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Disney's Christmas Storybook
Experience the magic of a Disney Christmas in this collection of 18 easy-to-read stories featuring your favorite Disney characters. A large book containing 304 delightfully illustrated pages.
Hardcover
First published September 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 14, 2022
A big collection of eighteen bland Christmas stories featuring dozens of Disney characters. One story stars Winnie the Pooh, so I'm counting it as part of my Pooh Project, but I was surprised that my favorite stories in the book are about Mickey Mouse and Pinocchio.
101 Dalmatians: A Christmas For-Giving - 2 stars
Excited about their first Christmas, 99 naughty puppies start unwrapping all the presents under the Christmas tree and wonder what they're supposed to do with neckties and handkerchiefs. Are 99 lumps of coal in their near future?
Also published individually as A Christmas "For Giving".
Cinderella: A Merry Christmas for Mice - 2 stars
Home alone for Christmas Eve as her stepmother and stepsisters go to a lavish Christmas celebration in the country, Cinderella is despondent. But the mice decide they can have their own Christmas with Cinderella using scraps scrounged from around the house, because Christmas is really about friendship anyway.
Oliver And Company: Christmas Is For Friends - 2 stars
With her parents out of town and her little cat feeling lonely, little rich girl Jenny Foxworth invites over Oliver's friends from the streets: Fagin, Dodger, Rita, Einstein, Francis and Tito. Amidst Christmas cheer, presents are exchanged, and classism and inequality are sidestepped.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Christmas Under The Sea - 2 stars
Envious of the Christmas lights she sees decorating the castle on shore, Ariel tries to bring the human traditions to her aquatic family. Understandably, she has some problems lighting the candles on her Christmas tree.
A loose adaptation of the 1991 Read-Along story, Ariel's Christmas Under the Sea, originally written by Paula Sigman.
The Aristocats: An Aristocat-ic Christmas - 2 stars
For Thomas O'Malley, all the Christmas celebrations at Madame Bonfamille's mansion are incomplete until he can help his less fortunate friends, the Alley Cats, crash the feast.
Bambi: The Wonderful Winter Tree - 2 stars
Animals are Christian? A Bambi story seems an odd place to have the first reference to Santa Claus and an appearance of the Star of Bethlehem. Up till that weirdness, I was liking the story of the deer and other animals foraging for scraps of food under the snow. Why couldn't the wondrous Christmas tree hung with berries, popcorn, and apples that they come across have been provided by some regular Christian folks who just care about wildlife?
Also published individually as Disney's Bambi: The Wonderful Winter Tree.
Dumbo: The Best Christmas - 2 stars
It's Dumbo's first Christmas, so Timothy Q. Mouse and the crows give him a tutorial about Santa, trees, and presents. Once again, the story touches on the haves and the have-nots and emphasizes charitable giving to the poor.
Beauty And The Beast: The Enchanted Christmas - 1 star
Belle wants to throw a Christmas celebration over the objections of the Beast and despite the machinations of an evil organ -- and no, I'm not talking about the Beast's penis! But maybe if it were about the Beast's penis this wouldn't be so bad . . .
Adapted from 1997 direct-to-video film directed by Andy Knight and written by Flip Kobler, Cindy Marcus, Bill Motz, and Bob Roth.
A Bug's Life: Flik's Christmas Invention - 2 stars
Flik tries to invent a machine to speed up gift wrapping to predictably awful results.
Lady And The Tramp: Lady's Christmas Surprise - 2 stars
Tramp and the puppies go shopping for a Christmas present for Lady. Everyone expects Tramp to steal something because of his past and lower class ways, but an unlikely series of events makes it unnecessary, though he has to spend the rest of the story repeatedly proving he's not a thief. I'm reminded of stories told by Black people of how they have to keep receipts handy for display when out shopping.
Also published individually as Lady's Christmas Surprise.
