Barbara Lawlor, Nederland. Over the past five years many stories have been told, written, and filmed about Nederland’s Carousel of Happiness. Bits and pieces of the history, snippets about the man who created it, photos of new additions to the menagerie, and accounts of the events and celebrations that accompanied the never-finished Nederland landmark.

Put all of the information, facts, people, emotions, photographs, and philosophies under one cover and you get a factual but creative overview of all facets of the one-of-a-kind carousel.

Local publisher, writer, Nedheads producer, and former member of the Carousel board Janette Taylor has put together the everything-you-have-always-wanted-to-know-about-the-carousel book. It was released just in time for the Fifth Anniversary Party.

Don’t Delay Joy: the Story of the Carousel of Happiness is the story of a man, his community, and the dream he shared with its residents. It is the tale of a billion hours of volunteer effort, of people on top of very tall ladders, fundraisers, 25 years of hand-carved animals, many of which were drawn by a local cartoonist. It is the search for and fulfillment of making a place that is safe and happy for all. A haven from war and violence and suffering.

The book begins with a timeline history, going back to when Charles Looff was born and the Saltair Amusement Park carousel was born in his mind. The events are named with pictures and include the birth of Scott Harrison in 1948 and how eventually Harrison and the Carousel’s destiny intertwine.

Taylor says, in her introduction to the book, “It is the story of how good intentions can prevail. More than anything, it is about how such good intentions can bring out the best in yourself and those around you. It may be trite to say it is about ‘dreams coming true,’ but that is the case. It is a story of perseverance and a great deal of love.”

Each of the main players in the Carousel evolution is showcased, giving a sense of the talent that went into the creations of the wild, crazy, hilarious, tender, poignant visages of each of the Carousel’s lovable mounts.

The photographs are large and vivid; the newspaper articles fresh out of a page in time, the stories of the artwork give a much deeper view into the complexities of the spirit that are the foundation of the whole project.

Local poet Mike Parker’s “The Carousel Man” is reproduced. Parker writes, “He worked for 25 years, never doubting its completion. Upon entering the experience of this mystical machine, one leaves behind the differences that separate us in our daily lives. We are transformed not only by the magic of the carvings, but by the magnitude of the artist’s persona.”

George Blevins’ cartoon characters dance across the pages, bringing a surprise with each new turn. Songs written about the carousel are scribed and pictures of beaming children shine straight into the reader’s heart. From beginning to end, the book is a solid piece of research as well as a journey into all the deeds and people that make our Carousel and its community a place filled with joy.

It is a treasure to keep, to pass around as long your name is written in the front and to read leisurely, soaking in the sheer goodness of the story and the effort that went into compiling the events of the journey.

The book was designed by Gabrielle Gewirtz and published by the Carousel of Happiness Books and is available at the Carousel of Happiness.