Illustrated by John Pomeroy

Cover design or artwork by John Pomeroy

On Sale: Jun 4, 2019
Page Count: 48 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9781484749654
Age Range: 6–8

$8.99

$9.99 CAD

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Format:

Picture Book $8.99 $9.99 CAD
ebook $4.99 $6.99 CAD

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An inspiring picture book biography of legendary leader in entertainment, Walt Disney, by the critically-acclaimed author of the Big Words series.

Walt Disney’s name is synonymous with family entertainment. Mickey Mouse, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Bambi, Disneyland, and numerous other creations have inspired generations of children the world over. From his childhood in rural Missouri to his legendary stature as a film and television icon, Walt governed his life with imagination, ingenuity, and scrupulous attention to detail. Faced with both public failures and massive success, he revolutionized the art form of animation, always seeking innovative solutions, cutting edge technology, and new ways of storytelling. Devoted to perfection, Walt was not always easy to work with, but no one can deny his profound talent and impact. Charting Walt’s progression from farm boy to actor to artist, animator, director, and entertainment celebrity, Walt’s own words are presented and contextualized within Doreen Rappaport’s signature compelling prose. Illustrated with vivid authenticity by animator/painter John Pomeroy, this stunning entry in the award-winning Big Words series reveals a man of deep and varied passions with a constantly evolving vision, and a storyteller above all.

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Doreen Rappaport has written numerous award-winning books for children, including Freedom Ship and The School Is Not White (both illustrated by Curtis James); Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Caldecott Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Honor Book illustrated by Bryan Collier; and John's Secret Dreams: The Life of John Lennon, also illustrated by Bryan Collier.

John Pomeroy is an animator, storyboard artist, and animation producer who began his forty-four-year career at Walt Disney Studios in 1973. He has worked on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, The Rescuers, Pete's Dragon, The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, Pocahontas, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Curious George, Planes, and Disney Junior's Sofia the First. He is also a painter of portraits and military history. He lives with his wife, Cami, and their family in Brentwood, Tennessee. Visit John online at www.johnpomeroy.com.

“Walt Disney may be a household name, but readers may be surprised to learn of the man behind the franchise. Rappaport introduces him as a child who found a reprieve from difficult family circumstances through performance and art. At 16, Disney joined the Red Cross and used his earnings to create his own animation studio; eventually, focus, determination, and ‘a mouse named Mickey’ led to Disney’s success. Readers well versed in early Disney cartoons will recognize familiar characters in Pomeroy’s art—he uses a rich, painterly style to convey moments from Disney’s life and legacy. Setbacks, including an animators’ strike and the onset of WWII, are offset by pivotal events, such as the planning and development of Disneyland. Readers may be particularly intrigued by details relating to the assiduous work of early animation.”
Publishers Weekly

Doreen Rappaport

About the Author

Doreen Rappaport is the award-winning author of the Big Words picture book biography series, including the Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Book Award Honor Book Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., illustrated by Bryan Collier; Beacon of Hope: The Life of Barack Obama, illustrated by Tonya Engel; Helen’s Big Words: The Life of Helen Keller, illustrated by Matt Tavares; and Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, illustrated by Eric Velasquez, among many others. She is the recipient of the Washington Post Children’s Book Guild lifetime achievement award for the writing of nonfiction. Doreen lives in upstate New York and invites you to visit her online at doreenrappaport.com.

Cozbi A. Cabrera is the author and illustrator of Me & Mama, which received a Coretta Scott King Book Award Honor and a Caldecott Honor, and My Hair Is a Garden. Her illustrated titles include Brown Girl, Brown Girl by Leslé Honoré, Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade, and Chef Edna: Queen of Southern Cooking, Edna Lewis by Melvina Noel, among others. Her handmade cloth dolls (muñecas) are collected all around the world. She lives in Illinois with her husband and daughter.

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