Mickey Mouse: Mickey's Christmas Carol - 3 stars
It's hard to go wrong with a straightforward adaptation of a Dickens' classic, even if it stars Mickey Mouse. Uncle Scrooge McDuck is perfect, of course, as he comes full circle to play the character who was an inspiration for his creation.
Adapted from 1983 film directed by Burny Mattinson and written by Burny Mattinson, Tony L. Marino, Ed Gombert, Don Griffith, Alan Young, and Alan Dinehart.
Pinocchio: Pinocchio's Perfect Gift - 4 stars
For his first Christmas as a real boy, Pinocchio is having trouble finding the perfect gift for Geppetto. When time runs out Jiminy Cricket talks him into giving a cheesy handwritten coupon, but when the Blue Fairy offers a wish, Pinocchio is able to get Geppetto what he really wants and OMG it is so WTF demented: Genius!
Winnie The Pooh: Pooh's Jingle Bells - 2 stars
Adapted from Pooh's Jingle Bells by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld and Robbin Cuddy, this take does nothing to improve on the original. Christopher Robin makes Pooh feel guilty about wanting presents for Christmas, so Pooh decides they should get in the Christmas spirit by helping Santa Claus deliver presents. They circle around the Hundred-Acre Wood gathering friends and supplies for the effort, but accomplish little except pressuring a dubious Eeyore into pulling everyone around in a sleigh while they sing. Ho-ho-ho-my-god!
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame: Christmas In The Bell Tower - 2 stars
Quasimodo frets that Esmeralda is blowing him off on Christmas Eve, but his gargoyle friends distract him by encouraging him to decorate his belfry on his own. The not surprising surprise ending just fizzles.
Tarzan: Christmas In The Jungle - 2 stars
Jane Porter and her father have to educate Tarzan about Christmas. No mention is made of Jesus, but the animals go all Isaiah 11:6 once a Christmas tree is introduced to the jungle and a star appears in the sky. More religious animals! More religious than Tarzan, at least.
Robin Hood: Christmas For Everyone - 2 stars
Robin Hood's Merry Men cannot enjoy Christmas until they've had a chance to steal from the rich Sheriff of Nottingham and give to the poor. Thievery, charity or redistribution of wealth?
Snow White: A Christmas To Remember - 2 stars
The Seven Dwarfs make a surprise gift for Snow White while she surprises them by putting up Christmas decorations and baking cookies. Hi-ho-hum.
Toy Story: Andy's Christmas Puppy - 2 stars
The story picks up from the final moments of the first Toy Story move, showing how Woody and the gang cope with the introduction of Andy's new puppy, Buster. Par for the course, their initial plan is xenophobic, paranoid, and evil. I like the Toy Story movies, but, man, they are some bad toys.
Also published individually as Andy's Christmas Puppy.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: (All stories written by Elizabeth Spurr)
• 101 Dalmatians: A Christmas For-Giving / DRI Artworks, illustrators
• Cinderella: A Merry Christmas for Mice / DRI Artworks, illustrators
• Oliver And Company: Christmas Is For Friends / DRI Artworks, illustrators
• The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Christmas Under The Sea / DRI Artworks, illustrators (Adapted from the Read-Along book by Paula Sigman)
• The Aristocats: An Aristocat-ic Christmas / DRI Artworks, illustrators
• Bambi: The Wonderful Winter Tree / DRI Artworks, illustrators
• Dumbo: The Best Christmas / DRI Artworks, illustrators
• Beauty And The Beast: The Enchanted Christmas / DRI Artworks, illustrators (Adapted from the 1997 film directed by Andy Knight and written by Flip Kobler, Cindy Marcus, Bill Motz, and Bob Roth.)
