Happiness is Snuggling Up With a Book by Charles Schulz

Everyone wants to be happy, but we all get there by different roads. Charles Schulz presents many possible paths in the classic Happiness Is a Warm Puppy.

Each two-page spread in this small, square gift book includes a statement on the left beginning with "Happiness is," with an ornate, calligraphic "H," and an illustration on the right featuring one or more of the Peanuts characters. Linus, Lucy and Charlie Brown get the most mileage here, but several other characters put in an appearance, and Snoopy gets special mention for being the titular "warm puppy," even if he is a bit beyond puppyhood.

Actually, I find the title illustration rather surprising, since it shows Snoopy getting an affectionate hug from Lucy, who usually runs around complaining about dog germs and such. But I'll take it as a rare tender moment showing that she's not quite as crabby as she would like everyone to think.

Other statements seem more obviously in character. "Happiness is getting together with your friends." Here we get Snoopy atop his doghouse surrounded by four birds, one of whom is probably Woodstock, though this is still the early stage in which Woodstock bears practically no resemblance to the bright yellow bird of later strips and specials. "Happiness is a thumb and a security blanket." Hmmmm, I wonder who that could be? And two pages involving finding happiness in one's intellect depict a rather smug-looking Linus in glasses, though in another instance Linus' happiness derives from being able to tie his own shoes. A bit of a conundrum, that boy...

Some I especially relate to. "Happiness is a fuzzy sweater." How true! In fact, I'm wearing one right now. "Happiness is the hiccups... after they've gone away!" The aggravated look on Linus' face with this one matches my frustration when I find myself under this affliction. "Happiness is climbing a tree" has a strange illustration, as the tree in which Lucy, Linus and Charlie Brown are sitting seems to cradle the three of them like a giant baseball glove. Boy, do I wish I had a tree like that to curl up in... I'm with Lucy on her fondness for walking in the rain, though as likely as not I'll skip the umbrella and raincoat.

The sentiment that strikes me as funniest accompanies a drawing of Charlie Brown pushing a couple of coins under a ticket window. "Happiness is thirty-five cents for the movie, fifteen cents for popcorn and a nickel for a candy bar." Ha! That would indeed be happiness (says the girl who went to see two movies at five bucks a pop in the past couple weeks, to say nothing of the cost of popcorn). Yes, this book is a little dated, but 45 years haven't changed most of the general joys mentioned here. A puppy hug is still free, and an indulgence I'll partake in most liberally. Whatever brings you happiness, you're likely to find a kindred spirit in Schulz's charming book.