The Woman Behind the Magic - Perfect Picture Book Friday #PPBF

Maria Marshall
6 hours ago
4 min read

Most people know about Mickey Mouse. Many know something about Walt Disney. But how many know that Walt was married to a special woman who helped shape Disneyland, Disney World, Disney Concert Hall, and animated cartoons? The other half of the magical team that created Mickey Mouse. I was so excited to discover this picture book about a little-known and quietly influential woman. This gorgeous picture book biography brings Lillian B. Disney briefly into the spotlight to celebrate her contribution to bringing us all a little magic into our lives.

Book cover - a woman standing in front of a sparkly Disney castle, slightly faded into the background, holding a paint brush one hand and a picture of Micky Mouse in the other.

The Woman Behind the Magic: How Lillian B. Disney Shaped the Disney Legacy

Author: Brittany Richman

Illustrator: Joanie Stone

Publisher: Beach Lane Books (June 3, 2025)

Ages: 4-8

Nonfiction

Themes:

Biography, Disney World, animation, magic, adventure, and Mickey Mouse.

Synopsis:

As a child, Lilly learned that working behind-the-scenes was its own special talent. When she grew up, her magical sense of adventure led her to the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. She became one of the first women in the animation industry, where she worked as an ink and paint artist and later, as the studio’s first secretary.

After Lilly and Walt fell in love, they got married in 1925, and Lilly continued adding her own magic to Walt’s wild ideas—including encouraging him to keep trying cartoons when the studio was in danger of closing and giving Mickey Mouse his name. Together, they became an unstoppable team. From cartoon ideas to theme park innovations, Lilly helped shape Disney history.

Opening Lines:

Lilly Bounds believed in magic. She especially loved the magical

moments of everyday life. Like when her nine older siblings transformed a

dull day into the best one ever, all with a single melodious note or burst of

laughter. . . . Or when her mother whipped up mouthwatering meals with

the most simple ingredients. . . . Or when her father pounded ordinary

pieces of iron into intricate creations.

What I LOVED about this book:

Immediately capturing Lilly's view of the magical moments in one's life in fun text and a simple, everyday type of occurrence, definitely grounds the reader in Lilly's young life. And the wonder and magic she saw all around her, every day. The colorful, digital illustrations gorgeously and realistically capture the clothing, personalities, and financial status of Lilly's large, loving family.

Internal spread - on the left, mother bring a turkey platter to the table, with father seated at the head. On the right, 10 kds gathered around a piano singing as the oldest plays and the main charater sits on top of the piano.

Text © Brittany Richman, 2025. Image © Joanie Stone, 2025.

After her siblings left and her father died, Lilly stayed to help her mother. Until her sister invited Lilly to join her in California. Certain that "on the other side of the unknown, adventure of the most magical kind awaited," Lilly left Idaho and lucked into a job at Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio where they were in dire need of workers and she became their fourth employee.

Internal spread - on the left a male cartoonist working at a deas. On the right, Lillian being welcomed by Walt Disney to the studio and two other male cartoonists at work.

Quickly learning to be an inker and a painter of animation cells, Lillian helped create the studio's magic. Admiring Walt's creativity, Lilly listened and watched. Moving as the magic needed from inker to secretary (taking dictation from Walt) and confidante to soul mate. But "being married to Walt sometimes felt like riding a roller coaster full of twists, turns, and loop-de-loops. Lilly never knew what magical thrill lay ahead." But "by combining Lilly’s behind-the-scenes magic with Walt’s wild ideas, they became an unstoppable team."

After their cartoon was stolen by a business partner, and everything looked bleak, the magical combination of Lilly and Walt created a truly magical character - Mickey Mouse. I love the magic sparkles that Joanie Stone adds as a swoop around and between Walt, Mickey, and Lilly. And the way this representation of the magic continues throughout scenes in the book which show Lilly's contributions to Walt's dreams. After trying a number of cartoons starring Mickey, they finally made a magical moment with the "first cartoon synchronized with sound," and they "revolutionized animation."

Internal spread - on the left, Walt Disney holds up a drawing of a Mouse. On the right, Lilly holds the side of the page and names the mouse - Mickey, while sparkles of magic swoop around them.

The book continues with numerous highlights of the many ways that Lilly, preferring to stay out of the limelight, quietly helped suffuse Walt's works and dreams with magic - from full-length animations to the Disneyland park. But Walt's death dimmed everything and left his plans for Disney World unfinished. The ending and the author's note detail Lilly's dedication and determination to the continuation of Walt Disney's dreams and magic. It is a superb biography, exploring what is known and unknown about this strong, special woman who named Mickey Mouse and helped spread magic, hope, and dreams throughout the country.

Resources:

make your own flip book cartoon (easy), (medium), and (colored).
try making your own animations (2-frame), (stop-motion), or (zoetrope).

do you like being the person in front of a crowd or the person behind the scenes helping come up with the ideas? Why? How are both types needed to create magic?

If you missed my interview with Brittany Richman on Monday, find it (here).

This post is part of a series of blog posts by authors and KidLit bloggers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays. For more picture book suggestions and resources see Susanna Leonard Hill's Perfect Picture Books.