Happily Ever Reading: New Books From the Parks You Love

If you are looking for some engrossing books to read while you are counting down the days until your next vacation, we have five new and upcoming titles that you will want to add to your reading list ASAP. And this showcase isn’t just for Disney Parks enthusiasts; we’ll also look at a worthwhile tome for those who love Knott’s Berry Farm’s charming Bear-y Tales attraction. Get cozy as we dive into these ripping good yarns!

“The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland” by Don Hahn and Christopher Merritt

Launches July 15 for $60.

This 750-page time capsule of a book was created to celebrate Disneyland’s 70th anniversary and focuses on the creation of and subsequent first 11 years of the theme park, the last years that Walt Disney personally oversaw its development before he passed away. Like Disneyland itself, the book is organized by land: Main Street, USA, Adventureland, New Orleans Square, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. Side sections describing “lost lands,” highlighting parts of the park that existed in the 1950s and 1960s but have since been replaced, are interspersed. Also included are previously unpublished images and documents about attractions (some of which were never brought to life, like the Uranium Hunt planned for Tomorrowland), collected from sources such as the Walt Disney Imagineering Art Gallery, the Library of Congress, and even private collectors.

Disneyland’s history is not always glamorous, and “The Happiest Place on Earth” doesn’t sugarcoat those points, like the tension between landscape architect Ruth Shellhorn and nurseryman Jack Evans during Disneyland’s construction.

But there are also more tender glimpses behind the curtain. I loved the anecdote by Diane Disney Miller about the petrified tree stump in Frontierland, gifted by Walt to his wife Lillian. Many Disney fans know of it, but the story is later expanded on how the original plaque intended for its display mentioned that it was “too large for the mantel.” The whole thing was something of a joke between the couple.

The book’s authors, Don Hahn and Christopher Merritt, both bear impressive Disney pedigrees. Hahn is perhaps best known for his work producing “Beauty and the Beast,” the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. However, he is also a well-published author with many titles to his name, including “Before Ever After” and “Animation Magic: The Alchemy of Imagination.” Merritt has spent more than 25 working with Walt Disney Imagineering and other theme park companies, Knott’s Berry Farm, designing various parks around the world. He also co-authored “Marc Davis In His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks” with Pete Doctor.

The book’s publisher Random House provided MiceChat with a sample copy of “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland.”

“Disneyland is Your Land,” written by Nick Balian and illustrated by Scott Tilley

Launches August 12 for $5.99.

Like the previous book, “Disneyland is Your Land” was also created to honor the 70th anniversary of Walt Disney’s original theme park. However, this one takes a different approach and shares its love in the form of a picture book, a Little Golden Book, to be precise. Readers of all ages will join Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and the rest of their friends in a 24-page romp as they “explore Disneyland through the years.”

Beyond simply having a charming premise, the book’s author, Nick Balian, has experience in the realm of Disneyland books with his popular sequel to the classic “The Little Man of Disneyland,” entitled “The Little Man of Disneyland: A Change of Luck.” 

“When You Wish Upon a Ghost: Disney’s The Haunted Mansion,” written by Tim McCanna and illustrated by Alan Battson

Available Now for $12.99.

If you grew up with those “Where’s Waldo?” books, this upcoming picture book inspired by Disneyland’s The Haunted Mansion is for you. Readers join the attraction’s raven in tracking down the attraction’s many otherwordly residents in a story blended with “seek-and-find” pictures.

This trio of sample pages sets up the story before the bulk of the 40-page adventure picks up steam. Blending endearing limericks with illustrations that Disney fans will instantly recognize, “When You Wish Upon A Ghost” will appeal to both the young and the young at heart.

“Knott’s Bear-y Tales: The Complete History of the Whimsical Attraction” by Christopher Merritt and J. Eric Lynxwiler

Available now for $45.

We’ve talked a bit about books written to honor Disneyland’s milestone anniversary, but the nearby Knott’s Berry is also celebrating one of its own. Their beloved Bear-y Tales attraction would have turned 50 on July 4, 2025. Fittingly, theme park designer Chris Merritt and Knott’s Berry Farm historian Eric Lynxwiler marked the occasion with the release of their book, “Knott’s Bear-y Tales: The Complete History of the Whimsical Attraction.” This is the first book dedicated to the attraction’s history.

Over the span of 320 pages, this hardcover book packs in more than 1000 images, including concept art, production photos, and more. If that doesn’t make you salivate like a wolf hungering for a boysenberry pie, then these morsels of information will. It also boasts first-hand accounts of Bear-y Tales’ history, retold through interviews of the people who witnessed this ride’s creation firsthand, complete with the introduction penned by Rolly Crump.

PLUS MiceChat has joined forces with the authors and Fantasy Fun Wheel for an upcoming, exclusive event on Saturday, July 5: the Knott’s Bear-y Tales 50th Anniversary Jam-bear-ee! (NOW SOLD OUT – contact [email protected] for waitlist)

This special event, which runs from 8am through 2:30pm, at Knott’s Berry Farm. It starts off with early entry into the theme park and a gourmet buffet breakfast at Mrs. Murphy’s Steakhouse in Ghost Town.

Then, attendees can look forward to a guided walkthrough of Knott’s Bear-y Tales, a video presentation (including a rare ride-through video of the original attraction) by Christopher Merritt and Eric Lynxwiler, the authors of the Knott’s Bear-y Tales book, and a panel discussion with the team who worked with Rolly Crump to design the original ride in 1975.

Top it all off with a book signing with the event’s guests, a silent auction, and a commemorative gift bag, and you have the recipe for Knott’s event unlike any other.

Additional information about the attraction and the event is also available here:

Knott’s Bear-y Tales Turns 50 – Join the Jam-bear-ee!

“I Love Disney’s Magic Kingdom” By Danielle Kelly with Ian Wilson

Available now for $16.99.

We’ll cross over from the West Coast to the East Coast for the final title in our showcase, “I Love Disney’s Magic Kingdom,” written by Danielle Kelly with Ian Wilson. This 208-page guidebook will be most valuable for Disney fans who are less familiar with Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park and perhaps have a visit planned in the future.

The book highlights the Magic Kingdom’s numerous offerings, such as attractions, parades, park design elements, and eateries. It is peppered with tips, history, factoids, and even mini-trivia games, as you can see from these sample pages.

The author, Danielle Kelly, may sound familiar if you follow Disney Parks’ happenings on social media. Kelly, with the username The Dapper Danielle, is a widely-known content creator. But before that, she worked as a Disney cast member for over a decade. This insight into both worlds can be seen in her book, for which Ian Wilson served as the editor.

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Discount Disney Tickets and Travel 

We’ve got a cookbook, a deep-dive into beloved Disneyland attraction, and other fun book finds for Disney adults in this round-up:

New Disney Books for Adults: Cookbooks, Pop-Up Wonders, & More!

We love Little Golden Books here at MiceChat and have even highlighted noteworthy Disney Parks titles in the past. Check out ’em out here:

New Little Golden Books: The Little Man of Disneyland Returns & More

“The Happiest Place on Earth” isn’t the only item available to celebrate Disneyland’s 70th anniversary. In fact, there is a huge amount at the resort right now. Get acquainted with the different merchandise collections here:

TAKE A LOOK: All Disneyland 70th Anniversary Merch Collections Now in Stores! 🎉

Let’s Hear from You

Which of these titles appeals to you the most? Do you prefer the books focused on Disneyland, Walt Disney World, or Knott’s Berry Farm? Do you have any other recommendations that you want to share? Let us know in the comments below!

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