Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland

October 1, 2008
K-Gr 4-This lively retelling of Lewis Carroll's classic creates a delightful narrative framework for the stunning concept art that shaped the look of the Disney animated film. Imbued with Scieszka's unique brand of kid-captivating humor, the effervescent text presents a streamlined version of Alice's adventures that adheres closely to the plot of the movie. The first lines set the tone and immediately reel readers in: "Have you ever tried to listen to a long, boring schoolbook on a warm, lazy day? And have you ever wondered why anyone would make a book so boring? Then you are just like Alice." Scieszka interjects amusing commentary throughout while successfully maintaining an appropriate once-upon-a-time mood. Blair's deep-hued paintings employ rich shades and dazzling color combinations to create a lush, almost impressionistic version of Wonderland. For the most part, the artwork unfolds as a logical visual narrative rather than seeming like a gallery of reproductions. However, observant viewers will notice that Alice's appearance is not always consistent, and that the images may not always provide the strongest interpretation of the text (for example, the March Hare and Cheshire Cat are mentioned but never depicted). Still, children will enjoy this eye-catching and entertaining production."Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2008
What would you do if you were stuck sitting with your sister on a hot summer's day while she read a boring book? Follow that white rabbit, of course! And so down the rabbit hole goes Alice in this version of Lewis Carroll's story la Disney. The iconic images from Disney's movie, many book spinoffs, and theme park attractions are so recognizable that it would seem impossible to do something new. Yet the illustrations by Mary Blair, concept artist for the 1951 movie, make this version fresh. Her darkly hued paintings are full of rough brush strokes and dabs of ink that turn the familiar into something enchantingly different. As for the text, cognizant of his young audience, Scieszka keeps the sentences simple and engages his readers directly: "Alice, curious as ever, did exactly what you would do." And despite being constricted by the film's story line and dialogue, he manages a few deft Scieszkaian touches. Falling down the rabbit hole, Alice "had time to review most of her spelling words (72% correct), recite two poems (poorly), and say all of her 7 times tables (all wrong)" before she lands. This is a picture book for those intrigued by Blair's art and for those looking for an elegant and simply told version of the movie for very young children.

(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2009
The illustrations by Mary Blair, concept artist for the 1951 movie, feature darkly hued paintings full of rough brush strokes and dabs of ink that turn the familiar into something enchantingly different. As for the text, Scieszka keeps the sentences simple and engages readers directly ("Alice...did exactly what you would do") while managing a few deft Scieszkaian touches.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)