The Magic Grinder

by Walt Disney Company

Lord Gurr is taught a lesson about greed when he takes Minnie's magic grinder.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Dragons

42 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Note: The decision was made to consolidate all Disney publications under the name Walt Disney Company. This profile is for Walt Disney, the characters he created, and the company he founded. Any questions, please ask in the Librarian's Group.

Walter Elias “Walt” Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist. Disney is famous for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. As the co-founder (with his brother Roy O. Disney) of Walt Disney Productions, Disney became one of the best-known motion picture producers in the world. The corporation he co-founded, now known as The Walt Disney Company, today has annual revenues of approximately U.S. $35 billion.

Disney is particularly noted for being a film producer and a popular showman, as well as an innovator in animation and theme park design. He and his staff created some of the world's most famous fictional characters including Mickey Mouse, a character for which Disney himself was the original voice. He has been awarded four honorary Academy Awards and has won twenty-two competitive Academy Awards out of fifty-nine nominations, including a record four in one year, giving him more awards and nominations than any other individual. He also won seven Emmy Awards. He is the namesake for Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in the United States, as well as the international resorts Tokyo Disney, Disneyland Paris, and Disneyland Hong Kong.

Disney died of lung cancer in Burbank, California, on December 15, 1966. The following year, construction began on Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. His brother Roy Disney inaugurated the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971.

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) (commonly referred to as Disney) is the largest media and entertainment conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by brothers Walt Disney and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, the company was reincorporated as Walt Disney Productions in 1929. Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into live-action film production, television, and travel. Taking on its current name in 1986, The Walt Disney Company expanded its existing operations and also started divisions focused upon theatre, radio, publishing, and online media. In addition, it has created new divisions of the company in order to market more mature content than it typically associates with its flagship family-oriented brands.

The company is best known for the products of its film studio, the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, today one of the largest and best-known studios in Hollywood. Disney also owns and operates the ABC broadcast television network; cable television networks such as Disney Channel, ESPN, and ABC Family; publishing, merchandising, and theatre divisions; and owns and licenses 11 theme parks around the world. On January 23, 2006, it was announced that Disney would purchase Pixar in an all-stock transaction worth $7.4 billion. The deal was finalized on May 5. On December 31, 2009, Disney Company acquired the Marvel Entertainment, Inc. for $4.24 billion. The company has been a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average since May 6, 1991. An early and well-known cartoon creation of the company, Mickey Mouse, is the official mascot of The Walt Disney Company.

--from Wikipedia

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my copy from when I was a child, and read more times than I could count, not only to myself, then my kids, but now to my grandchildren. This was one of my favorite stories as a child. My heart always went out to poor Minne, raising her nephews Morty and Ferdy alone, and all 3 basically slaves to Lord Gurr, who had the bad habit of not paying them for their work. I always loved it in the end, that they got their justice and Lord Gurr left them alone.

[Trevor Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like to imagine that the magic grinder gave me just what I needed, a love for reading.

[Reilly Zimbric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish Lord Gurr froze to death.

[Clara Levi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maid Minnie needed a break.

[Melissa Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 1970s were WILD.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently found this book while helping my parents clean out their attic. We found a lot of books but this one just brought back so many memories. I loved this book when I was a kid and I'm really disappointed that it was falling apart and pages were missing. I will have to search out another copy.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED this book when I was a kid. I can't remember what it was that I loved about it, but I made my mom read it to me approximately 1,000,000 times. She was so glad when I outgrew this book and moved on to other books. I think I still have it tucked away somewhere.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

My sister's update feed had shown that she had read a bunch of Disney books and even though we were raised Disney it is quite unusual for her to actually truly read children books that she records as being read since she keeps her own reading separate from reading to her daughter. As a result I was eyeballing her reading record and due to one particular entry started remembering about some of the Disney books that I had read as a younger reader.

Although this isn't a direct take from her reading feed this is one that popped into my minds while it was so memorable to me due to the illustrations, especially when it came to the dragon who seems to reach pages on end. As a result I was happy to find a digital copy of this old book and to once more be able to study the illustrations. Lord Gurr reminds me in both personality and looks like some of those people that I have struggled with in life that is isn't hard to see him as a villain although with some of the facial features it makes me wonder if there was a bit of stereotyping while his poor bulldog has the most sad expression on all the pages that he is shown in that it makes you feel pity for him since he just seems an add-on for decoration purposes.

The dragon who is shown on the cover is such a minor character, which is a shame but his face normally has a weird gaze on it while Minnie herself hasn't been drawn in her best. Otherwise even for its age the drawings are brightly colored while offering the reader with some fun appearances that add to the timeframe for the story.

The writing is simple and easy but at the same time a bit long for beginning readers so this would be more or less a recommend to elementary children who may enjoy a bit of an older fairytale version provided by the world of Disney.

[Sara Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I’m rather wary about the lesson of this book (having money makes all your worries disappear), this books was dear to me as a child and my own children have asked me to read it countless times. The flow of the words makes it a perfect read-aloud.

[Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book just makes you smile and brings back memories from my childhood ❤️😊

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one of my favorite books from when I was younger! Bonus points for the dragon! 🐉🔥💜

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love!

[Cherie Gallian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A GREAT book to act out with a large group of children.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember this book fondly from my childhood, mainly because of the fun illustrations. My sister gifted me with a copy a few years back, and I pulled it out to reread recently. Despite it's simplicity, I still find it silly and magical after all these years. Reading it now as an adult, I wonder a little about the moral of the story, which seems to be that kind people are happy people, and at the same time, I wonder what will become of Minnie and her nephews once they have everything they could ever want or need? I guess the point isn't to assign too much meaning to the story and just to enjoy it for what it is. I do wish the dragon played a larger part in the story, the illustration is so pretty on the cover and end papers.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I owned a copy of this book as a child and always enjoyed reading how Minnie Mouse is rewarded for her selfless kindness to someone in need. I love reading it to my kids now, especially since I was able to procure a copy only recently. My girls are older now, but they love this story just as much as I did growing up.

[Arya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't discover this book until reading it to my children, so my rating is not based on nostalgia. I just love this book! The magic, the story, the characters are all great. I always sing the magic grinder spell when reading aloud. So much fun to read to kids! Side note: It doesn't feel like a Disney story to me. Not the same Minnie Mouse from cartoons. It's an independent story.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story growing up. My father bought me the book.

Minnie Mouse and her nephews work for the greedy Lord Gurr who doesn't pay them so they are starving. Minnie gets a magic grinder from a dragon that she helps rescue when he is trapped in a cave.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the book for the lesson on greed, helping out, and the pictures; however the ending upsets me - they never have to work again, they live happily ever after and never have to lift a finger - doesn't sit right with me....

[Fyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my mom's favorite books. She used to read it to us when we were younger. It teaches you not to be greedy. I read it again and again and again.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

i just found this at a used book story, had to get it, very simple fairy tale but I remeber the fun colorful pictures. rec for 1-5 years old

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it teaches a moral without being too preachy. You could use this book in the classroom to teach some important life lessons.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was little.

[Cami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, sweet memories. :)

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite childhood books, though I'm not sure the lesson of never having to work for anything due to a fortuitous run-in with a mythical creature is the best moral of the story.

[The Lady Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a kid!