You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (NR, 1975)

In YOU'RE A GOOD SPORT, CHARLIE BROWN, Peanuts creator Charles Schulz took inspiration from his son's lifelong love of dirt biking to write a funny TV special reinforcing the merits of good sportsmanship. Charlie Brown (voiced by Duncan Watson) is invited by Peppermint Patty (Stuart Brotman) to participate in a charity motocross event. Despite his inexperience and broken-down equipment, Charlie Brown enters and finds himself pitted against mysterious competitor The Masked Marvel, who has every advantage to win the race. In the second episode entitled "You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown," The Marvel and Charlie Brown meet up again, this time at a school track meet.

The Peanuts movies are family favorites for the very attributes that characterize these two stories: funny, slapstick animation paired with a hapless hero to teach good values. The fact that Charlie Brown isn't a sure bet to be the winner of any contest he undertakes makes him accessible to children who are gaining confidence only as they gain skills. At the same time, Charlie Brown has a few solid friends who encourage him, love him despite his faults, and help him keep both wins and losses in perspective.

There may be a need for explanation from parents on scoring for tennis and for decathlons, as well as references to the big names in track from 1975 like Bruce Jenner and Dick Fosbury. Even without that, kids should be able to follow along the action just fine, entertained by Snoopy at every turn.