This book has been required reading at some schools. I missed out on it, but it sounds decent. Nothing wrong with scaring kids or making them cry. And those using this film as evidence that Disney has changed over the years need to take another look at some of the movies made under Walt's leadership -- start with Bambi, move into Sleeping Beauty, finish with the Night Under Bald Mountain segment of Fantasia. Walt understood very well that the easiest and most effective pathos for children is the loss of the parent. He also had a thing for imbuing everything from nature to man and the supernatural with threats and evil whenever it suited the story.
But a kid hasn't been done right and proper until he's seen Brave Little Toaster.