Story time is always a favorite in this Neurotic Disney home. NDK (Neurotic Disney Kid) is old enough to read, but not too old to still be read to! Books are wonderful on so many levels. We keep them everywhere – even in the car! Disney Books are a great way to keep Disney at home. Disney Book Group was kind enough to send these books for NDK approval – be sure to look for the NDK Review after the description of each book!

2015 disney book  holiday gift guideI have always believed that a book is the gift that keeps on giving! In our house, we have a fun tradition of handing out New Years’ presents at midnight. Now stick with me for a minute before you think I have completely lost my mind. For New Year’s, I usually find everyone in our family a book as a gift. I feel that the best way to start off the new year is by handing everyone a great book! Here are just a few of my favorite NEW books from Disney Publishing that would make any neurotic Disney child or adult happy to receive, no matter when!

Watch later this week for the Star Wars edition!

  • Reindeers are Better than PeopleFrozen: Reindeers are Better than People 
  • $6.99 USD, $7.99 CAD
  • Board Book
  • Ages 3 to 5, Grades P to K

 Reindeers are better than people. And who would know that better than Kristoff? Kids will enjoy reading Kristoff’s ode to his friend Sven in this delightful board book featuring two plush reindeer antlers!

A great book for young children! See NDK’s review of this book, too!


  • mother bruceMother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins, Ryan T. Higgins (Illustrated by)
  • $17.99 USD, $18.99 CAD
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 3 to 5, Grades P to K
  • Disney-Hyperion

Bruce the bear likes to keep to himself. That, and eat eggs. But when his hard-boiled goose eggs turn out to be real, live goslings, he starts to lose his appetite. And even worse, the goslings are convinced he’s their mother. Bruce tries to get the geese to go south, but he can’t seem to rid himself of his new companions. What’s a bear to do?


  • Sofia's First ChristmasSofia the First: Sofia’s First Christmas
  • $8.99 USD, $9.99 CAD
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 3 to 5, Grades P to K
  • Disney Press

Sofia loves the holiday season of Wassailia, but this year, she gets to celebrate Christmas for the first time ever! She can’t wait to visit her good friend, Vivian, see a foreign kingdom, and experience all of the wonderful traditions of Christmas. But during her visit, two friendly sprites ask Sofia to help them find their lost friend. Can Sofia help? This beautiful storybook with full-color illustrations will be a treasured collectible and gift for any Disney Junior fan!

Be sure to read NDK’s review of this story!


  • Olaf's night before christmasFrozen: Olaf’s Night Before Christmas Book & CD
  • $12.99 USD, $13.99 CAD
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 6 to 8, Grades 1 to 3
  • Disney Press

’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring . . . until a sound awakens Olaf. Read along as Olaf has the adventure of a lifetime with a mysterious stranger in red. This beautifully illustrated 32-page paper-over-board picture book comes with a read-along CD featuring audio narration by Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf! Fans of all generations will delight in Olaf’s innocent and humorous account of “The Night Before Christmas.”


  • diva & fleaThe Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems, Tony DiTerlizzi (Illustrated by)
  • $14.99 USD, $16.50 CAD
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 6 to 8, Grades 1 to 3
  • Disney-Hyperion

Diva, a small yet brave dog, and Flea, a curious streetwise cat, develop an unexpected friendship in this unforgettable tale of discovery. For as long as she could remember, Diva lived at 11 avenue Le Play in Paris, France. For as long as he could remember, Flea also lived in Paris, France—but at no fixed address. When Flea flâneurs past Diva’s courtyard one day, their lives are forever changed. Together, Diva and Flea explore and share their very different worlds, as only true friends can do.


  • star darlings sageStar Darlings Sage and the Journey to Wishworld  by Shana Muldoon Zappa, Ahmet Zappa
  • $6.99 USD, $7.99 CAD
  • Paperback
  • Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7
  • Disney Press

Welcome to Starling Academy. Twelve very special students have been selected from this year’s class to reclaim the wish energy that powers their beloved planet, Starland. The Star Darlings, as they are known, take classes where they learn how to grant the wishes made on birthday candles, shooting stars, dandelions, wishbones, and coins tossed into fountains, just to name a few. Their top-secret mission will take them to Wishworld (known in some places as Earth). There they will have to find the Wisher and figure out how to grant the wish before time runs out and they are stuck on Wishworld forever. Sage is the first Star Darling soaring off to Wishworld. Travel with her as she discovers how challenging life on a new planet can be and how she learns the importance of friendship, teamwork, and never assuming anything.

  • star darlings libbyStar Darlings Libby and the Class Election by Shana Muldoon Zappa, Ahmet Zappa
  • $6.99 USD, $7.99 CAD
  • Paperback
  • Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7
  • Disney Press

Charming Libby is a people pleaser who is slow at making decisions. She has to learn how to say no, stand up for herself, and feel more confident about her choices. All of the Star Darling roommates have received beautiful bouquets of sparkly flowers welcoming them to Star Academy. The band tryouts begin and many different girls show up to audition. Meanwhile, the Star Darlings are dealing with their personal conflicts and issues. Libby’s mission: Libby finds a flower in the Wish Caves, but her only clue as to whom it belongs is a ballot with two names on it. When Libby goes down to Wishworld, she identifies the wisher and exhausts herself, thinking she has to help grant all the wishes. Libby’s friends come down to help her get back on track.

THE NDK REVIEW: I really like this series. The Star Darlings call humans “wishlings.” They transport to our world on stars. These are happy stories. There is nothing scary, no mysteries, just nice stories about the Star Darlings. The Starling Academy is for girls only. The boys have their own, but they do not talk about that. My favorite Darling is Libby – she is always calm. I have read the first two books, and I hope my library gets the series so I can finish it! Or maybe Santa will bring me a few!


  • an animator's gallery eric goldbergAn Animator’s Gallery: Eric Goldberg Draws the Disney Characters by David A. Bossert, Eric Goldberg (Illustrated by)
  • $40.00 USD, $40.00 CAD
  • Hardcover
  • Disney Editions

This whimsical, deluxe Art Deco-themed art book showcases Walt Disney characters in a style reminiscent of caricatures from the famed walls of Sardi’s and The Brown Derby. Disney Supervising Animator and Director Eric Goldberg drew a little more than 200 stylized images in a collection that first debuted as a display within the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California. Now with An Animator’s Gallery, the show comes right to you. Fans of all ages, and from all over, can enjoy Eric’s playful portraits, starting with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse through characters from Frozen and Big Hero 6. Bonus sections will even feature some of the most beloved characters from Pixar.

This whimsical, deluxe Art Deco-themed art book showcases Walt Disney characters in a style reminiscent of caricatures from the famed walls of Sardi’s and The Brown Derby. Disney Supervising Animator and Director Eric Goldberg drew a little more than 200 stylized images in a collection that first debuted as a display within the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California.


  • before ever afterBefore Ever After: The Lost Lectures of Walt Disney’s Animation Studio by Don Hahn, Tracey Miller-Zarneke
  • $40.00 USD, $40.00 CAD
  • Hardcover
  • Disney Editions

BEFORE EVER AFTER is a compilation of never-before-seen lecture notes from classes that were held in preparation for the production of Snow White. Walt knew that to fulfill his once-impossible dream of crafting a feature-length animated film, he had to establish an on-campus art school for his staff. He hand-picked Don Graham, a respected instructor from the Chouinard Art Institute, to hold classes on entertainment, drawing, and acting and was also innovative enough to document the thought process behind the nascent art form of feature animation. Guest lecturers included Frank Lloyd Wright who spoke about art philosophy and USC psychology professor Dr. Boris Morkovin who talked about humor. Previously unseen outside of the Disney studios, these lecture notes contain the wisdom behind the artistry that audiences generation after generation have come to appreciate in Snow White, and this wisdom also provided the artistic foundation for many films to come.

**Disclosure – I received these books for review purposes from the Disney Book Group. All opinions are my own.

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