I remember noticing a few of those when I was a kid. I think most of the Disney movies that were based on fairy tales then got a novelisation a lot longer than the original story.

If anything you’re exactly the age it’s aimed at, as it references a lot of stuff people more than a few years younger wouldn’t remember. It isn’t exactly “serious literature” though.

I once wore a watch with a rubber strap in a hot tub for a few hours - and it was a hot hot tub! - and the strap was softer than normal for a few days before becoming really brittle and eventually snapping. I’ve avoided high water temps ever since.