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An artist, Kent spent most of his professional career -- nearly 40 years -- with Disney. And during most of that time, it was his job to be "protective" of the image of iconic Disney characters, and none more so than Mickey Mouse. "He wouldn't let out certain merchandise, things Mickey shouldn't be on," said his wife, Linda. "Mickey was the standard bearer of Disney; Mickey was the one that made Disney. He had to be kind of kept that way." So much so that around the company, Kent became known as "The Keeper of the Mouse." He trained other artists on how to draw the famous rodent and the rest of the company's "Fab Five" -- Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto -- so that they always looked the same, and decided which products Mickey would be licensed for. When Kent first asked Walt Disney for a job, Disney said no: he had no jobs for 8-year-olds. So Kent kept studying art, and eventually was hired at the company, and one of the first things he designed was a Mickey Mouse wristwatch for adults; it was used as a special award for company employees. He later moved east to Disney World in Florida, where he became director of Walt Disney Imagineering East. He died at his home in Florida on September 10 from esophageal cancer. He was 68. From This is True for 8 September 2007 Suggestions for further reading:
 List Price: $3.99 Amazon Price: $3.99  By: Sheila Sweeny Higginson List Price: $3.99 Amazon Price: $3.99 Editorial Review: Join the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse "sensational six" as they take to the skies in a high-flying new adventure! Young readers accompany Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto as they explore their world in a hot-air balloon. Children will have fun using Toodles and the Mousketools to discover answers to questions along the way, and they'll also learn to use their imaginations and powers of observation to spot the many shapes in their everyday lives - a "delicious triangle" in a half-sandwich, a rectangular roof top in a town square, and circles aplenty in a "round of golf!"  By: Tisha HamiltonDisney Storybook Artists List Price: $14.99 Amazon Price: $10.19 Editorial Review: Join Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy as they embark on four fun-filled adventures in this colorful Carryalong Treasury. Young readers will soar with the Sensational Six as they take a ride in a hot air balloon, go on an exciting road trip, plan a picnic, and more. Along the way, youngsters will learn about shapes, numbers, colors, and problem-solving, as prompts on every spread reinforce each learning concept. With a handle that?s perfect for little hands and a convenient snap closure, this sweet treasury can be carried along by Mickey Mouse Clubhouse fans wherever they are.  By: Sheila Sweeny Higginson List Price: $4.99 Amazon Price: $4.99 Editorial Review: Happy Birthday! Today is somebody's birthday, but Mickey can't figure out whose it is. Could it be Daisy's? Perhaps he should get her a new hair bow. Maybe it's Pluto's, and Mickey can get him a bone. Young readers will have great fun following Mickey on a birthday-themed treasure hunt, peeking below the book's lift-the-flaps to uncover clues. Happy Birthday! introduces math concepts such as size-order, patterns, and counting, while inviting children to put their imagination and reasoning skills to the test as they follow Mickey on his quest to find the perfect present for the mysterious birthday party.  By: Sheila Sweeny Higginson List Price: $3.99 Amazon Price: $3.99 Editorial Review: "Are we there yet?" - the question is familiar to both preschoolers and their parents! In this road story, Mickey and his Clubhouse pals find that every delay, backtracking, or distraction is not necessarily a bad thing when you're on the road to learning. In this simple Ready-to-Read story, children can predict repeated words and phrases and gain confidence in their ability to read aloud. |
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