Peanuts 1960s Collection

All six of the original 1960s Charlie Brown TV specials—which include A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) and He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown (1968)—are being released on DVD this month. Will 21st-century tykes embrace the shows as passionately as earlier generations did, or has the Peanuts gang’s wholesome goodness grown stale? To find out, I sat down for a viewing marathon with my kids, Madison, 8, and Jackson, 4, then inquired. Here’s what Staten Island’s youngest critics had to say.

Did you like Charlie Brown?
Madison He’s sweet! I don’t get why the kids are mean to him.

Is the Great Pumpkin real?
Jackson I think it is! It was funny when Charlie got a rock in his bag instead of candy when he went trick-or-treating.
Madison No, I thought it was silly.

Overall, thumbs up or down?
Madison I like that these kids are on their own. It doesn’t feel like there are grown-ups around, except when you hear a voice going “bwa, bwa, bwa.”
Jackson I don’t like when the kids sing. It’s boring. I think SpongeBob is better. But Snoopy is funny.—Melissa Chapman-Mushnick

Peanuts 1960s Collection will be released Jul 7. $30; at barnesandnoble.com.

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