Walt Disney: A Biography for Kids

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