It's a Small World

by Walt Disney Company

Publication Date 1983 Pictorial endpapers' Basic geography'

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction

36 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

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

[Tym · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching story that many children should hear. Cute illustrations just improve the story.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even picture books need a stronger story than this. A mysterious orphan searching for his country of origin on the Small World ride was too much of a stretch for me.

[Theresa F.]

My family had a copy of this book and story cassette when I was growing up. Once me and my siblings were older and cassette tapes became obsolete, my family's collection of Read-Along books and tapes was cleared out. I saved the family copy of this book, putting it aside for safe-keeping.
I'm not really sure what drew me to this work so strongly. Maybe it was the old-fashioned artwork, or the story's connection to the Disney theme parks. I doubt it was the plot.
Anyway, I've had a certain fondness for this book since childhood. But reading the reviews posted by other Goodreads users made me look at the work in a new light. This book was initially published in 1968. As such it was the product of 'a simpler time', when people were less concerned about the use of cultural stereotypes. Although the message of this book (that "there's so much that we share" and that all people of all cultures can relate to one another) is still a good message today, the way that that idea is conveyed can leave something to be desired for modern readers.
I still happen to like the book, for its colorful 'retro' artwork if nothing else. I had the privilege of visiting the actual It's a Small World attraction in the past, and I can recognize a number of design elements from the ride represented in the book's illustrations. However, I think it's best in this situation for potential readers to make their own decisions about the work, rather than being guided by one person's opinion.
Did I like it? I thought that the story was cute and that the illustrations had a 'vintage' charm to them.
Would I reread it? Only to admire the artwork, I'd probably ignore the text.
Would I recommend it? In this case, it's not for me to say.

[Danielle Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun book to introduce countries around the world to children! My first graders absolutely loved this as we are studying countries now! 💖💖
It is a little bit dated, so keep that in mind as you do read this book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrations!

[Ernest Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to introduce new countries and cultures to children!

[Catherine Petrini · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story to go with the Disney song "It's a Small World," about a little orphan boy who doesn't know where he came from, until a trip to Disneyland shows him that people all over are one big family. This book came out in 1968 and included a cassette tape of the song, which is, of course, no longer with it. The cultural stereotypes here are cringeworthy: the Dutch children wear wooden shoes, the Scottish boy plays bagpipes, the Indian boy is a snake charmer, and so forth. But as a period piece, it's kind of kitschy.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great one by Disney. This one goes into world cultures and gives little tidbits about each one. At the end it teaches kids how to say Thank You in about 6 different languages. Highly recommend!

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book/tape set based on the ride in Disneyland (which does look quite a bit different from the one in Disney World). I don't think I listened to this one much as a kid. It's kind of weird.

Bobby goes on the it's a small world ride trying to figure out what nationality he is.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interest Level Grades K - 3
Genre: Informational
Themes: Multicultural Customs
Uses: Teach students about customs children celebrate all around the world

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Shannon 1987." I wasn't ever really interested in just learning a sentence or two about another part of the world. I wanted something more, or else I wasn't interested.

[Little Champs]

D 32

[Mattie Alano · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes