Bill Peet: An Autobiography by Bill Peet

While not aimed at someone my age...

I nevertheless found Bill Peet: An Autobiography quite fascinating and engrossing.

First published in 1994.

Bill Peet was a self-professed reluctant student, especially of English classes, but he was nonetheless quite the good writer. Peet's illustrations added 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 Pinocchio, Fantasia, Cinderella (he created the lovable mice) and the original 101 Dalmatians.

Peet brushes over his life after he left Disney a little too quickly. Peet left Disney to write and illustrate more than 30  books for children.  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.

Bill Peet (1915-2002)

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

I give this one 5 stars out of a possible 5 stars.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Bill Peet: An Autobiography.

Reviewed on April 13, 2006.