Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle: The Inspiring, Untold Story of the Making of a Holiday Classic

by Michael Keane

Discover the inspiring, unknown, against-all-odds story of how the classic animated holiday special  A Charlie Brown Christmas  almost never made it on to television.

Professor and cultural historian Michael Keane reveals much in this nostalgia-inducing book packed with original research and interviews. Keane compellingly shows that the ultimate broadcast of the Christmas special—given its incredibly tight five-month production schedule and the decidedly unfavorable reception it received by the skeptical network executives who first screened it—was nothing short of a miracle. Keane explains why the show, despite its technical shortcomings, has become an uplifting and enduring triumph embraced by millions of families every Christmas season, even more than fifty years after its premiere. This gripping and joyful behind-the-scenes story of how the creators of  A Charlie Brown Christmas  struggled to bring the program to life will also help readers (and loyal fans) understand how America’s favorite Christmas special changed our popular culture forever. Keane masterfully weaves the momentous events of 1965 (the turbulent year of the program’s production) into his story, providing critical context for a profound new understanding of the program’s famous climactic scene, Linus’s spot-lit soliloquy answering the question repeatedly posed by Charlie Brown—"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

Genres: Christmas, Nonfiction, History, Holiday, Tv

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 17, 2023

Reviews

[Joe Krakovsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHARLIE BROWN'S CHRISTMAS MIRACLE is the fascinating story of how one of the most beloved holiday TV animations came about. When one considers all the new ground covered and taboos violated that went into the production of the television special, one has to wonder if it really was a miracle, or just an incredible amount of favorable coincidences that made it all possible.

The comic strip PEANUTS ran for 50 years, from 1950 to 2000, and at its heyday was the most widely read in the world. In 1965 the Coca-Cola company, hoping to boost sales, wanted to sponsor an animated holiday special for the Christmas season because the year before Rudolf the Red-Nose Reindeer had run. At that time networks battled for TV shows and specials were frowned upon, except for THE WIZARD OF OZ and THE MISS AMERICA BEAUTY PAGEANT, which were annual events. Running a special meant taking over another show's time slot. If that wasn't bad enough,they only had 6 months to make up a story, draw the characters on thousands of storyboards, find actors for the voices, find the right background music, and a host of other things that could make or break such an endeavor. But they were determined to try.

In those days American families felt they needed and relied on televisions (TVs), which were still fairly new for the consumer, for news as well as entertainment, much like teenagers with their phones today. And since Christmas specials were shown once a year instead of all day long, families looked forward to them as if they were as much a tradition as Santa Claus and Christmas trees.

The creator of PEANUTS, Charles Schultz, felt like the country needed a message of faith that sprang from the gratitude he felt towards God sparing his life during World War II. There is one scene, probably the most important scene in the whole program, where little Linus, at center stage, recites the passages from the Bible that announce the birth of Jesus Christ. Most of the critics before the program aired said that it was too preachy, or even sacrilegious. He argued that it told in pure, simple language of a child the true meaning of Christmas, which he thought was getting too commercial. And judging from the Christmas displays I see being set up two weeks before Thanksgiving I would say he was quite right!

In the days before folks were able to record programs off their TVs, they relied heavily on the critics for planning which programs they would watch. Some of us may remember the weekly TV GUIDE magazine created for this purpose. One of the most respected critics wrote his article days before the show aired, and he did nothing but heap praise on it. That critic was Jewish. That review have had something to do with some 15.5 million viewers tuning in.

So much was covered in this book. Besides documenting the effort to finish the project before the deadline, the book is a time capsule for the culture and society back then. Consider the airline industry. They had just started using jets. Male passengers wore suits and women were expected to wear dresses and heels. Stewardesses were single, young, slim, and attractive. Age 32 was considered too old, but then again most were married after two years of service. Respectability and cleanliness were essential values of American TV audiences at that time, except for such incidents as when Betty Furness couldn't get the new refrigerator door open during a live broadcast of a commercial and swore out loud. Space is given for race relations and mention is made of the new character Schulz created after Martin Luther King was shot. He was a little African American boy named Franklin.

Charles Schulz suffered from depression which may have been PTSD that was triggered by the newscasts of the Vietnam war. Though he suspected it as much he refused treatment, as it provided his creativity for his work. Thus Lucy was sometimes portrayed behind her psychologist desk, which looked like a kids' lemonade stand, and Linus with his blanket popularized the term 'security blanket.'

Here are some interesting facts about the production. It was suggested to use Mel Blanc for the character voices. After all, he had probably the greatest voice talent of all time, even though he smoked a pack a day since age eight. Schulz wanted real kids to do the voices. They ran in age from 6, Sally, to 9 years old. They were given their scripts, but couldn't read, so a frantic effort was made to have the kids repeat the lines the adults spoke. And low and behold, the kids started picking up a Mexican accent from the producer as they repeated what he said.

Schulz's creation PEANUTS was the longest running and most popular comic strip in history. Over the years he won numerous awards, not to mention a fortune for his work. When asked about what he was most proud of he replied his combat infantryman's badge, which he had won some 53 years earlier after having seen combat and the newly liberated Dachau concentration camp.

I highly recommend this book even though I was given one for an honest review.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved.This.Book!

Fans of history, biographies, Christmas, and of course the Peanuts characters, will relish this read as Keane skillfully introduces you to the full cast of people that brought about the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. And it truly was a miracle that it was ever aired!

This is a fun and informative read of the miraculous behind the scenes - definitely recommend this one!

Ages: 14+

Content Considerations: mentions drinking, smoking, suicide, a couple of divorces.

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[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle” is everything I’d hoped it would be. Anyone that has been within shouting distance from me (especially at Christmastime) knows that I’m obsessed with the Charlie Brown Christmas special, particularly because it’s one of the very few animated holiday television shows that includes the true meaning of Christmas. I love happy, good-natured Snoopy, and Linus’s Luke chapter 2 performance can’t be topped!

I loved learning about the history of this show and Charles Shultz’s determination to not lose the true meaning of Christmas through the creation of the special. This book reveals the many obstacles that were overcome, and the miracle of the show’s production and success.

Though there are many other focuses than Charles Shultz and the Peanut’s Gang, (such as Coca-Cola, CBS executives, etc.) this is the perfect gift for Charlie Brown Christmas fans (like me!)

First Line (Introduction): Charles Shultz had a problem.
Genre: Non-Fiction
Author: Michael Keane
Page Count: 304

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.

[Susan Shipe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know that the classic, animated holiday special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, almost never made it onto television?
Michael Keane, a professor and cultural historian, reveals "almost all" in this nostalgic book, which is packed with *original* research and interviews.
Go behind the scenes and learn how the creators of ACBC struggled to bring the program to life. This wonderful program changed our popular culture forever!
Historian Keane is a masterful weaver connecting the momentous events of 1965 with his compelling story. The reader will have a new understanding of the program's scene/s, and especially Linus's highlighted soliloquy as he answers Charlie Brown's repeated question, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"
I highly, and gladfully recommend this wonderful read for anyone and especially for those who (almost) canonize Charlie Brown and his delightful cast of characters!

[Annie Riggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and festive! Who knew the backstory of making the special was so “on brand”?

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Charlie Brown Christmas, I have watched every year of my 51 years on earth. It doesn't seem like Christmas, until I watch it. 'Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle' takes a behind the scenes look at, in my opinion, one of the all time best TV specials. In 1965, Schulz was approached with doing a Peanuts Christmas Special. There were only 6 mins to get it done in and amazingly it got down. It almost didn't get made because two CBS executives didn't like it (I won't tell you why). A Charlie Brown Christmas won the hearts of millions of Americans. I am sad to know that Apple TV bought all the rights to the Peanuts movies and they will be shown only on their platform, to think that millions of kids well miss watching a fabulous special. Luckily for me, I have the DVD of it.😊 If you love A Charlie Brown Christmas, you need to read this book to find out why it almost didn't happen.

