Dear Disney Publishing, Thank You for Being a Friend!* You’ve opened A Whole New World!** No April fool’s gold here: “Disney Aladdin: A Whole New World – The Road to Broadway and Beyond” and “Art of Coloring The Golden Girls” are book equivalents of bling!

As follow up to its 2016 retail bonanza, Disney Publishing has blossomed once again. Here are details on two 2017 treasures:

1) “Art of Coloring: The Golden Girls – 100 Images to Inspire Creativity” ($15.99 US, $17.50 CAN) is a black-and-white, soft cover tribute to the hit 1980s NBC sitcom starring Betty White, and the late comediennes Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty, and Rue McClanahan. Its best feature is personalization: This adult coloring book allows grown up color stylists to go to town on images of Rose, Dorothy, Sophia, and Blanche. Customization continues with ready-to-flair patterns from the “Golden” world: The iconic show logo, cheesecake, rattan furniture, Miami palm trees, marabou mules, pearls, flowers, fruit, and fruity drinks deck the pages. If one is not relaxed after this nostalgia trip, then one probably is comatose already.

Nerd alert! Geek god Joss Whedon (“Avengers,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) most likely grew up on “Golden Girls!” His dad Tom Whedon was one of its highly-decorated writer-producers!

2) “Disney Aladdin” ($40.00 US and CAN) by Michael Lassell is a deep dive into the big stage adaptation of the 1992 animated theatrical film. In fact, this true tale requires a purple-and-gold satin covered, 200+ gilded page, coffee table book for documentation of the whole process. The number and quality of rehearsal, production, and behind-the-scenes photos is staggering. Readers ultimately learn a great deal about the classic 2D movie, thereby making this title a well done two-for-one! A particularly memorable section is that about the Alan Menken and Howard Ashman musical marriage and the sticking power of replacement lyricist Tim Rice following Ashman’s death in 1991.

Disney prospectors take note! Both of these literary nuggets are available at booksellers everywhere; excessive digging not required…

*”Thank You for Being a Friend (Golden Girls Theme),” (1978), Music and Lyrics by Andrew Gold.
**”A Whole New World
(Aladdin’s Theme),” (1992), Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Tim Rice.