• A Bug's Life: Flik's Christmas Invention / Gita Lloyd, penciler; Eric Binder, painter
• Lady And The Tramp: Lady's Christmas Surprise / Francesc Mateu, illustrator
• Mickey Mouse: Mickey's Christmas Carol (Adapted from 1983 film directed by Burny Mattinson and written by Burny Mattinson, Tony L. Marino, Ed Gombert, Don Griffith, Alan Young, and Alan Dinehart)
• Pinocchio: Pinocchio's Perfect Gift / Orlando de la Paz, penciler; Eric Binder, painter
• Winnie The Pooh: Pooh's Jingle Bells / Josie Yee, illustrator (Adapted from My Very First Winnie the Pooh: Pooh's Jingle Bells by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld and Robbin Cuddy)
• The Hunchback Of Notre Dame: Christmas In The Bell Tower / Mark Marderosian, penciler; Eva Lopez, painter
• Tarzan: Christmas In The Jungle / Jose Maria Cardona, illustrator
• Robin Hood: Christmas For Everyone / Barcelona Studio, illustrators
• Snow White: A Christmas To Remember / Fernando Guell, penciler; Fred Marvin, painter
• Toy Story: Andy's Christmas Puppy / Mark Marderosian, penciler; Tom La Padula
(My Pooh Project: I love Winnie the Pooh, and so does my wife. Having a daughter gave us a chance to indoctrinate her into the cult by buying and reading her every Pooh book we came across. How many is that? I’m going to count them this year by reading and reviewing one every day and seeing which month I finally run out. Track my progress here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... )
101 Dalmatians: A Christmas For-Giving - 2 stars
Excited about their first Christmas, 99 naughty puppies start unwrapping all the presents under the Christmas tree and wonder what they're supposed to do with neckties and handkerchiefs. Are 99 lumps of coal in their near future?
Also published individually as A Christmas "For Giving".
Cinderella: A Merry Christmas for Mice - 2 stars
Home alone for Christmas Eve as her stepmother and stepsisters go to a lavish Christmas celebration in the country, Cinderella is despondent. But the mice decide they can have their own Christmas with Cinderella using scraps scrounged from around the house, because Christmas is really about friendship anyway.
Oliver And Company: Christmas Is For Friends - 2 stars
With her parents out of town and her little cat feeling lonely, little rich girl Jenny Foxworth invites over Oliver's friends from the streets: Fagin, Dodger, Rita, Einstein, Francis and Tito. Amidst Christmas cheer, presents are exchanged, and classism and inequality are sidestepped.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Christmas Under The Sea - 2 stars
Envious of the Christmas lights she sees decorating the castle on shore, Ariel tries to bring the human traditions to her aquatic family. Understandably, she has some problems lighting the candles on her Christmas tree.
A loose adaptation of the 1991 Read-Along story, Ariel's Christmas Under the Sea, originally written by Paula Sigman.
The Aristocats: An Aristocat-ic Christmas - 2 stars
For Thomas O'Malley, all the Christmas celebrations at Madame Bonfamille's mansion are incomplete until he can help his less fortunate friends, the Alley Cats, crash the feast.
Bambi: The Wonderful Winter Tree - 2 stars
Animals are Christian? A Bambi story seems an odd place to have the first reference to Santa Claus and an appearance of the Star of Bethlehem. Up till that weirdness, I was liking the story of the deer and other animals foraging for scraps of food under the snow. Why couldn't the wondrous Christmas tree hung with berries, popcorn, and apples that they come across have been provided by some regular Christian folks who just care about wildlife?
Also published individually as Disney's Bambi: The Wonderful Winter Tree.
Dumbo: The Best Christmas - 2 stars
It's Dumbo's first Christmas, so Timothy Q. Mouse and the crows give him a tutorial about Santa, trees, and presents. Once again, the story touches on the haves and the have-nots and emphasizes charitable giving to the poor.
Beauty And The Beast: The Enchanted Christmas - 1 star
Belle wants to throw a Christmas celebration over the objections of the Beast and despite the machinations of an evil organ -- and no, I'm not talking about the Beast's penis! But maybe if it were about the Beast's penis this wouldn't be so bad . . .
Adapted from 1997 direct-to-video film directed by Andy Knight and written by Flip Kobler, Cindy Marcus, Bill Motz, and Bob Roth.
A Bug's Life: Flik's Christmas Invention - 2 stars
Flik tries to invent a machine to speed up gift wrapping to predictably awful results.
Lady And The Tramp: Lady's Christmas Surprise - 2 stars
Tramp and the puppies go shopping for a Christmas present for Lady. Everyone expects Tramp to steal something because of his past and lower class ways, but an unlikely series of events makes it unnecessary, though he has to spend the rest of the story repeatedly proving he's not a thief. I'm reminded of stories told by Black people of how they have to keep receipts handy for display when out shopping.
Also published individually as Lady's Christmas Surprise.
Mickey Mouse: Mickey's Christmas Carol - 3 stars
It's hard to go wrong with a straightforward adaptation of a Dickens' classic, even if it stars Mickey Mouse. Uncle Scrooge McDuck is perfect, of course, as he comes full circle to play the character who was an inspiration for his creation.
Adapted from 1983 film directed by Burny Mattinson and written by Burny Mattinson, Tony L. Marino, Ed Gombert, Don Griffith, Alan Young, and Alan Dinehart.
Pinocchio: Pinocchio's Perfect Gift - 4 stars
For his first Christmas as a real boy, Pinocchio is having trouble finding the perfect gift for Geppetto. When time runs out Jiminy Cricket talks him into giving a cheesy handwritten coupon, but when the Blue Fairy offers a wish, Pinocchio is able to get Geppetto what he really wants and OMG it is so WTF demented: Genius!
Winnie The Pooh: Pooh's Jingle Bells - 2 stars
Adapted from Pooh's Jingle Bells by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld and Robbin Cuddy, this take does nothing to improve on the original. Christopher Robin makes Pooh feel guilty about wanting presents for Christmas, so Pooh decides they should get in the Christmas spirit by helping Santa Claus deliver presents. They circle around the Hundred-Acre Wood gathering friends and supplies for the effort, but accomplish little except pressuring a dubious Eeyore into pulling everyone around in a sleigh while they sing. Ho-ho-ho-my-god!
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame: Christmas In The Bell Tower - 2 stars
Quasimodo frets that Esmeralda is blowing him off on Christmas Eve, but his gargoyle friends distract him by encouraging him to decorate his belfry on his own. The not surprising surprise ending just fizzles.
Tarzan: Christmas In The Jungle - 2 stars
Jane Porter and her father have to educate Tarzan about Christmas. No mention is made of Jesus, but the animals go all Isaiah 11:6 once a Christmas tree is introduced to the jungle and a star appears in the sky. More religious animals! More religious than Tarzan, at least.
Robin Hood: Christmas For Everyone - 2 stars
Robin Hood's Merry Men cannot enjoy Christmas until they've had a chance to steal from the rich Sheriff of Nottingham and give to the poor. Thievery, charity or redistribution of wealth?
Snow White: A Christmas To Remember - 2 stars
The Seven Dwarfs make a surprise gift for Snow White while she surprises them by putting up Christmas decorations and baking cookies. Hi-ho-hum.
Toy Story: Andy's Christmas Puppy - 2 stars
The story picks up from the final moments of the first Toy Story move, showing how Woody and the gang cope with the introduction of Andy's new puppy, Buster. Par for the course, their initial plan is xenophobic, paranoid, and evil. I like the Toy Story movies, but, man, they are some bad toys.
Also published individually as Andy's Christmas Puppy.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: (All stories written by Elizabeth Spurr)
• 101 Dalmatians: A Christmas For-Giving / DRI Artworks, illustrators
• Cinderella: A Merry Christmas for Mice / DRI Artworks, illustrators
• Oliver And Company: Christmas Is For Friends / DRI Artworks, illustrators
• The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Christmas Under The Sea / DRI Artworks, illustrators (Adapted from the Read-Along book by Paula Sigman)
• The Aristocats: An Aristocat-ic Christmas / DRI Artworks, illustrators
• Bambi: The Wonderful Winter Tree / DRI Artworks, illustrators
• Dumbo: The Best Christmas / DRI Artworks, illustrators
• Beauty And The Beast: The Enchanted Christmas / DRI Artworks, illustrators (Adapted from the 1997 film directed by Andy Knight and written by Flip Kobler, Cindy Marcus, Bill Motz, and Bob Roth.)
