(2) K-3 Illustrated by Brigette Barrager. In 1940, artist Mary Blair got a job at Walt Disney Studios, where men in drab suits found her unconventional use of color to be "too vivid, too wild." Walt himself, though, took an interest in Mary's vision. Digital illustrations employ a kaleidoscopic palette in a retro aesthetic that reflects Disney's golden age. The text uses deliciously precise color names to conjure sights and emotions. Author's note included.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2017

(4) 4-6 This laudatory look at Disney covers the company's history, from Walt's birth to the anticipated 2016 opening of Shanghai Disneyland. Trivia about major films and TV shows and about the creation of theme parks is featured. Using a visually appealing layout, including color photos and movie stills, this coffee table book will appeal most to nostalgic adults. Any discussion of controversial topics is omitted. Timeline. Ind.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) 4-6 History's All-Stars series. Illustrated by Frank Irvin. Originally published in the Childhood of Famous Americans series, these fictionalized biographies are reissued with a new series name but are otherwise unchanged, dated-looking black-and-white illustrations and all. Focusing on events in each historical figure's childhood, the congenial narratives read smoothly with natural-sounding invented dialogue. Both books end "many years later..." with accounts of the subject's adult accomplishments. Review covers these History's All-Stars titles: Walt Disney and Betsy Ross.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(4) 4-6 Scollon's biography for middle graders showcases how Walt Disney's early experiences and obstacles fashioned him into a creative, determined adult who capitalized on and created new technologies to advance the fields of animation, movies, television, and theme parks. This simple introduction to an influential twentieth-century figure incorporates quotes, sidebar anecdotes, and small photos (many in murky black and white). Discussion questions are appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) K-3 Learn to Draw series. Each book describes the titular character or summarizes the movie's story, then shows, step-by-step, how to draw the characters. In just a few cumulative stages, the illustrations progress from outlines to finished depictions. The tie-in element of the series will appeal most to young Disney Princess fans. Review covers these Learn to Draw titles: Disney/Pixar Toy Story, Disney/Pixar Wall-E, The Fairies of Pixie Hollow, The Princess and the Frog, Tinker Bell, and Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Learn to Draw series. Each book describes the titular character or summarizes the movie's story, then shows, step-by-step, how to draw the characters. In just a few cumulative stages, the illustrations progress from outlines to finished depictions. The tie-in element of the series will appeal most to young Disney Princess fans. Review covers these Learn to Draw titles: Disney/Pixar Toy Story, Disney/Pixar Wall-E, The Fairies of Pixie Hollow, The Princess and the Frog, Tinker Bell, and Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Learn to Draw series. Each book describes the titular character or summarizes the movie's story, then shows, step-by-step, how to draw the characters. In just a few cumulative stages, the illustrations progress from outlines to finished depictions. The tie-in element of the series will appeal most to young Disney Princess fans. Review covers these Learn to Draw titles: Disney/Pixar Toy Story, Disney/Pixar Wall-E, The Fairies of Pixie Hollow, The Princess and the Frog, Tinker Bell, and Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Learn to Draw series. Each book describes the titular character or summarizes the movie's story, then shows, step-by-step, how to draw the characters. In just a few cumulative stages, the illustrations progress from outlines to finished depictions. The tie-in element of the series will appeal most to young Disney Princess fans. Review covers these Learn to Draw titles: Disney/Pixar Toy Story, Disney/Pixar Wall-E, The Fairies of Pixie Hollow, The Princess and the Frog, Tinker Bell, and Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Learn to Draw series. Each book describes the titular character or summarizes the movie's story, then shows, step-by-step, how to draw the characters. In just a few cumulative stages, the illustrations progress from outlines to finished depictions. The tie-in element of the series will appeal most to young Disney Princess fans. Review covers these Learn to Draw titles: Disney/Pixar Toy Story, Disney/Pixar Wall-E, The Fairies of Pixie Hollow, The Princess and the Frog, Tinker Bell, and Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Learn to Draw series. Each book describes the titular character or summarizes the movie's story, then shows, step-by-step, how to draw the characters. In just a few cumulative stages, the illustrations progress from outlines to finished depictions. The tie-in element of the series will appeal most to young Disney Princess fans. Review covers these Learn to Draw titles: Disney/Pixar Toy Story, Disney/Pixar Wall-E, The Fairies of Pixie Hollow, The Princess and the Frog, Tinker Bell, and Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) YA Essential Lives series. This series offers serviceable if bland biographies of people famous in a variety of arenas. Frida recounts her creative achievements and stormy relationships; Walt is largely adulatory; Stan touches on the history of comics. The writing is straightforward, and frequent sidebars help with historical context. Some photographs and archival materials also break up the pages. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Lives titles: Frida Kahlo, Stan Lee, and Walt Disney.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Built for Success series. Brothers Roy and Walt Disney pioneered a string of animation firsts (sound, full-length animated films) before branching out into television and theme parks. The text reveals the corporation's creativity, innovation, and perseverance. It also touches on labor union strikes, attempted stock takeovers, and other financial crises. Photographs and illustrations provide adequate support, but too-tiny font is off-putting. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) 4-6 People to Know Today series. The life of the creator of Mickey and Minnie is detailed here in glowing terms, and even his difficulties in becoming a successful animator and entrepreneur are couched as triumphs waiting to happen. Photos of Disney, his creations, and his family illustrate the informative (though anecdote-heavy) text. A selected list of movies and television shows created during his lifetime is appended. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) K-3 Meeting Famous People series. These biographies will give young students personal information about two famous men of the twentieth century and some insight into their careers. Adult support may be needed to help less able readers with life stories that are more detailed and less choppy than many biographies written for the primary grades. The photographs are plentiful and appropriate. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Meeting Famous People titles: Walt Disney and Neil Armstrong.]

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 This broadly focused, oversize volume briefly touches on nearly every aspect of the Disney empire: cartoons, live-action movies, theme parks, books, and collectibles. The double-page spreads are jam-packed with captioned color photos, film stills, and animation cells spanning over seventy-five years. Though highly browsable for Disney fans, the book may be too visually overwhelming for the average reader. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Importance Of series. Thorough biographies trace the lives and work of four notables from different fields, placing their legacies within historical context. The texts are accompanied by the muddy black-and-white photographs that are this series' unfortunate hallmark. Boxed passages from a variety of primary and secondary sources supplement the books. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta