Pacific Park’s mighty Sea Dragon comes to life in the pages of the new children’s book Stella Rose and the Sea Dragon, now on sale at local bookstores and online retailers.
James Harris, Santa Monica Pier Historian, and his 10-year-old daughter Stella, wrote Stella Rose and the Sea Dragon. The children’s book is about a young girl named Stella Rose and how she gathered the courage to finally ride a “big kid” ride at the Santa Monica Pier while befriending a green Sea Dragon, modeled after Pacific Park's Sea Dragon ride.
To celebrate the release of the new book Stella Rose and the Sea Dragon, authors James Harris and his daughter Stella, and Illustrator Michael Bailey, will be available for interviews at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday, May 23 at 10:30 a.m.
Pacific Park will also be giving away free rides on the Sea Dragon for anyone who purchases a copy of the book at the release event. Stella Rose and the Sea Dragon will be on sale at Pier Gear on the Santa Monica Pier.
In a special note in the book, James states, “Stella and I conceived of this story over several bedtime discussions about how she could build up the courage to ride the Sea Dragon ride at Santa Monica Pier’s Pacific Park amusement park. For a long time she had considered the Wave Jumper (speed boats) to be her favorite, but she always had her eye on the ominous dragon, wondering and wishing. When she was eight years old, she finally gathered the nerve to confront and ride the Sea Dragon, and it has been her favorite ride ever since!”
The Sea Dragon is described as a swinging wooden ship ride with two lifelike dragon heads making passengers feel as if they’re caught in the turbulent seas. The ship moves back and forth in a 180-degree arc.
Stella Rose and the Sea Dragon is illustrated by Michael Baily, designed by Amy Woo and published by Resonant Books, LLC.
“James is a terrific asset to the Santa Monica Pier and great friend of Pacific Park,” says Nathan Smithson, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “It’s been a terrific experience for us to be a part of James’s and his daughter Stella’s collaboration on their new book.”
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, LA’s only admission free amusement park, offers 12 amusement rides, 14 midway games, an oceanfront food plaza and beachside shopping. In addition to the Pacific Wheel solar-powered Ferris wheel, Pacific Park’s signature rides include The West Coaster, a steel roller coaster that races 55 feet above the Santa Monica Bay; and Inkie’s Air Lift Balloon Ride, the high-flying, family-sharing kids’ ride. For additional information and hours of operation, call 310-260-8744, visit www.pacpark.com, follow on Instagram and Twitter: @pacpark and Like at Facebook: facebook.com/pacificpark.
Submitted by Cameron Andrews
