Disney's Picture Dictionary

Children's Literature

From the films Snow White and Bambi to Monsters, Inc., Aladdin and Toy Story, every Disney character in the history of the company makes an appearance in this dictionary. The words, however, are not Disney words but good and interesting beginning vocabulary for early readers, including common pairs of words—hope, department store, surfboard, no one, kitchen, niece, zipper. Each definition is a simple sentence followed by another sentence using the newly defined word. The alphabet is written vertically along the page, with the featured letter on that page highlighted, a perfect way to reinforce alphabetical order for new readers. The pictures are of course very appealing—familiar, colorful, huge pictures of every favorite Disney character. One page identifies all the parts of a house (Mickey's), another the parts of a face (Ariel) and a body (Jungle Boy). The pictures are often designed to help kids remember the meaning: the word "numbers" features dalmatians in groups up to ten. The word "money" shows Mike from Monsters, Inc., needing enough "money for his big date with Celia." Whatever your opinion of Disney's commercialization of reading, the book will be a big hit in libraries, classrooms and homes. Some children will use it as a real dictionary; others will laugh at the pictures and learn a few new words in spite of themselves. 2003, Disney Enterprises, Ages 3 to 8.
— Karen Leggett