew it was time to rest. I decided to retire and draw one last comic strip to say goodbye. It was hard to say farewell to my friends, but I was so proud of all the adventures we had shared. I passed away peacefully, and my very last comic strip appeared in the newspapers the next day, on February 13th, 2000. Even though I am no longer here to draw them, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the whole Peanuts gang are still around. They are here to make you laugh, to show you that it's okay to feel shy or worried sometimes, and to remind you to never, ever give up on your dreams, no matter what.