From Belle's Library | I Must Say: My Life As A Humble Comedy Legend by Martin Short

Martin Short is one of my favorite comedians. He's smart and funny and has been in several Disney productions. He has worked as a voice actor (B.E.N. in Treasure Planet), under the Miramax label in both Father of The Bride movies, but perhaps best of all he can be seen in one of my favorite Circle Vision Films, Oh Canada in Epcot.

I Must Say: My Life As A Humble Comedy Legend by Martin Short was and especially great audio book, as it was read by the author. He performed many of his characters and does spot on impressions. It's definitely worth listening to. It was a very fun read (as you might expect) as well as enlightening. I loved hearing about his start with so many amazing comedians in Toronto and how he has tried to live an authentic life in the midst of fame.

Not really knowing much about his background I found all of it fascinating. I love that he is friends with so many people we have come to know and love and he tells about his unique relationships with them. And you'll definitely want to find out more about his regularly scheduled Colonoscopy Sleepover Party with Tom Hanks and Steve Martin, his Annual Christmas Party and what it was like to grow up in Toronto.

This book is much more life-affirming than I ever would have expected and still very down-to-earth and humble, just as the title proclaims. I am surprised by how much I like this one. I highly recommend it as a great summer read. Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

Summer Reading From Belle's Library | Peter and the Starcatchers

This summer I thought I'd rerun some of my favorite Disney related book titles for summer reading recommendations. I know I am always looking for another good book for summer travel! This book captivated me and I think it would be perfect as a summer read: lighthearted and eternally young!

Today we want to share our love of Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (of the Kingdom Keepers series). As many of you know, I am a fan of audiobooks. I'm not sure I'd get anything read if it weren't for listening to them with the kids! And here's where the first little delights comes in.

I must confess, I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter books (we're not talking about the movies here); I read them all as they were released, and then listened to ALL of them again on our various road trips. I think Jim Dale must have envisioned the same thing I did when reading these books, as his voices and cadence were perfect. I was DELIGHTED to hear the familiar narration of Jim Dale again as he read Peter and the Starcatchers! What a treat. His voice is one of my very favorites for audiobooks.

And the story delighted me as well. If you've ever wondered how Peter Pan and the lost boys, Captain Hook and Tinkerbell came to be, this story will tickle your imagination! I throughly enjoyed the twists and turns, the adventure and the magic of this first book in a series of (what I imagine will be) fantastic books. I do love young adult fiction (especially fantasy and adventure), and while reading the Kingdom Keepers I was recommended this Peter and the Starcatchers series by an Instagram friend, Kaifers. I am so very glad I took the recommendation to heart! And I hope you will too. This is a marvelous series; I highly recommend it! I think it's perfect for both boys and girls (and certain young-at-heart adults!).

If you have a book that is (if loosely) related to Disney in some way, I would love to know about it. Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

Summer Reading From Belle's Library | Jim Henson, The Biography

This summer I thought I'd rerun some of my favorite Disney related book titles for summer reading recommendations. I know I am always looking for another good book for summer travel! This book remains, for me, one of the best Disney reads ever.

I grew up watching the Muppets and Fraggle Rock. It was appointment TV! I have an incredible love for the Muppets and for Jim Henson's creative genius. Reading Jim Henson, The Biography, by Brian Jay Jones was simply inevitable. But it WAS a commitment! This book is long and Mitchner-esque in scope. No stone is left unturned. But if you feel the same way I do about the Henson creations (including that work which is NOT highlighted by Disney), you will find this book an incredible journey into the creative spirit that was Jim Henson; this book is a joy to read.

I have an affinity for non-fiction. I realize it doesn't appeal to everyone, but I love to know how people have dealt with the challenges of this world and come out the other side the people they are (or were). Even with all the history and rather dull information that was included in this book, the personality of Jim Henson comes through in such a way as though I feel like I actually knew him. And to hear about his creative process, the incarnation of his imaginings, the successes and the failures, the collaborative process, and the joy he had for life was thoroughly enjoyable. In fact, I'm not sure I can convey how touching this portrait of Jim is, except to say, I actually was brought to tears in the end. Not something that generally happens to me!