Thank you to Worthy Publishing and Michael Keane for the PDF for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#worthypublishing
#michaelkeane
#CharlieBrownsChristmasMiracle

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The backstory was so interesting.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a huge fan of the Peanuts Christmas Special and was intrigued and immediately excited to read this book about how the Peanuts Special came into perhaps what is today one of the most watched and beloved Christmas Special of all time.
I loved the Introduction how the author brought in his own experience of what the show means to him as a soldier, experiencing Christmas alone away from his family,
From the initial idea to turn the book into a movie to gaining sponsorship from Coca Cola , to the issues of sending Christian messages through the telling of this classic tale . This book covers it all .
Im also saddened to learn that Apple Tv bought the rights and it will no longer be aired publically for millions will miss out on a true holiday treasure.

[M. Slinger-Carreer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't quite what I thought it would be. The title, in my opinion, is a little misleading.
While it does talk about the making of the holiday classic, it's MAYBE 1/3 of the book. The author spends most of the book giving the fairly detailed life stories of the major players involved in the making. Such as the cartoonist, the producer, the president of the Coca-Cola company (who funded it), the animator, the advertiser and the TIME magazine writer who wrote a review about it before it premiered. Honestly, it felt like the author set out to write a book about the making of this 30 minute cartoon, realized there wasn't much to tell, so, to make the book longer, he included all these life stories and made it seem like every decision these people made in their lives lead them to this moment in time. President Ronald Reagan's brother was involved with this production but for some reason the author spent a lot of time talking about the President, even though he literally had nothing to do with it.
All that aside, their biographies were interesting and the actual info about the making of the TV special was fun.

[Jody Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so interesting to read of the making of the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. It really was a miracle. So many events had to occur to make it happen and happen quickly since it all came together in 6 months. It is more remarkable because it occurred in 1965 - before Google, cell phones, computers generated animation. So many people "just happened" to be home and able to answer their rotary phone at the right moment. You learn about the producer, the composer, Vince Guaraldi, the sponsor, Coca Cola, the critics, and of course Charles Schulz. He was determined to have Linus quote the Bible verses from Luke about the first Christmas despite misgivings by pretty much everyone else. I appreciated learning about the little red headed girl from the comic strip and other background information I never knew. I enjoyed reading about the careers of the children who were the voices of all of the characters. And now of course, I want to watch Charlie Brown's Christmas special with new understanding and new appreciation.

[Debbie Presnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. The author does a great job of giving you the back story of everyone involved in the making of the special without going overboard. I couldn’t wait to get to the end to see how the special turned out (even though I’ve been watching it for almost 60 years).

[Dave Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher as a review copy. In a little over a month, Lord willing, I will turn 60. You wouldn't need to know that except for this, A Charlie Brown Christmas aired for the first time when I was two years old. It has pretty much always been part of my Christmas memories. When something like that has been around that long, it's almost easy for it to be taken for granted, but this book shows the serendipitous route it took to have been made. It turns out the existence of the show is nearly as miraculous as the book's title suggests. I knew early on this book was going to be a good read. The author starts off with a personal memory of a war time experience that showed the power of this simple program to touch a heart and help a person to believe things would be alright again even in a very traumatic experience. Keane has an amazing way with words throughout. His descriptive language is at times almost poetic yet extremely clear and readable.

In the book, Keane gives us chapters on each of the main players who brought this special into existence. From the executive's at Coca Cola who wanted to sponsor a Christmas special to promote their brand after seeing the success General Electric had with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer the year before, to the ad-men who got to arrange the production, to the cast and crew, to the producer and director, and even the reviewer who may possibly have saved this most unusual creation. At the center of it all is Schulz, the creator of Peanuts. Charles Schulz made some interesting choices that were not what anyone expected, from the jazz soundtrack, to allowing the production to go forward in the first place. Schulz was very protective of his band of kids, and wanted to see them always portrayed in the best light.

