Book excerpt: Best known as the writer of the lyric for the popular Disney song "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" as well as the American standard "Willow Weep for Me," Ann Ronell was also a translator and orchestrator for operatic works. This biography traces Ronell's life from her early days in Omaha, Nebraska, and recounts her marriage to producer Lester Cowan and her friendships with George Gershwin, Kurt Weill and the baritone John Charles Thomas. Includes more than 40 photographs, a chronology, family tree and film credits.