Act I
Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang celebrate "The World According to Snoopy." Snoopy, decked out as “Joe Cool,” enters and casually reclines on his doghouse. After a series of brief vignettes, Snoopy laments the monotony and repetition of his daily life (“Snoopy’s Song”). But he changes his mind after Lucy suggests that Charlie Brown trade him in for a couple of goldfish.
Woodstock, Snoopy’s silent but expressive bird pal, falls in love with a worm (“Woodstock’s Theme”). Snoopy remarks, “That’s like me falling in love with a can of dog food.” But it doesn’t last long: Woodstock’s wormfriend runs off with the early bird.
The kids head off to school, led by safety patrol officer Charlie Brown. In class, Peppermint Patty gets carried away in answering true or false questions, Lucy applies her math skills to Louis the Fourteenth, and Sally indignantly challenges her grade for a coat hanger sculpture. But mostly, the entire class agonizes over “Edgar Allen Poe.”
In his one-dog “Paw-pet Show,” Snoopy presents an all-puppet production of War and Peace. Lucy asks Peppermint Patty and Sally, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have your whole life to live over if you knew what you know now?” and the three girls celebrate the breadth of their knowledge (“I Know Now”).
With Snoopy at his side, Linus sits all night in the pumpkin patch, awaiting the arrival of the Great Pumpkin (“The Vigil”). Lucy imperiously declares that this year will be her year, and Snoopy leafs through his photo album of past supper dishes. The whole gang relaxes on the grass, discovering imaginative patterns in the “Clouds.”
Snoopy enters as the Easter Beagle and gives bright Easter eggs to everyone except Charlie Brown. A dejected Charlie Brown, musing on the new independence of his pet, wonders "Where Did That Little Dog Go?" Snoopy nostalgically recalls his days at the puppy farm ("Daisy Hill") and settles into his favorite position: reclining on his doghouse with his head in the water dish.
Act II
Snoopy, “the world-famous writer,” feverishly pecks away at his typewriter. His short story submission is rejected by Playbeagle magazine, so he decides to write The Great American Novel (“The Great Writer”).
At her five-cent psychiatric booth, Lucy assures Charlie Brown that "each of us can be whatever she wants to be." Linus panics while his blanket is washed, and Snoopy presents a second feature at his “Paw-pet Show” Theatre.
Peppermint Patty asks Charlie Brown to explain love to her, and he describes the kind of girl he’d like to marry: someone who’d call him “Poor Sweet Baby.” Patty sings a lovely, affectionate song to Charlie Brown, and then says, “Forget it. It’ll never happen.”
The entire gang goes to the movies, where Snoopy presents his version of Jaws, entitled Teeth. Autumn leaves begin to fall. Inspired by the resilient cycle of nature, Sally leads the gang in a rousing song called “Don’t Be Anything Less Than Everything You Can Be.” Woodstock delivers a letter naming Snoopy “Head Beagle,” and Snoopy proudly accepts the honor (“The Big Bow-Wow”).
Everyone begins preparing for Christmas: Woodstock builds (and destroys) a snowman, Lucy writes to Santa, requesting cash, and Charlie Brown admires the stars at Christmas time. He believes there’s one star out there that is his star, prompting Linus to ask, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everybody believed in everybody?” Lucy scoffs at believing in someone like Charlie Brown, but Snoopy admits, “You gotta start someplace.” He begins to sing, and one by one, the kids join in. Soon the entire gang is holding hands and singing together (“Just One Person”).
Charlie Brown pets Snoopy and puts him to bed, saying, "He isn't much of a dog. But after all, who is?" Snoopy sighs and settles into sleep as the lights fade.