Schulz's biggest hurdle came in the show's theme. Schulz himself had see the horrors of war, and those horrors drove him deep into his Christian faith. He insisted that the special be about Charlie Brown finding the true meaning of Christmas, complete with a minute long recitation from Linus from Luke chapter two. Needless to say, there was pushback against this even in 1965. The concern was that a more secular audience would be offended and that Christians may find a recitation of the Gospel by cartoon characters irreverent. The special was entirely put together in under six months, an unheard of feat in a time when animation was still largely hand drawn frame by frame. The result was animation that was at times a little rough and there was some doubt as to whether the special would ever see the light of day. Of course it is no spoiler to say all the concerns were overcome and the resulting program has blessed generations people for nearly six decades.

I loved this book. It was highly enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable. It gave me a new appreciation for the special, Peanuts and especially for Schulz, a Christian creative who stuck to his vision and made something magical. Five stars is not enough.

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like thousands of other people, I grew up with Charlie Brown through newspaper comic strips and occasional TV specials. The spinning, colorful logo for “A CBS Special Presentation,” accompanied by a bit of percussion and horns from Morton Stevens’s Hawaii Five-O soundtrack, still today makes my heart speed up a little, just thinking of it. Back when I was a kid, that opening heralded something potentially magical—and the most special of all presentations was a Charlie Brown special.

So it was with no small excitement that I picked up Michael Keane’s book all about the special that started it all: A Charlie Brown Christmas. I wanted to know everything. And wow, do I now know everything! Keane traces the creation of the half-hour special by introducing the reader to each of the people who bore the heaviest responsibility for it. The chapter focusing on Charles Schulz himself doesn’t begin until page eighty-three. Before that, we learn about the producer (Lee Mendelson), Coca-Cola (the show’s original sponsor), and CBS (who needed a Christmas special to compete with the previous year’s Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer on NBC). After a fascinating and heartbreaking chapter about Schulz, we continue on the journey to the original broadcast with director Bill Melendez, ad executive Neil Reagan (brother of Ronald), composer Vince Guaraldi, the animators and voice actors, Time Magazine critic Richard Burgheim, and the first audience to watch the special.

How could I have guessed when I picked up the book that I’d be learning so much about Coca-Cola, Ronald Reagan’s childhood, the Vietnam War, Walt Disney, and the architecture of Manhattan? But it’s all in there. Readers who enjoy history that explores all the tangents and leaves no bit of even somewhat interesting information, however unrelated to the main topic, unexplored will love this book. Those who want straightforward, direct, focused history writing will be enormously frustrated. I’m more in the former group, but still, Keane includes so many extraneous details, whole paragraphs or even pages that I would tell my students to cut if I were directing their writing, that it was sometimes wearying. However, following Keane in his storytelling results in an interesting picture of the mid-1960s, when A Charlie Brown Christmas was created and first broadcast. It also reveals the many layers involved in a creative process. Everyone Keane profiles in the book had big stakes in whether the special turned out to be successful or not. I felt the tension as I read the pages just before the special aired, Thursday, December 9, 1965.

My favorite chapter is the one about Vince Guaraldi, whose music forms perhaps a bigger part of why I and others love the show than even the animation. It has that perfection that seems inevitable, but the book explains what a risk it was to choose a jazz score for a children’s animated special. I knew from listening to other albums by Guaraldi that the “Linus and Lucy” theme for Peanuts bears a lot of similarity to his tune, “Cast Your Fate to the Wind.” So I was interested to learn that this was no coincidence—that tune is the one that local radio stations were playing, which led Mendelson to Guaraldi (before the Christmas special, actually; “Linus and Lucy” was written for a documentary Mendelson filmed about Schulz but which never aired). I didn’t know anything about Guaraldi’s jazz mass, played for the reopening of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. I found that section of the book fascinating.

