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James Cagney Was My Babysitter
Imagine you are an 8-year-old introvert informed by your father that you will spend the afternoon at a famous actor's house—a famous actor you've never met! In fact, this famous actor from Hollywood's golden age will be your babysitter. From the spooky car ride up a narrow driveway in Benedict Canyon to the creaky opening of the front door that reveals an elderly James Cagney, you are captivated! The star of The Public Enemy, Yankee Doodle Dandy, White Heat, Mister Roberts and many other Hollywood classics is nothing like you'd expect. He's not brash; he's not a killer; he isn't loud and he doesn't sing and dance. He is quiet and gentle and full of imagination. This isn't a scary gangster—this is Santa Claus!
In one afternoon away from the pressures of a perfectionist father, you relax and fall under the spell of a wonderful babysitter who makes you feel special and encourages you to enter an imaginary world where leprechauns come to life and owls speak to you from the trees. Hours later, you leave James Cagney's house changed from a timid child into an enthusiastic young man who's infused with self-confidence and ready for life's next adventure.
In one afternoon away from the pressures of a perfectionist father, you relax and fall under the spell of a wonderful babysitter who makes you feel special and encourages you to enter an imaginary world where leprechauns come to life and owls speak to you from the trees. Hours later, you leave James Cagney's house changed from a timid child into an enthusiastic young man who's infused with self-confidence and ready for life's next adventure.
64 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2023
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 25, 2023
At 7 years old, Ryan spends a memorable afternoon with actor, James Cagney.
This is a wonderful story about living a life of imagination, kindness, and love. Ryan brings enjoyable new insights into the life of James Carney. Andrea's illustrations are fanciful, colorful, and so recognizable (faces are very hard to draw).
I also love that the coauthor's name is Johnny Ray!
This is a wonderful story about living a life of imagination, kindness, and love. Ryan brings enjoyable new insights into the life of James Carney. Andrea's illustrations are fanciful, colorful, and so recognizable (faces are very hard to draw).
I also love that the coauthor's name is Johnny Ray!
January 4, 2025
Appropriate for any age to lighten your heart
The New Year 2025 has started off so very dark with terror, fear and political tension. I love to read but the romantic suspense was not letting me escape what is happening in the news. I scroll through Facebook looking or a distraction and came across an ad about an upcoming event where Ryan Cassidy will be signing this book. I loved Jimmy Carney movies growing up so I went online to download it. I was drawn in from the first page. The illustrations are beautiful in their simplicity complementing the crawling of Mr. Cagney. The story brings back a simpler time and child like innocence. It also shows that an act of kindness to a child can have a lifelong effect. I can't remember who would end his program with these words but this story brought them back, "Be kind to one another." Thank you for sharing your afternoon with Mr. Cagney.
The New Year 2025 has started off so very dark with terror, fear and political tension. I love to read but the romantic suspense was not letting me escape what is happening in the news. I scroll through Facebook looking or a distraction and came across an ad about an upcoming event where Ryan Cassidy will be signing this book. I loved Jimmy Carney movies growing up so I went online to download it. I was drawn in from the first page. The illustrations are beautiful in their simplicity complementing the crawling of Mr. Cagney. The story brings back a simpler time and child like innocence. It also shows that an act of kindness to a child can have a lifelong effect. I can't remember who would end his program with these words but this story brought them back, "Be kind to one another." Thank you for sharing your afternoon with Mr. Cagney.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews