Name: Walt Disney: Drawn from Imagination
Price: 7.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.6 (50 reviews)

Product Description




Walt Disney is undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in American history. 






What child doesn't grow up watching Disney films and reading Disney stories? With this biography for kids, young readers can learn about the man behind the mouse.





They'll learn that Walt came from very humble beginnings, growing up on a farm in Marceline, Missouri. The informative and approachable narrative details Walt's service in World War I, his early ambitions to be an animator, and the creation of Mickey Mouse. From there, the story chronicles Walt's major film developments, including
Snow White and
Bambi, and the genesis of Disneyland and Walt Disney World.





Aspiring young animators, Disney fans, and dreamers of all kinds will be inspired by Walt's ambitions and achievements. 






Searching for that perfect gift for the Disney kid in your life? Explore more behind-the-scenes stories:



A Kiss Goodnight (By Disney Legends Richard M. Sherman and Floyd Norman)
Pencils, Pens & Brushes: A Great Girls' Guide to Disney Animation
Mary Blair's Unique Flair: The Girl Who Became One of the Disney Legends





Review


A squeaky-clean biography of the original Mouseketeer. Scollon begins with the (to say the least) arguable claim that Disney grew up to "define and shape what would come to be known as the American Century." Following this, he retraces Disney's life and career, characterizing him as a visionary whose only real setbacks came from excess ambition or at the hands of unscrupulous film distributors. Disney's brother Roy appears repeatedly to switch between roles as encourager and lead doubter, but except in chapters covering his childhood, the rest of his family only puts in occasional cameos. Unsurprisingly, there is no mention of Disney's post World War II redbaiting, and his most controversial film, Song of the South, gets only a single reference (and that with a positive slant). More puzzling is the absence of Mary Poppins from the tally of Disney triumphs. Still, readers will come away with a good general picture of the filmmaking and animation techniques that Disney pioneered, as well as a highlight history of his studio, television work and amusement parks. Discussion questions are appended: "What do you think were Walt Disney's greatest accomplishments and why?" Brown's illustrations not seen. An iconic success story that has often been told before but rarely so one-dimensionally or with such firm adherence to the company line. (bibliography) (Biography. 8-10) Kirkus"

Gr 4-6 Scollon's biography merges personal and professional episodes into historical context. The book is well organized, punctuated with brief anecdotes, photos, memories, and facts. Chapter titles incorporate early Disney characters, illustrated by Brown, and foreshadow the next major theme. The last is especially sentimental, with Mickey and Pluto, their backs to readers, fishing on the end of dock as the sun sets. Though Disney nurtured a creative community of artists, he was also a devoted family man-so much so that his daughter had to ask if he was "the" Walt Disney. This informative title will appeal to those interested in the life and work of an artistic genius and the development of animation, from a single cartoon frame to a full-length movie. Although the book lacks an index, the "Discussion Questions" are ideal for book clubs and read-alouds. Whitney Stewart's Who Was Walt Disney (Grossett and Dunlap, 2009) is written at a lower level and relies solely on black-and-white drawings, while Judith Pinkerton Josephson's Walt Disney: Genius of Entertainment (Enslow, 2006), with its impressive chapter notes, is more conducive to research. Walt Disney: His Life in Pictures, edited by Russell Schroeder (Disney Press, 2009), is a photo biography that easily complements any biography. Scollon's engaging work fills a niche. Sharon Lawler, Texas Bluebonnet Award Committee SLJ"

The name Disney conjures up all sorts of things:

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