Charlie Brown’s Christmas Miracle presents a comprehensive (sometimes exhausting) telling of the creation of one of the great moments in TV history (though I favor It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown just slightly above the Christmas special). For fans of the Peanuts TV specials, and for anyone wanting more information about popular culture in the 1960s, this book is fantastic. If you've ever wondered how "Graphic Blandishment" originated or who Bill Littlejohn was, you should read the book.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was born in 1964 and grew up watching the show. Then made sure my daughter also grew up enjoying it. This was a great read about the way the show was able to come together. Lots of cultural references took me back also! When I finished the book I was able to find the original version, which also showed the changes made to the revised version, on youtube...that was great!
I received this in a Goodreads giveaway..Thanks!!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

let the record show that this rating does not reflect my deep love for the peanuts themselves.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a child, my mom, brother, and I would watch A Charlie Brown Christmas every year. It is one of my fondest childhood memories, and I have the special on DVD.

The history of the making of A Charlie Brown Christmas is truly inspiring. It's hard to believe that this Christmas special almost didn't make it to TV because scripture of the first Christmas being included from the character of Linus. I am so glad that Shultz held his ground on this.

[Ann L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an advanced reader's copy of this book (PDF version) so I could read and review it before it comes out publicly for anyone to purchase.

I grew up reading Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang, so it was quite interesting to read about the history of the making of the Christmas special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Matter of fact, I have the DVD at home as it brings me nostalgic feelings every time I view it during the holidays.

There were some winded sections in the book where it was unnecessary to read. I'm not really into learning about people I hardly know in reading all the intimate details of their lives. But, in regards to the main people who got this Christmas program into the TV in the 1960's, that was an interesting read. I felt the book could of been a bit shorter as it was a little long for me.

I did enjoy reading about Charles Schulz's life and how he worked, etc., because I always am interested in how artists create and keep themselves busy doing what they love best. Creativity is king to living a productive life. Schulz was an interesting character himself, and I loved reading how he stuck to his guns when it came down to what he wanted for his cartoons and TV shows.

This book reads like a history book in a lot of respects. It's a biography of all the different people involved intimately and also distantly in the creative process of how Charlie Brown came to be on TV. It had a "Madmen" vibe to it (for those of you who watched that show) in that it describes the games that had to be played to get things done, to move things along, to stroke someone's good side or not, as it was all about advertisements and how it affected the outcome.

Overall, a good read! I enjoyed it and am glad I got to read this.

[A Bear and a Bee Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.

3.5 stars

The beginning of this book is filled with tender hearted moments and grips at the nostalgia of childhood and Christmas. The meaning behind this text and that of the television special resonates with Christianity, purity, and is further shaded by a bit of melancholy. The tv special has the power to bring you back to a time when awe and the power of Christmas still had the ability to whisk you away. As adults it is much harder work to attain this peaceful state of being.

The research was done extremely well; however, I found the story a bit disjointed and meandering (regular readers of non-fiction may not find it so). Overall, I appreciated the heart of the story and the respect displayed for veterans. I also appreciated the discussions of mental illness and how it might be linked to creativity as an outlet.

Lovers of Peanuts should definitely give this a try!

[Marcus McCollom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal in every regard. A perfect Christmas book and excellent read for those who love Christmas. It’s a book of American history, it’s a book of American culture that so perfectly encompasses life at that time. A great holiday read that includes such notable things such as Coca-Cola, Ronald Regan, the Vietnam War, Walt Disney, and many others, this author not only shows the many moving parts of making this holiday special but the cultural significance it held for the American public and those involved in making it. Truly one of the best books I’ve ever read.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited when I was asked if I would like to review, Charlie Brown’s Christmas Miracle.

I feel such a kinship towards Charlie Brown and his friends as his very first Christmas special aired on the exact day and year I was born.

I have personally watched every Charlie Brown cartoon at least a dozen times over.

This non-fiction book really delves into the story and history of the creation of a classic story that has been watched by millions of people for over 50 years.