Even realizing how many projects Jim Henson was involved with in his short life was truly amazing. I bet you didn't know the Muppets were a part of Saturday Night Live for a while, did you? Reading about his collaboration with Frank Oz, and his friendship with David Lazer were simply fascinating. And finally getting the details about the negotiations with Disney and how much Jim enjoyed working with the imagineers was inspiring.

If you are involved in the creative arts in any way, or just loved the work of Jim Henson and that of his Creature Shop, then this book is definitely for you. I highly recommend the audiobook, as the narrator does a bang-up job of voicing all the people (and muppets) in Jim's life.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

Summer Reading From Belle's Library | Creativity by Ed Catmull

This summer I thought I'd rerun some of my favorite Disney related book titles for summer reading recommendations. I know I am always looking for another good book for summer travel! This book remains, for me, one of the best Disney reads ever.

Creativity by Ed Catmull is one of the best reads of the year for me. I adored this book. If you are
creative in any way, or work with creative people, this should be required reading. I think Ed Catmull has a unique experience finding a way to manage creative people without stifling their creativity. That has to be one of the toughest jobs around! I'm glad he took the time to put pen to paper on this one. We need more managers (of work, and of life) reading this book and thinking about their own management style/work ethic with this scaffolding. Heck, I'm thinking about it in the way I manage my own family.

I think Creativity, Inc. is a little like The Artists Way, by Julia Cameron. There is a lot to chew on when it comes to fostering creative forces. Catmull's perspective on creating an atmosphere of candor and enrichment, not fearing the inevitability of failure, and knowing when a change in leadership is needed, all still have me pondering. It's a refreshing take on meshing management and creativity so that it is not only successful, but enjoyable too.

And then there's the chapter on Steve Jobs and how, at least in Catmull's opinion, there has not been enough written about the other sides of the Pixar executive. In all honesty, I love my Apple products and now I would jump at the chance to work at Pixar, so I know I come to this biased; but Catmull paints a touching portrait of Steve Jobs and does share a different side to him than that which has been prevalent in the mainstream media. It was nice to read; I even found myself tearing up.

This book resonated with me and I can't recommend it highly enough. It would be an excellent Christmas gift to anyone you know who has an affinity for Disney or Pixar, a creative streak, or is now or soon to become a creative professional. You can't go wrong.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | Home by Julie Andrews

Let me start by saying, I think Julie Andrews has been remarkable in everything she's done. I love her acting and singing and wish I could have seen her perform on stage. So right away, this book, Home, by Julie Andrews, was going to appeal to me.

This is an autobiography, read by the author -- which I love -- about her early life. It takes the reader right up to her moving to LA to do Mary Poppins with Walt Disney. I didn't have any expectations about this book going into it, and I'm glad. It's a rather quiet story about a young, very talented girl with a very tumultuous childhood. I didn't realize there was so much upheaval in her early life. She seems such a staid and even person!

It was interesting to hear about her early years performing in the vaudeville circuit, her amazing voice coach and her early romance. I always wonder about the stories behind the personalities we've come to know and love. It's always more complicated than we think. As one would expect, this is a very upbeat story, highlighting the best memories and even finding the silver lining to a rough childhood. It was a wonderful read. If you have fans of Julie Andrews in your life, or of the musical theater, I am certain they would find this book appealing. To the average Disney fan, it may fall a little flat.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | Disney U, by Doug Lipp

Reading Disney U, by Doug Lipp, was less informative than I hoped. I have heard many amazing things about Disney University and I have ever been a huge fan of the customer service at Walt Disney World. It seemed natural that this book would be of interest to me. In full disclosure, I didn't finish it.

