Who Was Charles Schulz by Joan Holub

 Who Was…? biography series for middle grade charms with the story of Charles Schulz – the cartoonist who created the beloved Peanuts gang.

Charles Schulz (1922-2000) was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was nicknamed Sparky from childhood.

With no TV back then, he listened to radio programs with his parents. Thus, the characters had to be imagined.

In those times, the comic books were very popular. He always carried a pencil in his pocket and copied comic characters.

After art school and during the Great Depression, he took any job he could. In his spare time, he kept on improving his drawing skills.

After the war, he got a job lettering the words in comic strips, and was also hired to teach at the Art Instruction Schools. His fellow instructors included struggling artists, too, but they learned from one another and helped each other improve.

Then, his work started appearing in a newspaper, and magazine. His characters were relatable and people loved them. By 1955, his Peanuts characters were in one hundred newspapers. By 1958, Peanuts was in 395 newspapers.

Meanwhile, he got married and had children. He had his routine/his work but he also dedicated some time to his children.

In 1962, he published a book which was about the simple pleasure that make people happy. The book became the New York Time best-seller.

Then, the time seemed right to try the Peanuts animated TV special. A Charlie Brown Christmas became a big success and won an Emmy Award. There were many more animated TV specials.

“The only thing I ever wanted to be was a cartoonist. That’s my life. Drawing.” – Charles Schulz

This biography exemplifies a man who lived during a time when imagination had to be used in order to see characters. His life was drawing and that was his driven force throughout his life. He was passionate about what he did, and that took him beyond his imagination, leading to animated movies based on his characters. 

This illustrated biography for young readers, ages 8-12, is presented in a relatable way, with simple sentences, and insightful inserts. 

Published by Penguin Workshop in 2022

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Drawing was his life and his passion, which took him beyond his imagination.

 

Traits:

·         With no TV, only radio, he had to use his imagination to see characters.

·         During his times, the comic books were very popular. He always carried a pencil in his pocket and copied comic characters.

·         In his spare time, he kept on improving his drawing skills.

·         His first job closest to drawing was lettering the words in comic strips.

·         When he taught art, he struggled like many other artists, but the key was they supported each other and learned from each other how to improve their art.

·         Then, his work started appearing in a newspaper, and magazine. His characters were relatable and people loved them.

·         Then, the time seemed right to try the Peanuts animated TV special. A Charlie Brown Christmas became a big success and won an Emmy Award.

 

 

“I have a new philosophy. I’m only going to dread one day at a time.” – Charles Schulz

“Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.” – Charles Schulz

“If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself.” – Charles Schulz

 

 

 

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 Charles’ words - “My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I’m happy. I can’t figure it out. What am I doing right?” - reminded me of Sadhguru’s words.

Life is not about searching for purpose but about learning how to be happy. Once we’re happy the purpose will follow.

This subject is further explored in his book – “Inner Engineering” by Sadhguru

Who Was Jules Verne? by James Jr. Buckley

 Who Was…? biography series for middle grade inspires with the story of Jules Verne – a famous French author, often called “the father of science fiction.”

Jules Verne (1828-1905) was born in Nantes, France. The family home was located on Feydeau Island, located on the Loire River. From the balconies of their home, Jules with his brother watched many boats move up and down the river. Jules dreamed of seeing faraway places those ships had come from, and with his brother learned to sail a small boat on a shallow river.

Jules didn’t like school much, but he did like writing. After graduating from High School, he wanted to join a ship’s crew, but his father, who was a lawyer, wanted him to study law. He studied law in Paris, but he never worked as a lawyer. Instead, he followed his dream to become a writer.

While living in Paris, he met famous writers of its time, Victor Hugo and Alexander Dumas.

He worked at a theater, his job wasn’t related to writing but it paid his bills.

Five years later, in 1857, he got married to a widow with two children.

In 1859, thanks to his friend’s brother who worked for a cargo shipping line, he was offered a free trip to England and Scotland. His dream of adventure was becoming real.

In 1862, Jules met Pierre-Jules Hetzel who was a magazine and book publisher, and agreed to publish Jules’ first novel – Five Weeks in a Balloon which was a story of a journey over Africa.

Jules belonged to a group of men who discussed the latest science news, which Jules integrated into his story-writing. His publisher saw it as profitable venture and signed a contract with Jules despite his first novel not doing that well.

Jules wrote the Adventures of Captain Hatteras. Then, Journey to the Center of the Earth. These two novels made him one of the most famous writers in France.

From the Earth to the Moon was published in the fall of 1865 and sold out by Christmas.

He continued to gather his knowledge from famous scientists and inventors. Joined with the experience from his travels, he used it for writing.

He combined all things he was passionate about in his book Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, which made him very famous.

In 1870, he received the National Order of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest award.

1871 was a hard year for everyone during the Franco-Prussian War. During war, the distinction has no meaning, so he had to go back to doing whatever paid his bills and supported his family.

In 1872, he published Around the World in Eighty Days, which became his most popular book.

With his success, he built a grand house in Amiens. When his publisher died, he was very well-off, and decided to represent the town council of Amiens. He wanted to make sure that poor people in the city were cared for.

At seventy-seven, he had a stroke and never recovered.

This biography exemplifies a man who stood by what he dreamed about. When opportunity presented, he explored the world. Throughout his life, he continuously gathered knowledge that interested him and utilized it in his writing which took him to stardom.

This illustrated biography for young readers, ages 8-12, is presented in a relatable way, with simple sentences, and insightful inserts.

Published by Penguin Workshop in 2016

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: He Stood by His Dreams which Took Him to Stardom.

 

 

Traits:

·         From childhood, he craved adventure as he observed boats passing by their house.

·         He wasn’t a good student but he recognized that he liked writing.

·         Even when his father wanted him to study law, he continued his writing.

·         After graduating law, he never worked as a lawyer. Instead, he had the guts to stand by his dreams and defy his father in following his calling.

·         His persistence made him one of the best writers of all time.

·         His curiosity about science and travel combined propelled him to be called the father of science fiction.

 

“We may brave human laws, but we cannot resist natural ones.” – Jules Verne

“When one has taken root one puts out branches.” – Jules Verne

“While there is life, there is hope.” – Jules Verne

 

 

 

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 Jules’ dream became real because he made it part of his present time, NOW. It didn’t become some illusion. Dr. Wayne Dyer explores the subject of Now in his book “Wisdom of the Ages”

It is said that circumstances do not make a man, they reveal him. There is the tendency to blame our past for our current shortcomings. It is a ready excuse for refusing to take the risks. Jules’ was the first born and it was expected of him to follow in his father’s footsteps. When he decided not to work in law but to follow his dream, he was cut off from any financial help from his father. He took risks and it paid off.

Let go of the past, the choice is yours to make the NOW. Remove all blame from your vocabulary. We can learn from the past but we live in the NOW.  

The life changes when our approach to life changes. And there is no better time than NOW.