• A Bug's Life: Flik's Christmas Invention / Gita Lloyd, penciler; Eric Binder, painter
• Lady And The Tramp: Lady's Christmas Surprise / Francesc Mateu, illustrator
• Mickey Mouse: Mickey's Christmas Carol (Adapted from 1983 film directed by Burny Mattinson and written by Burny Mattinson, Tony L. Marino, Ed Gombert, Don Griffith, Alan Young, and Alan Dinehart)
• Pinocchio: Pinocchio's Perfect Gift / Orlando de la Paz, penciler; Eric Binder, painter
• Winnie The Pooh: Pooh's Jingle Bells / Josie Yee, illustrator (Adapted from My Very First Winnie the Pooh: Pooh's Jingle Bells by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld and Robbin Cuddy)
• The Hunchback Of Notre Dame: Christmas In The Bell Tower / Mark Marderosian, penciler; Eva Lopez, painter
• Tarzan: Christmas In The Jungle / Jose Maria Cardona, illustrator
• Robin Hood: Christmas For Everyone / Barcelona Studio, illustrators
• Snow White: A Christmas To Remember / Fernando Guell, penciler; Fred Marvin, painter
• Toy Story: Andy's Christmas Puppy / Mark Marderosian, penciler; Tom La Padula
(My Pooh Project: I love Winnie the Pooh, and so does my wife. Having a daughter gave us a chance to indoctrinate her into the cult by buying and reading her every Pooh book we came across. How many is that? I’m going to count them this year by reading and reviewing one every day and seeing which month I finally run out. Track my progress here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... )
July 13, 2020
One of the very first books I practised reading when I was small.
Read
November 3, 2020While the holiday themed stories in this book are cute, many of them don't quite fit with established film continuity. Also, a later book from Disney titled 'Christmas Storybook Collection' contains several of these same stories, but with some significant alterations to certain plot points. (It is interesting to compare and contrast the two books.)
Despite its faults, I did like that this book featured some stories based on Disney properties that are now mostly forgotten, like Oliver And Company and Tarzan. Unfortunately, this creates a problem for contemporary readers. The book was clearly written with young Disney fans in mind. However, some of the featured franchises that would have been known to the target age group at the time of publication are now less likely to be familiar to the intended audience.
Did I like it? Not sure.
Would I reread it? Not sure.
Would I recommend it? Not sure.
Despite its faults, I did like that this book featured some stories based on Disney properties that are now mostly forgotten, like Oliver And Company and Tarzan. Unfortunately, this creates a problem for contemporary readers. The book was clearly written with young Disney fans in mind. However, some of the featured franchises that would have been known to the target age group at the time of publication are now less likely to be familiar to the intended audience.
Did I like it? Not sure.
Would I reread it? Not sure.
Would I recommend it? Not sure.
December 27, 2022
This collection features several Christmas-themed illustrated short stories from classic Disney and Pixar movies. Children will enjoy these, especially if they already love Disney. I was a little disappointed that two of the stories are taken from already produced movies (Mickey’s Christmas Carol and The Enchanted Christmas).
My favorites were Lady’s Christmas Surprise, A Merry Christmas For Mice, Ariel’s Christmas Under the Sea, The Best Christmas, and The Enchanted Christmas (despite it already being a movie). It would have been interesting to see some stories featuring different cultures as well, but this was still overall a fun read for the holidays.
Individual Ratings:
101 Dalmatians: A Christmas For Giving--3.5 stars.
Cinderella: A Merry Christmas For Mice--4 stars.
Oliver & Company: Christmas is For Friends--3 stars.
