Walt Disney best known as a filmmaker had perhaps a greater skill as a reader. While many would have regarded Felix Saltens Bambi and Carlo Collodis Pinocchio as too somber for familyoriented films he saw their possibilities. He appealed to his audience by selecting but then transforming familiar stories. Many of the tales he chose to adapt to film became some of the most read books in America. Although much published research has addressed his adaptation processoften criticizing his films for being too saccharine or not true to their literary sourceslittle has been written on him as a reader what he read what he liked his reading experiences and the books that influenced him. This collection of 15 fresh essays and one classic addresses Disney as a reader and shows how his responses to literature fueled his success. Essays discuss the books he read the ones he adapted to film and the ways in which he demonstrated his narrative ability. Exploring his literary connections to films nature documentaries theme park creations and overall creative vision the contributors provide insight into Walt Disneys relationships with authors his animation staff and his audience.