I am amazed at the amount of information that is within these pages.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review this fascinating book.

[Pete Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

To use the word ‘Miracle’ in the title of a book about a tv special might seem over the top. But in this case it truly was a miracle. So many people had to come together in such a very short period of time to put together what I believe is a beautiful work of art. I watched it again this year and nothing has changed. If anything, my appreciation has even grown. I am now lucky to share it with my children.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. If you love the Charlie Brown Christmas special (and I DO), you'll probably like it as much as I did. There are some fascinating factoids interspersed throughout that I hadn't known and which were super interesting. It was a minor miracle that the Charlie Brown special was even produced and that it was (and remains) so popular-it makes me appreciate it all the more. I've noted that several reviewers had critiques concerning the great detail provided about the backgrounds of the main characters. But I enjoy history and appreciated the information so that I could place the production in its proper historical context-at times it was a bit much but I was never bothered enough to discontinue this rather fast, rewarding read.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Keane, take a bow.

I love A Charlie Brown Christmas. I love Peanuts. I love this book.

Simply wonderful.

[Debbie Slaughter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to receive this book for review and I am still happy I got it, because I think my husband is really going to enjoy it. However...I'm only giving it 3 stars because to me, it read more like a very detailed history book, rather than a simple book about how a beloved cartoon was made.

If you enjoy behind the scenes stories (which I normally do), and lots and lots of details, complete with names, dates and events, then you will enjoy this book. There are a lot of characters mentioned in this book, that played a role in the eventual broadcasting of the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas show. We are talking the biggest sponsor - Coca-Cola, the directors, actors, and even the Reagan brothers (as in Ronald and Neil).

All that being said, I got bogged down in the details. I needed more fluff and instead, it continued to give me way too much substance in the form of other historical events happening at the same time negotiations were in the works for this show.

Don't get me wrong - this is a quality book, which took a lot of research to put together. But I think I needed the Cliff Note version, instead of this very hefty version.

All in all - don't be deterred! Michael Keane wrote what he must enjoy, as I know my husband will, when I hand this over to him.

[Audra PC · Rating 5 out of 5]

In our household, Charlie Brown's Christmas has been a long time tradition. I was so excited to read the intense behind the scenes making of this beloved holiday tale.

A lengthy, in depth page turner for any history or Peanuts buff. I found the book to be an easy read, very interesting, highly detailed. From story to producers to finance to any and everything in-between, it’s crazy to think our timeless tale was almost never to be. Why? Read the book to find out!

This would be a wonderful addition to any library and a wonderful gift!

This is a book that will appeal to those who enjoy history, Charles Shultz and to the many of us who enjoyed the Charlie Brown Christmas special.

[Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
Scripture Connection

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11
I’m citing the King James Version here, like Linus.

Spiritual Themes

Charlie Brown’s Christmas Miracle reads for a secular audience, but one of the key discussions in the book is about Charles Shulz’s determination to include the Bible as Linus’s Christmas soliloquy. In one section about a young Episcopal minister, Charles Gompertz, Keane describes the providential series of events leading up to Keane’s booking jazz musician Vince Guaraldi for the inaugural mass at Grace Cathedral: “This was more than just a wonderful coincidence. It seemed like divine intervention” (p. 161).

I would contend that the word “miracle” in the title carries this same theme throughout the book. While the passage above is probably the most “spelled out” instance of this theme, and Keane doesn’t reference God directly, the book weaves a tapestry of the many details that had to work together just so for Charlie Brown’s Christmas miracle. The word “miracle” implies Someone behind it, although the closest the author comes to this is discussing religious elements. I feel like the author is, in some ways, following Schulz’s example of placing truth before a mainstream audience. He’s not speaking to the church crowd, and he generally doesn’t speak in church-y lingo, but his discussion of the miracle points readers… upward.

With that said, I found the book to be deeply inspirational, even in its subtlety.

