A Colorful, Rhyming Book for Children Ages 3-8
The Legend of Quassilla: a Dinosaur’s Journey Home is a read-aloud picture book written in rhyming couplets. The first in a series of QuassillaTM books, this tale brings the nation’s history of Trolley Amusement Parks together with a creature from the Mesozoic era. Told in first person by a young boy named Nicky, the journey begins with a group of various species of dinosaurs working together to transport their offspring to safety during the dawn of the Ice Age and ends with a child’s promise to protect Quassilla’s habitat in perpetuity.
Meet Quassilla
Lake Quassapaug’s Friendly-NESS
A plesiosaurus frozen as an egg during the ice age is rescued by the Knights of Quassmorrah millions of years later. Follow her across seas and rivers, then into a spring-fed lake in the middle of Connecticut with her rescuer Middle McFee.
Inspired by a true story about Lake Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, CT, Quassilla’s Journey Home highlights the importance of harmonious coexistence in all forms of life, and how caring and collaboration can not only solve a problem, but can also result in creative solutions that everyone can enjoy and support.
Quassilla’s story will inspire children and families to explore real scientific and humanity issues such as global warming, water purity, food supply, prejudice, immigration, friendship, collaboration and acceptance. All of the animal species illustrated in this book will ultimately have their own survival story to tell in future QuassillaTM books.
Look Inside
“For thousands and thousands of years, it is said
the search for a home for this treasure had led
to the shores of this beautiful, magical place
in the middle most middle of time and of spaceTheir journey was long through the waves and the rain
From page 4 of Quassilla
and winds,” she said that day on the train,
“to Quassapaug Lake where we’d see,” she proclaimed,
“the last and the truest of creatures quite famed.”
When the Knights of Quassmorrah discovered her there,
they knew from the legend to save her they dare
not leave her alone in the last of the ice.
She’d never survive there. It wouldn’t be nice.The middlest Knight of the Quassmorrah Clan
From page 13 of Quassilla
named Middle McFee, at last took a stand.
“Nay she can’t stay in the bay,” he did say,
“for the caves and the coves are sliding away.”
And that’s when she did it, she whistled a tune
the sweetest of melodies, loud as a loon.
And up leapt Quassilla as brave as you please,
as high as the oak trees, as green as their leaves.She swam to the shoreline and shook her green head.
From page 22 of Quassilla
“You’ve no need to worry, she’s friendly,” Mum said.
I couldn’t believe it, and neither will you.
Quassilla just nodded — I knew it was true.
