The Peanuts Movie. 88 min. Dist. by Twentieth Century Fox. 2016. DVD, Blu-ray, digital HD $39.99. UPC 024543992691. 

K-Gr 4 –The Peanuts gang has returned in this delightful full-length feature, cowritten by Charles Schulz’s son and grandson. All of the classic elements of a Schulz story line are contained here. Surrounded by the usual cast of characters, Charlie Brown tries, often with no success, to get to know the new student in class, the Little Red-Haired girl. Woven in with Charlie’s story is the epic tale of Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace who must defeat the Red Baron in order to rescue the lovely poodle Fifi. This film is unique compared to many of today’s animated offerings. It doesn’t rely on jokes written on two levels, one for adults and one for children, or offer laughs via references to today’s pop culture. Rather, it gives adults quick nods to classic Peanuts moments, such as Lucy and her psychiatrist booth (her rate has not gone up), Charlie Brown and his sports mishaps, and the iconic Christmas TV special, while introducing children to the daily life of the Peanuts friends. Perhaps the biggest distinction is that the characters are voiced by children, rather than big-name talent, at no expense to the quality of the production. Also, the vibrantly hued computer animation plays just as well in 2-D as in the 3-D theater release, making the film feel like a comic strip brought to life. VERDICT Great for family or classroom viewing, this is a must-have for every collection.–Veronica De Fazio, Plainfield Public Library District, IL