What I Liked

Before I started reviewing books, I almost never read nonfiction recreationally. The exception to this trend was The Good Neighbor, by Maxwell King. The book is a biography of Fred Rogers, a man whose life’s work deeply impacted me– although it wasn’t until adulthood that I was blessed to watch Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Now that I review, I do mix in some nonfiction, not only for personal enrichment, but because these books are about topics that are important to me (like environmental stewardship and social justice), and I feel they should be read. However, I do find myself slogging through educational commentary / awareness titles.

I say all this because, as I started this book, I realized something about myself: I think I am more amenable to nonfiction that tells a story, rather than providing a lot of research and commentary. Obviously, titles like this one are very research based, but Keane’s masterful storytelling inserts the reader into the world he’s recalling. I felt immersed in the story, not like I was reading a research report.

I haven’t read enough books of this sort to know if I would generally like them, or if my enjoyment is entirely based on the writers’ crafting of the story. It is very clear to me, however, that Michael Keane is a fantastic storyteller!

Organization

The compelling nature of the book is due, in part, to the events described, in part to the author’s skill in describing them — and also in large part to Keane’s organization of the story.

After a bit of groundwork (a chapter about why this little movie was a miracle; another chapter setting the scene for the year 1965), each chapter is devoted to a specific person / group of people who played a significant role in the development of the Christmas special.

Chapters begin with a bit of biographical background on the person described, then seamlessly flow into this person’s role in the creation of the film. It is absolutely brilliant how Keane fits the pieces together. I envision it almost as a two-dimensional puzzle depicting a spiral. Each chapter is both a new piece in the puzzle and a deeper step into the narrative. The book flows chronologically, but each chapter backtracks to the beginning of the character’s story.

Research / Key Figures

In addition to telling a compelling story in a compelling way, the book is very well researched. I so enjoyed reading about the various key figures who contributed in some way to the creation of the special, and I very much appreciated the breadth of the research. I learned a good deal about the time period of the film’s creation, as I walked with the “characters” (real people) in the chapters about their lives. Chapters functioned as miniature biographies, as readers gain a good deal of information about the personal lives of those involved– not just about their participation in the movie.

I have to say, even though I don’t drink soda, the book made me feel much warmer towards the Coca-Cola company. I also especially enjoyed the insights into the early Walt Disney production company (as we learn that Bill Melendez, the director, started out animating for Disney).

Overall, the story is simply beautiful — all the more so because of the many perspectives, and the inclusion of so many people also contributes to the book’s stellar pacing.

Content Notes

As mentioned above, this book is not ” although its themes certainly are. With that said, I was so grateful that the author did not feel the need to include sex /shocking content to hold the audience’s interest.

On the other hand, with the inclusion of direct quotes, there are a number of instances of using God’s name in vain.

War is also a fairly significant theme, in the book.

Recommendation Status

While I didn’t appreciate the above content, this is a title that I very much enjoyed. Recommended to those who enjoy underdog stories, especially about Christians, as well as fans of the Peanuts comics. What a beautiful story!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved all the information, but for me he went into too much depth and detail into some of the people working on the special. He could have cut out some of the info on the behind the scenes people and just given the basics.

[Jill Clevenger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Information overload: however a neat story and history infused

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Charlie Brown’s Christmas Miracle, Michael Keane explored how the Christmas special come to be. He is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University and an historian. He shared his research and interviews with the key behind the special. Some of these included the producer, Lee Mendelson, The Sponsor, Coca-Cola and J. Paul Austin, The Cartoonist, Charles M. Schulz, The Director, Bill Melendez, The Jazz Musician, Vince Guaraldi, and much more. The book explored the background of each key person and the challenges they faced.


