Meet Me in the Magic Kingdom

by Kathy Jakobsen

Anticipating the annual vacation that brings their families together, Kate looks forward to spending time in Disney World with her favorite cousin, and the two girls enjoy a wide spectrum of delights.

36 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Kathy Jakobsen is one of the premier folk artists in the United States. She describes her art as “food for the Spirit…I want to create an uplifting, WOW! feeling in the viewer.” Her work has extraordinary visual appeal. The museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twientieth-Century American Folk Art and Artists states: “Kathy Jakobsen is regarded as one of the best landscape folk painters of the century.”

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m familiar with folk artist Kathy Jakobsen’s art from some paintings she did of my hometown. I saw this book referenced on her website and was curious. Initially, I was surprised she was able to do Disney-based art, then saw it’s published by Disney Press.

The story isn’t much—a girl and her family meet up with her cousin’s family and spend a day in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. It’s really more about capturing the place. Published in 1995, it was nostalgic and interesting to see rides that no longer exist: Tom Sawyer Island, Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, Mickey’s Starland (which apparently had a petting zoo with farm animals), Splash Mountain. There’s no mention of waiting in lines, and no fast pass—this predates it, I think, and is long before magic bands and smart phone apps. I think the parks were more enjoyable before all that, or maybe it’s because it’s different as an adult.

The illustrations are all signed, making this feel more like an art book than a picture book. Lots of color and detail in the illustrations. I imagine the paintings were sold to private collectors.