Customer Reviews

Bill Peet: An Autobiography

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The autobiography of Bill Peet is not a deep delving look into the soul of the man. It is, however, an entertaining and informative (and self-illustrated) collection of memories, thoughts, and events from the life of one of the men who was instrumental to the current success of the Disney Corp.

Bill Peet tells of his boyhood, his constant doodling and drawing, and how he joined Disney during the depression as a finish cartoonist. Peet's imagination and drive to express his ideas led him to become one of the people Disney relied on to create and deliver the kind of animated work that now have masterpiece status. His name is found on many of Disney's successful animation features (e.g., Peter Pan, Sword in the Stone, Fox and the Hound, etc.).

Peet eventually left Disney and went on to find success as an author and illustrator. If you are like me, you will enjoy reading his candid comments about life and making a living as an artist, and about his association with and perspectives of Walt Disney, the man.

Bill Peet's books are favorites of the children at our house.

This is a delightful read. Give it a try! I'm glad I did.

5 stars.

Alan Holyoak

This is a great autobiography. I loved Bill Peet's work as a youngster and instantly recognized it. Felt like reading about an old friend. His artistry throughout the book made the story come alive. He writes in a very engaging, easy way for young folks to understand and enjoy as well as the older set. I appreciated his candid telling of the Disney years. He certainly did not sugar-coat any of his struggles. An interesting story about a unique life and a fine talent that I love even more now.

The cartoon-like drawings and corresponding text found in this book bring to life Bill Peet's childhood and aspiring career as an artist/illustrator. He does a wonderful of realistically portraying teenage and collegiate years, complete with aspirations of becoming Charles Atlas himself. Much detail is put into the development of Peet's career in and out of Disney Studios and his relationship with Walt Disney. Whether you agree with Peet on Walt's true character is up to you! The book concludes with a look ahead to Peet's eventual success with children's books and a list of those he has produced. It is well worth reading and is especially good non-fiction for upper elementary or middle school age students. Parents who are currently looking to provide a role model that is hardworking and seemingly ethical will also love this selection.

I found this book a phenomenal read. Bill Peet not only speaks of his life with warmth and a gentle sense of humor, but with touches of reality as well -- which reminds us that he is very human. His struggles as an artist and his relationship with the legendary Walt Disney are fascinating to learn about. I highly recommend this book for everyone - children and adults alike.

I nevertheless found it quite fascinating and engrossing.

Peet is a self-professed reluctant student, especially of English classes, but he is nonetheless quite the good writer. Peet's illustrations add a lot to the pace and feel of the book and are a joy in their own right. His stories of life in Indianapolis before World War II will be interesting to any native Hoosier (as am I).

However, the most interesting part details his jobs at Walt Disney studios. His descriptions of how they made movies in the old days as well as the insider's look at Walt Disney himself are fascinating. Peet worked on several Disney movies, including Pinnochio, Fantasia, Cinderella (he created the lovable mice) and the original 101 Dalmations.

Peet brushes over his life after he left Disney a little too quickly. I would have liked to have read his descriptions of life in the publishing world as well. Also lacking is much history of his family life.

That being said, it was still fascinating, entertaining and totally worth the reader's time.

I give this one a grade of A-

This Book is about my favorite author Bill Peet. This book tells about his life starting his career at Walt Disney, then going to wright his own books.
Bill Peet was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, he started drawing when he was around 6 or 7. He dreamed of being a author one day. When he got into college he was in different art classes, during going to college he entered painting compititions and one most of them for extra money.
When he was asked work at Disney Annex he gladly accepted, this was around the mid 30s. After working there for a few years he was asked to work on Pinnochio. During his time at Disney he had many arguments with walt himself. He drew Dumbo, and drew the rats and the cat in Cinderella.
After he quit working for disney, Bill realized that he was a good writer too.His first book was Huberts Hair Raising Adventure, which I own along with acouple more of his books, my favorite is The Wingdingdile.
Bill Peet a tall thin man that had a dream, and made it come true wrote about 30 to 50 books, retired win 1989 after he wrote this book.This book is excellent and it will make you want to keep on reading.

This is a wonderful book for anyone from one to 92.
Both of my sons love it. My son is buying it for his school Library as a donation.

Bill Pete started out as a daydreaming, doodling boy, and made it all the way to Walt Disney! Bill was born in Grandview and was raised in Indianapolis. He lived happily with his Mother, two brothers, and grandmother. His father was a traveling salesman, and didn't really come into his life until later. Ever since Bill was young, he loved to draw. During class, he would doodle in between the margins, and his books were a big favorite amongst the other kids when he sold them as second-hand. His childhood was fun filled, and he had some big hopes and dreams. First of all, he wanted to go on a safari and sketch the animals, but most of all, he wanted to be an artist. One day, in the summer of 1928, Bill's father returned "home" broke, travel weary, and demanding money. After arguing for many days, Bills mother gave in and paid his father. With that, his father drove away. Not long after that, Bill's grandmother tragically died, which put the family in complete shambles. They had to move, and everything changed. The Great Depression started, and Bills father kept taking money, so he kept them poor. Bill went through school well as a student, graduated, and went to college. That was when the work became harder. Bill was facing flunking some of his classes. One night, he ran into an old friend from school, and was persuaded to start taking some arts classes. Bill began painting, and it is there that he met his beautiful wife Margaret Brunst with which he eventually had two sons. He graduated with flying colors, and took a job as a painter. Finally, he realized he didn't have a steady income, and applied for Walt Disney Productions. He became a good friend of Walt Disney himself! Bill helped create many classics starting with Snow White, and going all the way to Jungle book. As time went by, Bill decided that after 27 years, it was time to leave. Bill had become attached to the company and his job, but mostly Walt. It was hard to say "good bye." About one year later, Walt Disney died. Bill went on to writing stories and illustrating them for children of all ages. They all relate to him in one way or another, but the one that felt the most connected to him was "Chester the Worldly Pig". Chester was who he was, and he had always been so. And like Chester, Pete "had grown beyond his expectations."

I can see myself in Pete sometimes. He never gave up and kept dreaming and kept his spirit alive. He has an easy flow to his writing that makes you feel relaxed and know that you're in for one heck of a good story. I loved his book for the truth that it told, and for the wonder that makes up Bill Pete. Keep dreaming, if you strive, you can reach the stars and soar beyond.

Wonderful book. A must for any Bill Peet fan. He captures himself in Bill Peet style - with words and illustrations - just as I would expect. The book is simple and direct, with life lessons woven between the pages.

Bill Peet is about a boy that is a poor student. All he really wants to do is play with his friends. As he gets older, he starts to think about want he wants to be when he grows up. He first thinks about being a football player. If Bill Peet finds out that a circus is in town he goes there and draws the animals and the people that are in it. Bill Peet auditioned at Walt Disney by having to draw the Seven Dwarfs. Walt Disney liked Bill's drawings so the company hired him. Later on, Walt Disney asked Bill to illustrated Alice in Wonderland, and The Jungle Book. I like this book because Bill Peet tells you his story from when he was a little boy until adulthood. I recommend this book because, if you are becoming a young author, this is a good example to follow.