I Am Walt Disney

I Am Walt Disney

Ages 8-11

112 Pages

Summary:

All of us have seen Disney movies. The majority of us have been to a Disney park. It's hard to anywhere without seeing one Disney character or another. But, have you ever wondered how all of that came to be? Who was the man behind the movies. How did Disneyland and Walt Disney World come about? Was Mickey Mouse Disney's first character? What was he like as a Father? Through I Am Walt Disney, you can find out. Full of pictures and cool facts, this is a book any Disney fan will enjoy reading.

Walt Disney was born in 1901, but to a rather poor family. His father had a short temper and poor business sense. Because of this, the Disney family moved around- a lot. Walt didn't go to school until he was 7, and didn't enjoy it when he did. Instead of focusing on his lessons, Walt would make flip books out of his drawings.

Walt's love of art led him to earning money for his drawings by local businesses. He went to the Kansas City Art Institute. His friend, Ub Iwerks became business partners doing illustrations for Restaurant News. Walt's first company, Laugh-O-gram Films, Inc.started when a movie theater owner loved the animated shorts Walt made, and asked for more.

When finances overwhelmed Disney and his company, he was forced to close it's doors. However, he soon made his way to Hollywood, Ca. Frustration and success marked his early years in California. A hard lesson brought the world it's most recognizable character: Mickey Mouse. (However, he originally had a different name)

I Am Walt Disney is full of information for young readers. The book introduces you to the key people who were in Walt's life. A timeline is given, and a glossary for any unfamiliar words. Fans of Disney will enjoy this overview of the man who brought Mickey and the Princesses into their lives.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift: The Platinum Edition

By: Liv Spencer

Summer has arrived and with it the opportunity to learn more about people you admire. My two girls have become fans of the ever popular Taylor Swift, so I took this chance to learn more about the object of their affection. After all, this Mommy would like to know about the singer/songwriter behind the car ride concerts. 

In Liv Spencer's book, you get TONS of pictures. You get tons of surface information. Liv walks you through how Taylor Swift became the household name she now is. You'll learn how Taylor dealt with her share of naysayers and bullies. Taylor Swift will show you how a young girl with a dream took a well-known American song and turned it into a career.

Liv Spencer's book gives you a brief peek at the world Taylor created as she tore conquered one obstacle after another. You won't get an in-depth story of the famous Taylor Swift. Her much talked about love life is only mentioned in track listings. Still, this book is a great starting off point in learning about a strong, determined woman who didn't compromise herself to achieve her dream.

I have respected Taylor for not being what the industry wanted. She made a name for herself by standing out and giving pieces of herself through her music. She isn't a gimmick who lip-syncs to music while dancing up a storm in barely there costumes. She's a wholesome person who sets a great example for the kids looking up to her. She shows how you can achieve what you want in life through hard work and strong ethics.  

Personally, I loved reading about all the songs on Taylor's albums. Each album is broken down by track. Along with it is the story of how the song came to be, the inspiration behind it, and other fun information. I always love how creativity comes to people. 

Enjoy getting to know about Miss Taylor Swift!