I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting or hoping for, but I wasn't expecting a self-help book so much as a history of the University and a peek behind the curtain. I know, it's naive of me to think so about a book with the subtitle: How Disney University Develops The Worlds Most Engaged, Loyal and Customer-Centric Employees. I just wanted less of this let's-consider-your-organization sections and more of the, here's-what-works sections.

For those of you who are hoping for the same thing, may I recommend Creating Magic, by Lee Cockerell. I reviewed it back in November of 2013. I loved it and it had much more of the personal feeling I was looking for in this book.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | Disney War by James B. Stewart

Reading Disney War is like wading through a swamp. At the beginning, it seems like a formidable task, but you have the gumption, you believe in the team, you know you can do it. By the end I'm screaming at the book, "fire the son of a bitch already!!" It was a good read, a long read, a very informative and well documented read. I hesitate to say I liked the book. That's like saying you liked Schindler's List. It was a great movie, but to like it makes you a sadist. Same thing here, on a much lesser scale. (Although if I had worked for Michael Eisner, I might think the scale was accurate.)

This book, Disney War, is all about the rise and fall of Michael Eisner within the Disney company. I wasn't paying much attention to all of this political and economic drama. I was busy getting through my own high school and college drama. It just wasn't part of my world. But reading this book was extremely eye-opening. We had family who were shareholders at the time of the Save Disney campaign and I was paying a little bit of attention to their side of the story. But still. I had no idea the depths to which this saga sank. There's no possible way to sum it all up here. Suffice it to say, I can't imagine a person with such a lack of human dignity as Michael Eisner is portrayed. Nevertheless, there is little doubt this portrayal is anything less than accurate. Eisner had a habit of putting his thoughts on paper and in email that were later subpoenaed in two court proceedings. It seems the rumors of his narcissistic personality are true. And it's hard to believe this man had 20 years at the helm of Disney. As they say, the truth is stranger than fiction.

This was very interesting history and after having read two Pixar books it was interesting to read one from the other side of the table. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is a Disney buff and who is interested in corporate intrigue. It's extremely well written and kept me waiting for the inevitable investor coup.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | Creativity, Inc.

Creativity by Ed Catmull is one of the best reads of the year for me. I adored this book. If you are creative in any way, or work with creative people, this should be required reading. I think Ed Catmull has a unique experience finding a way to manage creative people without stifling their creativity. That has to be one of the toughest jobs around! I'm glad he took the time to put pen to paper on this one. We need more managers (of work, and of life) reading this book and thinking about their own management style/work ethic with this scaffolding. Heck, I'm thinking about it in the way I manage my own family.

I think Creativity, Inc. is a little like The Artists Way, by Julia Cameron. There is a lot to chew on when it comes to fostering creative forces. Catmull's perspective on creating an atmosphere of candor and enrichment, not fearing the inevitability of failure, and knowing when a change in leadership is needed, all still have me pondering. It's a refreshing take on meshing management and creativity so that it is not only successful, but enjoyable too.

And then there's the chapter on Steve Jobs and how, at least in Catmull's opinion, there has not been enough written about the other sides of the Pixar executive. In all honesty, I love my Apple products and now I would jump at the chance to work at Pixar, so I know I come to this biased; but Catmull paints a touching portrait of Steve Jobs and does share a different side to him than that which has been prevalent in the mainstream media. It was nice to read; I even found myself tearing up.

This book resonated with me and I can't recommend it highly enough. It would be an excellent Christmas gift to anyone you know who has an affinity for Disney or Pixar, a creative streak, or is now or soon to become a creative professional. You can't go wrong.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | The Pixar Touch

Growing up Disney has had it's advantages for sure. I had the opportunity to watch the Disney company (& family of companies) grow. To that end however, it feels like I have an idea of how things went down, but no real information. For instance, I remember the coup that put Micheal Eisner on the board at Disney and then the campaign to remove him, but the details are fuzzy at best.

If you have any interest in the story of Pixar, how it cam to be, how Steve Jobs came to own it, and how it eventually came to a happy partnership with Disney, I would highly recommend reading The Pixar Touch, by David A. Price. It's a thorough history of the startup from the very beginnings in a garage through the production and release of Ratatouille.

It was a great way to learn about John Lassiter and his rocky start with Disney, his passion for story telling and his commitment to the best of what computer animation had to offer. It was also interesting to read the perspective on Steve Jobs and how his investment in the company was the only thing that got them through some very lean years. And of course I loved hearing about the creative process that brought about Toy Story, Bugs Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars and Ratatouille. Lastly, I really loved reading about the political intrigue with Michael Eisner (for whom I still have a bad taste in my mouth), Roy Disney and the board of the Disney company.

This is definitely a book for the Disney-phile. I enjoyed reading about this wing of Disney history. Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | How To Be Like Walt

This was, perhaps, the first book I've attempted to read about Walt Disney that I just couldn't get through. That's right, I didn't even get past chapter 4 of How To Be Like Walt. I will say that the narration for the audio book is lovely and the prologue was probably the best part of this book - at least the best part that I read. But for me, the fatal flaw here was that it reads exactly like a self-help book. I know; I know; it's supposed to. The title screams, "I want to change!" But I just can't keep listening to a book tell me how, if I just do this or that, I too can be like Walt. I'd hoped for something a little more along the lines of inspiration, and not so much instruction. I have enough to keep track of in my life without a longer list of "think this," "do that," and "you're doing it wrong." It just seemed like work and Disney should NOT feel like work!

For me, this was a poor choice and I can't say I would recommend it to anyone. If you are looking for a good biography, there are plenty other choices out there. Leave this one on the shelves. Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | From Dreamer to Dreamfinder

Ron Schneider's book, From Dreamer To Dreamfinder is an interesting read for anyone who grew up in the 80s and 90s going to Disney. As I have  mentioned in earlier posts, I am a fan of the audiobook. In fact, I'm fairly certain it's the only way I can read a book these days and not fall asleep!

The narration of this book is by the author, which I usually enjoy and felt so-so about on this one. But nevertheless, the content, for me was interesting. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to work as an entertainer for Disney, or as a cast member in general, this is definitely worth reading. And if you have an intense nostalgic attachment to Figment and The Dreamfinder, then there are some chapters in this book that you absolutely MUST read!

Rob Schneider worked in theme parks and entertainment for 40 years at the time of writing this book. He has a wealth of onsite into the differences and similarities of working at Disney and Universal. I liked his frank approach and his observations about management styles. And even without saying overtly what he thought of Michael Eisner, I think we may share a similar opinion! I'm always a fan of looking behind the curtain to see how things are done and this book is a fun peak into what it takes to entertain the masses. Overall, I think it's an interesting read. It's not going to change your world, but it just might enlighten you on how things are done.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | Jim Henson, The Biography

I grew up watching the Muppets and Fraggle Rock. It was appointment TV! I have an incredible love for the Muppets and for Jim Henson's creative genius. Reading Jim Henson, The Biography, by Brian Jay Jones was simply inevitable. But it WAS a commitment! This book is long and Mitchner-esque in scope. No stone is left unturned. But if you feel the same way I do about the Henson creations (including that work which is NOT highlighted by Disney), you will find this book an incredible journey into the creative spirit that was Jim Henson; this book is a joy to read.

I have an affinity for non-fiction. I realize it doesn't appeal to everyone, but I love to know how people have dealt with the challenges of this world and come out the other side the people they are (or were). Even with all the history and rather dull information that was included in this book, the personality of Jim Henson comes through in such a way as though I feel like I actually knew him. And to hear about his creative process, the incarnation of his imaginings, the successes and the failures, the collaborative process, and the joy he had for life was thoroughly enjoyable. In fact, I'm not sure I can convey how touching this portrait of Jim is, except to say, I actually was brought to tears in the end. Not something that generally happens to me!

Even realizing how many projects Jim Henson was involved with in his short life was truly amazing. I bet you didn't know the Muppets were a part of Saturday Night Live for a while, did you? Reading about his collaboration with Frank Oz, and his friendship with David Lazer were simply fascinating. And finally getting the details about the negotiations with Disney and how much Jim enjoyed working with the imagineers was inspiring.

If you are involved in the creative arts in any way, or just loved the work of Jim Henson and that of his Creature Shop, then this book is definitely for you. I highly recommend the audiobook, as the narrator does a bang-up job of voicing all the people (and muppets) in Jim's life.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | Mortal Friends by Jane Stanton Hitchcock

This book, Mortal Friends, is decidedly NOT related to Disney in any way, but it IS a great vacation read. First of all, I am a sucker for a good murder mystery. It doesn't even have to be that good. It just needs to be campy enough to feel like an episode of Castle and I'm in. I especially like it if I don't have to pay extra close attention while I'm enjoying myself on the beach, or knitting on the plane, or driving in heavy traffic.

This is just such a book. I knew this was a good bet as I had previously read her novel, Social Crimes, on vacation. Ms Hitchcock has a way of drawing her readers into the upper crust, the social climbing ladies and their small circles of power. Mortal Friends takes place in Washington, D.C. and for me, that's an added bonus. Having lived and worked in the Baltimore area for several years I had a very good idea of who her characters were, and where the story was unfolding. I always enjoy a familiar setting.

I will say I thought I knew who the killer was 5 minutes into the book, and I was mostly right. But the twists and turns of this novel definitely kept it worth reading! Over all I would recommend this book and Social Crimes to anyone who likes a good mystery, enjoys reading about society and needs a good beach read (for me that means light and sugary). Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | Peter & The Shadow Thieves

This month's installation of Belle's Library revisits Peter and Tinkerbell and their further adventures. Peter and the Shadow Thieves is the second book in a wonderful series by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. I have been utterly captivated by it and the second book was no slouch to it's predecessor.

In the first book we discover the origins of Peter Pan, Capt. Hook, Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys; and we leave them all to their own adventures on Neverland. In this second adventure we leave Neverland for England. The Others (the evil villains) have plans to spoil The Return of the starstuff and Peter has to warn Molly and her family before it's too late! I assure you, this book is just as mesmerizing as the first with a host of new calamities and characters to keep your imagination soaring.

I think one of the best parts about this series is its extremely short chapters. It would be an excellent draw for any reluctant reader to be able to finish a chapter, possibly two, in one sitting. You could feel so accomplished! (Some of these chapters are less than a page long.) And the story keeps a good pace with just the right amount of action to draw in the reader and keep him reading. This is young adult fiction worth reading!

This series will have a permanent place on our shelves, right beside Harry Potter. Both make great read-alouds and both have the appeal for boy and girl adventurers alike. I highly recommend this series.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

I grew up watching Walt Disney's version of Mary Poppins. In fact, it was the first drive-in movie I ever went to. We dressed in our pjs and popped our popcorn and I sat on a Charles Chips can so I could see from the back seat. And I fell in love. My best friend and I would re-enact scenes from it in the back yard for months, singing the bits of songs that we remembered until my mom and dad bought us the LP soundtrack that we would memorize word for word. It was magic, that story.

When I stumbled upon the book, Mary Poppins, by P.L. Travers, while browsing Audible lately, I thought I should give it a try. And while I never saw "Saving Mr. Banks" in the theater (due to our inordinately snowy winter) I knew the basic story of P.L. Travers and her infamously touchy relationship with Mr. Disney. I was curious as to the original Mary Poppins stories and how they captured Walt Disney's heart enough to put up with so much grief from their author. And without a doubt, these stories did NOT disappoint.

I instantly recognized Mary Poppins from the movie. She was not terribly different in the the books. I thought she might have been sweetened up a bit from the reviews I read on line, but not at all to my way of thinking. And her magic was just as captivating as it was when I was 8-years-old! That, and the fact that there are other stories, not told in the movie version makes this even more fascinating for me. In fact, I may try this as a family read-aloud in a few more years, when Little Chef and Minnie are able to stay tuned in for more than 10 minutes. I think it would be ideal for a Disney road trip!

If you are at all captivated by Disney's version of Mary Poppins, I highly recommend this book. And what's more, there are several other books in this series, so if it catches fire in your household, there are many more stories to discover! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. And until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | Peter and the Starcatchers

It's been a while since we've reviewed any Disney books - the holidays can do that to a reading schedule! But now it's the new year and we are ready to share our love of Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (of the Kingdom Keepers series). As many of you know, I am a fan of audiobooks. I'm not sure I'd get anything read if it weren't for listening to them with the kids! And here's where the first little delights comes in.

I must confess, I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter books (we're not talking about the movies here); I read them all as they were released, and then listened to ALL of them again on our various road trips. I think Jim Dale must have envisioned the same thing I did when reading these books, as his voices and cadence were perfect. I was DELIGHTED to hear the familiar narration of Jim Dale again as he read Peter and the Starcatchers! What a treat. His voice is one of my very favorites for audiobooks.

And the story delighted me as well. If you've ever wondered how Peter Pan and the lost boys, Captain Hook and Tinkerbell came to be, this story will tickle your imagination! I throughly enjoyed the twists and turns, the adventure and the magic of this first book in a series of (what I imagine will be) fantastic books. I do love young adult fiction (especially fantasy and adventure), and while reading the Kingdom Keepers I was recommended this Peter and the Starcatchers series by an Instagram friend, Kaifers. I am so very glad I took the recommendation to heart! And I hope you will too. This is a marvelous series; I highly recommend it! I think it's perfect for both boys and girls (and certain young-at-heart adults!).

If you have a book that is (if loosely) related to Disney in some way, I would love to know about it. Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | Creating Magic by Lee Cockerell

This month's book selection is Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney, by Lee Cockerell. I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I loved it. Mr. Cockerell sets out to share his 10 guiding principles from a life of management inside and outside Disney. At first I wasn't sure I would really like this book, because I am a stay at home mom and blogger. My world is my kids and my craft room. I mean really, what can a book on management strategies have to offer me? As it turns out, a lot.

As the title says, these are common sense strategies and I found that I was able to apply several Disney principles to managing my family. I especially loved Chapter 9 entitled, "Burn the Free Fuel," the free fuel being admiration and recognition of your employees (or family members). As Lee says, this is a renewable resource. In fact, the more you do it, the more of it you have to burn. And there are some great stories about how Disney Cast Members are recognized in ways we, the guests, would never see. I'm a huge fan of Disney and I know working for the mouse has not always been lauded as wonderful, but knowing these stories, and there are lots of great stories, confirms for me that what I love about Disney is prevalent throughout the company, not just isolated to the guest experience. I almost makes me proud.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone. Not just the obvious managers, but to teachers and administrators, stay at home moms, nurses and caregivers, anyone who has to juggle the schedules of others and themselves. It's the sort of advice that can apply to everyone. And the sort of advice it's easy to forget in the daily hum of life. Thanks for the reminder, Lee.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business: A Memoir, by Dick Van Dyke

Who would have guessed that I found a kindred spirit in Dick Van Dyke? We both have a heart for social justice, love Mary Tyler Moore (platonically), found Mary Poppins to be magical, and want to parent our kids to be grounded and loving. Needless to say, I found this autobiography, My Lucky Live In and Out of Show Business, nothing short of wonderful.

I love how positive Mr. Van Dyke is as he looks back on his life. He admits his struggles and failures, relates some truly horrible experiences, and some amazing times. And all the while I sensed that he was looking back at the entire picture with mild surprise at his good fortune and genuine joy.

As usual, I listened to this book. It was wonderful to hear Dick Van Dyke read it; I can't imagine listening to someone else voice what happened to this man, knowing his voice so well. It was especially fun to hear him reminisce about working with Walt Disney and the Sherman Brothers, and the making of not only Mary Poppins, but also Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. Even THIS Disney girl hasn't seen that movie. Don't worry, I'll be remedying that situation soon!

This book was a truly wonderful read. I would recommend it as a Father's Day or Christmas gift for anyone who has a fondness for the Dick Van Dyke Show, or Mary Poppins. We all know shopping for men can be tricky. Of course, I would also recommend this for the females in your life! If you have read this book, I'd be interested to hear what you thought of it as well.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | DeWitched: The Untold Story of the Evil Queen

This month's selection from Belle's Library left me feeling a little blasé about this book. DeWitched, by E.L. Sarnoff, is a fun story, don't get me wrong, but it has the unfortunate timing to coexist with Once Upon A Time - which has excellent storytelling wrapped up in ongoing mystery. (Seriously, if you haven't watched, you really should.)

I like the premiss of this book. It's all about the Evil Queen going through rehab for her evil addiction. The idea is smart and the potential is enormous. And it even stars a spunky little fairy named Fairyweather, who bears a striking resemblance to Merryweather. But the execution was disappointing.

I read the Kindle book. I don't know if this has something to do with all the editorial mistakes, but as a former English teacher and somewhat of a perfectionist, this REALLY bugged me. Where was the editing? And further, the voice was somewhat sophomoric. I'm not sure exactly what made it feel that way, but the characters needed more finessing. And the play-on-words names, Shrinkerbell, Lady Germaine, Fanta, Flossie, Fairyweather, seemed off-putting. Especially when the more traditional characters' names were used (Hook, Cinderella, Snow White). The plot was best at Faraway, the rehab castle, where we really got to understand the reasons behind the patients evil addictions. Perhaps this was the most creative part of the book; and even there, the writing seemed choppy and abrupt. I also appreciate how the Queen, Jane, struggles with her addiction once she is out of rehab.

For the most part, this was a story I could have conceived and ill-written at that. And while I won't give away the ending, the climax did have a surprise or two. That's always enjoyable. But in the end, I'm not sure this is a book I would recommend. It seems to me it would be best read on the beach. Something you wouldn't mind getting sand in and leaving on the plane or on the porch of the nearest library for the next person to read.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library | Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn

This month's installment of From Belle's Library revisits the Kingdom Keepers series by Ridley Pearson. This month we look at Disney at Dawn. This is one of the first books I have read/listened to that was Whispersync enabled. As and audiobook listener, I really loved using this technology. It will definitely inform my book purchases in the future.

I am usually a huge fan of the first book in a series, feel it lags in the second book and then picks up again for me in book three. At least I felt that way about Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and The Chronicles of Narnia. But I have to admit that this series surprised me. I actually thought the second book was better, smoother and all around more interesting to read than the first. And that's saying a lot, as this book takes place in my least favorite park: Disney's Animal Kingdom. Actually, the park is growing on me. I like it, it'll just never be Epcot or The Magic Kingdom. It just wasn't Disney enough when it first opened. First impressions last a long time, apparently.

As far as Kingdom Keepers goes, I liked the way the characters seemed to be more fully developed in this book, not as one-dimensional as in Disney After Dark. And perhaps with the first story under our belts, there was less explaining and more doing in this one. Always a plus if you have a reluctant reader. Also, the narrator for the audio book changed. I like the interpretation that this narrator, Christopher Lane, gives the characters, especially Wayne, the mysterious old imagineer that helps the kids on their expeditions. It was easier to listen to, to become immersed in. Finally, the story was totally believable, or at least for those of us who can believe in the Disney villains coming to life and trying to take over the parks. Not a far stretch if you ask me!

Overall, Disney at Dawn was a surprising improvement for me, a nice surprise. I will be excited to see what comes next for these precocious middle schoolers know as the DHIs or the Kingdom Keepers. I'd love to hear your thoughts as well. Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!