Ariel's Christmas Under the Sea--4 stars.
An Aristocat-ic Christmas--3 stars.
Bambi: The Wonderful Winter Tree-- 3.5 stars.
Dumbo: The Best Christmas--4 stars.
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas--4 stars.
A Bug’s Life: Flik's Christmas Invention--3 stars.
Lady and the Tramp: Lady's Christmas Surprise--4.5 stars.
Mickey's Christmas Carol--3 stars.
Pinocchio's Perfect Gift--3.5 stars.
Pooh's Jingle Bells--3 stars.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Christmas in the Bell Tower--3.5 stars.
Tarzan: Christmas in the Jungle--3.5 stars.
Robin Hood: Christmas For Everyone--3.5 stars.
Snow White: A Christmas to Remember--3 stars.
Toy Story: Andy's Christmas Puppy--3.5 stars.
My favorites were Lady’s Christmas Surprise, A Merry Christmas For Mice, Ariel’s Christmas Under the Sea, The Best Christmas, and The Enchanted Christmas (despite it already being a movie). It would have been interesting to see some stories featuring different cultures as well, but this was still overall a fun read for the holidays.
Individual Ratings:
101 Dalmatians: A Christmas For Giving--3.5 stars.
Cinderella: A Merry Christmas For Mice--4 stars.
Oliver & Company: Christmas is For Friends--3 stars.
Ariel's Christmas Under the Sea--4 stars.
An Aristocat-ic Christmas--3 stars.
Bambi: The Wonderful Winter Tree-- 3.5 stars.
Dumbo: The Best Christmas--4 stars.
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas--4 stars.
A Bug’s Life: Flik's Christmas Invention--3 stars.
Lady and the Tramp: Lady's Christmas Surprise--4.5 stars.
Mickey's Christmas Carol--3 stars.
Pinocchio's Perfect Gift--3.5 stars.
Pooh's Jingle Bells--3 stars.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Christmas in the Bell Tower--3.5 stars.
Tarzan: Christmas in the Jungle--3.5 stars.
Robin Hood: Christmas For Everyone--3.5 stars.
Snow White: A Christmas to Remember--3 stars.
Toy Story: Andy's Christmas Puppy--3.5 stars.
December 8, 2024
Cute for the holidays! My favorites were from Bambi, Mickey Mouse, Pinocchio, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Snow White. I like the short film of Beauty and the Beast Enchanted Christmas, but as a super short story it wasn’t just not amazing. I expected to love that one and Winnie the Pooh because I loved those characters growing up, but I just felt the ones that turned out to be my favorites had more of a story to them and just held a little more meaning for me. Now, I’m an adult reading this, so kids will probably enjoy them all. Would be cute to read one or two each night in December for a kid, but I still enjoy children’s books as an adult and always will. ❤️💚
December 31, 2020
"Each night, snuggled next to the puppy, Woody wondered if his days were numbered, if one morning at sunrise, he and the dog would have a showdown. He liked to think he'd be brave. He would give his all for Andy's happiness."
"Why can't Christmas last all year round?"
"Oh no! Said Pooh. Getting may not be an important part of Christmas. But giving is. "
"Why can't Christmas last all year round?"
"Oh no! Said Pooh. Getting may not be an important part of Christmas. But giving is. "
September 10, 2017
I loved this book when I was a child.
December 20, 2015
This book is absolutely perfect for the holiday season. There are many stories inside this book and each story reflects the spirit of Christmas without being preachy. It's a pretty secular set of stories with is absolutely wonderful for my family. My children are 12, 10, and 2 months old. I still read to them these stories around December as a part of family time. Story time is a great way to end the night.
November 2, 2008
This book is similar to the Halloween Collection we also own, only these stories have a Christmas theme. Includes a bunch of short stories, with classic Disney characters our girls love. We usually read 1-2 stories a night during the season.
November 9, 2015
One of the best books ever made by Walt Disney.
Read
November 26, 2018Own
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews