World Ocean Day is shore to be fun

Help celebrate World Ocean Day at a special children’s celebration at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center in Newport this Saturday, June 8.

The event will feature children’s author Sara T. Behrman reading her new book, “The Sea Hides a Seahorse” illustrated by Melanie Mikecz. The interactive program will include engaging information about seahorses and marine education. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the book will be donated to support marine education and seahorse conservation.

Behrman loves to travel and, like seahorses, has found her way to all five of the world’s oceans. She now lives in Portland, about 80 miles from the ocean. As a professional writer, she has published 40 feature articles and creative pieces in regional and national publications.

Joining the stage will be musician Linda Yapp, who will play fun and engaging ocean-themed music that kids can sing along to. Yapp creates and shares music that reflects the values she holds near and dear to her heart; songs of peace, kindness, diversity and respect for all living things. She founded the Nye Beach Montessori School in Newport which she ran for nearly 40 years. She performs far and wide and throughout the Northwest in schools, stores, libraries and festivals.

This will also be the grand opening of the new children’s area, an interactive fishing boat and fish market created by volunteer Joe Novello and Curator Sachiko Otsuki.

There will also be a craft activity, ukulele-accompanied seahorse songs and a book signing.

The celebration begins at 2 pm at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center, located at 333 SE Bay Blvd. in Newport. For more information, go to oregoncoasthistory.org or call 541-265-7509.