It all begin in 1965 around the time Vietnam was occurring and the civic rights of Black Americans was being finally questioned. Peanuts was released as a cartoon strip in newspapers in 1950. It grew to 60 million people and was published in 700 hundred newspapers. Lee was the one who first tried to sell the Christmas special to networks. Charlie Brown Christmas Special suffered a 6-month delivery schedule. Charles made the decision to stand firm and to show cast the true meaning of Christmas. He wanted to have Linus recite content from the Book of Luke, chapter 2, 8-14. Before this there hasn’t been any cartoons that would touch on religion or God. Warner Bros., Disney, and Hanna-Barbera has never done so. He faced some backlash for choosing to do this. He also wanted to include Jazz as the music featured in the short cartoon. He didn’t want to allow Snoopy to ever speak but he would allow him to use noises. He didn’t want a laugh track to be used and even the suggestion of this caused Charles to walk out of the room.


He also shared how Charles suffered from agoraphobia, depression, and anxiety. He sometimes didn’t want to leave his home. He won the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year but he didn’t attend. He couldn’t fly due to his attack of agoraphobia. He ended up putting psychiatric help in his storyline by using Lucy to deliverer the message. Mental health become a topic and readers could connect to it due to post war. He lost 20 pounds and suffered from anxiety but would be revealed to be in good health by multiple doctors. He later made comments on how he believed sadness helped him in creating even better cartoon ideas. The author also shared his own personal thoughts on that he most likely suffered from PTSD. Charles passed away in 2000 from colon cancer at age 77.



The Christmas special ran on CBS until the year 2000. Then it moved to ABC. In 2018, Apple purchased the broadcasting rights and have since moved exclusively to Apple TV+.


I would recommend this awesome book on the Charlies Brown Christmas Special to anyone who is curious about the history of the special. I liked how he explored the director side, audience, the cartoonist, producer, sponsor, agency, and so much more. He looked at the background on them all and how they all fit together. He looked at the backlash and the critics. I haven’t heard some of the events before reading this book and it made me fall even more in love with the message of this cartoon. It was interesting to read about the jazz content and the religion aspect that Charles refused to change. It was also remarkable to read about the different changes they made in the special that aired every year. It makes you question what has been changed over the years that not many noticed. This is a perfect book to read before you watch the special this year.



"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.”

[Conny Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If it’s to be a Christmas special, I want it to certainly deal with the true meaning of Christmas,” Charles Schulz insisted regarding his animated story in Michael Keane’s Charlie Brown’s Christmas Miracle.

~ What ~
This three-hundred-and-four-page hardbound with a jacket cover targets those who are interested in learning about the backstory of the famous Christmas special involving the Peanuts cartoon. With minor quoted profanity and taking the Lord’s name in vain, topics of depression, illness, and death may not be appropriate for some readers. While the beginning includes a list of characters, preface, and introduction, the ending has an author’s note, appendix, acknowledgments, and notes. Eight glossy pages with photographs and descriptions are inserted in the middle of the book.

In this inspiring story, the making of the short 1965 television special covers all the players who participated in the creation and production of the classic animated special. The chapters cover the producer, sponsor, agency, network, cartoonist, director, adman, jazz musician, animators, actors, television critic, and the audience. Throughout the pages, each character is discussed including their upbringing, education, career, and often religious convictions. The ending has a recap of the holiday program including the importance of reciting Luke’s story of Christ’s birth from the Bible.

~ Why ~
Unique in its format, the story is personal in how and why each character was driven and challenged to produce the thirty-minute special in six months. I appreciated its details about Schulz’s depression and his insistence that Scripture would be read, despite it causing an issue. The biographies were interesting and not too tedious and drawn out.

~ Why Not ~
Those who do not care about the iconic Charlie Brown comic strip may not appreciate the book. Others may not like the Christian-referenced content, but it is factual based on individuals’ beliefs without being demanding or hypocritical. A few may tire with the name-dropping that connects the dots between those involved.

~ Wish ~
While the story included many facets of creating the Christmas special that is still enjoyed decades later, I wish it focused more on Schulz and contained less detailed information on others such as Coca-Cola and Reagan, yet both were pertinent to its success.

~ Want ~
If you want to know about God’s miracle producing an iconic Christmas special, this is an engaging and interesting read.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Hachette Book Group, Center Street, and the author for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.