Part of My World - by Jodi Benson (Hardcover)

About the Book

A treasure trove of colorful characters and unforgettable anecdotes, Part of My World reads like a real-life fairy tale as a girl with a big voice and even bigger dreams sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, Jodi shares lessons she's learned about faith, friendship, love, loss, taking chances, making mistakes, following God's call, and chasing your dreams. In Part of My World you'll come alongside Jodi as she struggles to find her footing in the rehearsal halls of Manhattan, finds (then loses, then marries) her prince charming, makes a splash on Broadway, gives voice to a feisty redheaded mermaid, a blonde bombshell named Barbie, and a Tony-nominated powerhouse named Polly, and searches for her own personal happily ever after. Written with warmth, humor, and disarming vulnerability, Part of My World is a captivating glimpse behind the curtain at the making of one of the most celebrated animated movies of all time, and a must-read for Disney fans of all ages -- Amazon.

Book Synopsis

Join Disney Legend Jodi Benson on a magical journey from a Midwestern town to the bright lights of Broadway and the recording booth where she brought one of the most beloved Disney princesses of all time to life!

A treasure trove of colorful characters and unforgettable anecdotes, Part of My World reads like a real-life fairy tale as a girl with a big voice and even bigger dreams sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, Jodi shares lessons she's learned about faith, friendship, love, loss, taking chances, making mistakes, following God's call, and chasing your dreams. In this enjoyable memoir, you'll come alongside Jodi as she

• struggles to find her footing in the rehearsal halls of Manhattan
• finds (then loses, then marries) her prince charming
• makes a splash on Broadway
• gives voice to a feisty redheaded mermaid, a blonde bombshell named Barbie in Toy Story 2, and a Tony-nominated powerhouse named Polly
• searches for her own personal happily ever after

Written with warmth, humor, and disarming vulnerability, Part of My World is a captivating glimpse behind the scenes at the making of one of the most celebrated animated movies of all time, and a must-read for Ariel and Disney fans of all ages.

Review Quotes

Actor Benson debuts with an enchanting memoir focused on her Christian faith and starring role as Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid. The author recounts how she grew up in a musical family and fell in love with musical theater in high school, later earning a scholarship to the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music despite having auditioned while suffering from chicken pox. She also describes falling in love with her husband after acting with him in a show at Nashville's Opryland theme park, and explains how his recommitment to Christianity inspired her to deepen her own relationship with God. Benson doesn't shy from the darker moments of her life, including the rocky early days of her marriage, her miscarriages, and the death of her friend Howard Ashman, the lyricist for The Little Mermaid. Benson recounts her life with an irresistible wide-eyed wonder, and fans of The Little Mermaid will relish Benson's insider perspective on the making of the film, including her difficulties nailing "Part of Your World" in the recording booth and how a distracted boy at a test screening almost led Disney execs to cut the number. Christian Disney fans will want to dive into this.--Publishers Weekly