Book Description

Enter the Realm of Adventure

Jessie's helped the magical people of the Realm to escape danger twice now -- she's a real hero to her friends there.

But now her own world is in danger. Forest fires threaten her beloved home, Blue Moon. And only the magic of the realm can help her.

Reviews (1)

The Enchantment Continues . . .
With every story Jessie adds to her charm bracelet a special gift from those whom she helps in the Fairy Realm and my five year old daughter and I can hardly wait to read what happens next! Emily Rodda's series of Fairy Realm books are a perfect gift to share. From the first book you become hooked on the charming characters from Granny Jessica the true Queen of the Failry Realm to the mischeivous elf Gif and Maybelle the talking miniature horse. What a delight of adventure as each tale unravels and Jessie finds that she is stronger than she thinks and so very much like Granny whom she loves and admires.

In book three, you learn more about Jessie's Grandfather, who stole the heart of the fairy Princess Jessica, and his adventures in the Undersea of the Fairy Realm where he endeared himself to the merpeople and where Jessie must go to save Blue Moon where she, Granny, and mother live and the entrance in the Secret Garden to the Fairy Realm.

Another enchanting page turner in this wholesome series geared to young girls who believe in all that is magical. Nice easy read that you will read with your child now and one they will read themselves when they are able. A another delight. ... Read more

Book Description

In the most fantastical of the classic Babar stories, we follow Zephir, Babar’s monkey friend, home on school holiday. The monkey princess, Isabelle, has been kidnapped by the horned monster Polomoche, and everyone is very worried. But Zephir, with the help of a tiny mermaid named Eleanore, is certain that he can save the princess himself. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Elephants are not the only Fantastic Creatures!
Page aften page of strange and curious imaginary creatures, mermaids and monkeys! A delightful book.

Zephir embarks from the elephant school, off on his summer vacation. He arrives home at Monkeyville, which is filled with wonderful little houses and shops that hang from the gigantic trees, and off he and his family go to their holiday house, where the first thing that his mother does is prepare a "good soup of bananas and chocolate" (!).

The next day a tremendous package arrives at the post office from Babar. It is a rowboat for Zephir! On a daredevil fishing trip (for monkeys generally do not like the water), Zephir accidentally catches Eleonore, a lovely little mermaid, instead of fish! Sadly he releases her, but she has promised to come to his aid if he ever needs her. Upon his arrival back on shore he is greeted with the horrible news that little Princess Isabelle has been kidnapped in a green cloud smelling of rotten apples! Zephir calls on Eleonore, and she takes him in her fish carriage to her Aunt Crustadele.

Aunt Crustadele believes the culprit can only be Polomoche, who lives on an island with his gang of Gogottes (a very strange assortment of creatures!). "They... are not savage. But they are bored," she says. She sends Zephir off on his quest, telling him he will recognize Polomoche by his pointed horns and yellow skin.

What an adventure! One thing is for sure... any child reading this book will not have a chance to be bored! ... Read more

Book Description

Emily lives on a boat, but her mother has always been oddly anxious to keep her out of the water, and it is only when she has her first school swimming lesson that she discovers it is her natural element. As soon as she gets into the sea, she grows a tail! Now Emily dives under water to explore a glorious world of fishes, coral, shipwrecks and, of course, mermaids.She finds a best friend - another mermaid.She learns how her mother fell in love with a merman, how her father was snatched away when Emily was a baby, andhow her mother's memory was blocked by an agent of the merfolk.And in an unexpected and exciting denouement she reunites the family at last.This enchanting fantasy, with its vivid scenes of a brilliantly realized underwater world, tells the story of a delightful and wholly believable girl.Strongly plotted, it deals with universal themes of families, friendship, love and justice - all handled with a lightness of touch and an assurance that marks Liz Kessler out as a highly accomplished writer. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Mermaids are swishy!
This was a great book! I read it in two days, and I loved it.
I'm not going to write a full review because pople already have, but I'd suggest it!

Readers will be rooting for Emily.
Twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap lives on a houseboat in Brightport Harbor, but she has never learned to swim. Even though Emily begs for swimming lessons, her mom always says no. Finally, Emily persuades her mother to let her take swim class at her new school. When Emily hits the water, she gets the surprise of her life. Her long skinny legs have turned into a tail. That's right --- Emily is a mermaid!

All of a sudden, Emily's life is full of questions. Are there more mermaids out there like her? Why does her mom never seem to remember Emily's father, who left when Emily was just a baby? Who is the mysterious, menacing Mr. Beeston, who seems to be spying on Emily and her mother? And how can Emily get out of swim class before the rest of the seventh grade discovers her secret?

Emily is torn between happily exploring the undersea world of the mermaids and trying to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance. With the help of her new merfriend, Shona, Emily learns about mermaids and friendship at the same time.

Considering that this is a novel about magical creatures, THE TAIL OF EMILY WINDSNAP is surprisingly down-to-earth. Emily is a normal girl (in spite of that scaly tail), and her everyday worries about friends and family make the book seem realistic in spite of its fantastic premise. Readers will often be one or two steps ahead of Emily as she tries to solve the mystery --- Emily is sometimes a little slow to unravel the clues. Nevertheless, readers will be rooting for Emily to be reunited with her merfamily at last.

--- (...)

An exciting "tail"!
This book is good for readers who like adventures. It's a good book to read while on vacation because it reminds you of the beach. One of the best books I've ever read and I hope to read more of Liz Kessler's books.

Emily Windsnap Rocks!!!
The Tail of Emily Windsnap is a very good book. (I am 8 years old and I read a lot of books, about 30 each week.) It was kind of mystical and I've always thought books about transforming were interesting. The beginning was a little bit slow, but so what?! I especially liked the underwater parts. It's kind of silly and a pinch funny. If I had a chance to say the main emotions of the book I'd say mystical, funny, silly, sad and lots of other things too. If I were you I'd read this book. Very much recommended!!

Awesome story and writer!
The Tail of Emily Windsnap was an amazing book! From the first sentence, "Can you keep a secret?, I was hooked.

The book is about a spirited young girl named Emily who turns into a mermaid whenever she is immersed in water. She mets another mermaid named Shonna and together they swim in the sea. An adventurous fantasy story with a feel good happy ending.

I read this book to my kids (ages 7 and 10) in one day while we were at our cabin on the coast. A perfect beach read. We couldn't put it down! ... Read more

Book Description

Once there was a little mermaid who fell in love with a human boy .. . The story may be familiar, but Lisbeth Zwerger's art makes this fairytale seembrand-new. This Jubilee edition, celebrating 200 years of Hans ChristianAndersen, is superbly illustrated in Zwerger's signature style. Known for herpopular and award-winning editions of classics such as The Wizard of Oz andAlice in Wonderland, Zwerger is herself the recipient of the Hans ChristianAndersen Medal for lasting contributions to children's literature. The LittleMermaid is sure to win her new fans, and to delight her old ones.

The text is an all-new translation by Anthea Bell, and includes many lovely andpoignant details that may be new to even those who think they know the littlemermaid's story well. ... Read more

Book Description

Twelve year-old best friend Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer together when they discover something at the bottom of themurky pool at the Capri Beach Club.There, among the seaweed and jellyfish that the summer storm has blown in from the ocean, there is a mysterious and beautiful creature with a sharp tongue and a broken heart ­ a mermaid named Aquamarine. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Sweet and whimsical summer story for all ages
In just over 100 pages, Alice Hoffman's "Aquamarine" tells a delightful and magical little tale that mixes fact and fantasy.

Twelve year old Claire and Hailey are best friends who like hanging out at a rundown beach club with only Raymond, a handsome bookworm going off to college for company. Claire is going to move to Florida, and the two girls never want their languid summer to end.

One day, the two girls discover Aquarmaine, a mermaid living at the bottom of the pool. Aquamarine is very rude to them at first, but we find out that she ran away from home because she's hopelessly in love with Raymond. Claire and Hailey are naturally enchanted with the beautiful stranger, and conspire to help her meet Raymond.

"Aquamarine" has a familiar story that young girls can relate to about having your best friend move away, but the addition of a mermaid is a subtle touch that adds a lot of magic and an interesting twist. The book is also beautifully written, with plenty of sea imagery. The ending is heartwarming and bittersweet with an emphasis on the "sweet." It's a perfect book for summer, a lighthearted easy read.

A Nice "Tail"
I think this book was really a good book, but it's for people who aren't as strong readers, or younger readers. I received it as a gift for my birthday. On a scale from 1-10 I'd give it an 8. I had my little brother (age 8) read it for his book report (he'll read anything he can get his hands on) and he rated it a 9. This is what he wrote for his plot:

It all started when Hailey found out that Claire was moving. They only had a few more weeks to spend at the Capri Beach Club because that was being torn down also. One day there was a horrid storm and the pool got all yucky and mucky. Hailey jumped into the pool and saw a mermaid. They came up with a plan to talk to the mermaid. Claire found out that the mermaid had swam away to be independent and "stuff." The mermaid was rude, but eventually they became friends. They found out the mermaid's name was Aquamarine. Aquamarine fell in love with Raymond and wanted to go out with him. She wouldn't leave until she did. Hailey read in a book that if mermaids spend more than three days out of salt water they would shrivel up and turn into a pile of green dust. So Hailey and Claire have to try and convince Aquamarine to go back to the ocean. They end up putting Aquamarine in a wheelchair and having her and Raymond go out on a date. When the date is over she is pale and she is starting to turn into dust. They rush her to the ocean where Raymond sees her and finds out the truth-that she is a mermaid. He still loves her though. Claire moves to Florida and one day sees Raymond and Aquamarine swimming in the ocean together. While that is going on, Claire is watching the Capri Beach Club being torn down and replaced by a hotel. They learn to make new friends and face their fears and grow.

It leaves out a few things but it is pretty accurate. It's a good late night read. Enjoy!

Her adult fiction is better
Alice Hoffman, the talented adult storyteller, whose novels combine magic with drab everyday life, makes a disappointing crossover into children's literature. Her vivid characters, her enchanting stories would seemingly make her an ideal writer of childrens' literature. However, Aquamarine, is not characteristic of her eloquent adult novels.
The problem lies with the author's failure to adequately develop the plot or her characters. The book centers around two girls who spend their last summer together before one will move away with her grandparents. They visit the dilapidated beach club they grew up going to each and every year which will close at the end of the summer. There they meet a mermaid who is living in the pool after she was transported there during a storm.
The plot of the story is weak and unbelievable and though most of Hoffman' novels have supernatural plots, her writing and her strong characters make them work. The author fails to generate enough feeling for these characters. There is not enough character development and the reader therefore does not care what happens to them.
One thing Hoffman does manage to do is create an excellent setting for this otherwise weak story. She vividly describes the beach club which "every day was hotter and hotter until the asphalt in the parking lot began to bubble." Her vibrant imagery creates the perfect atmosphere for one of her enchanting stories, only this she fails to deliver. It is suitable for readers ages 10-12.

Best Mermaid Book I've read !
This book is great. Even my 4 year old sister liked it. I'm in 2nd grade and it is so easy to read! It keeps you interested throughout the whole book. You want to read it in one day!

Magically enchanting.
Excellent book for young teens. The author put some real poignant things in this writing that I don't think the younger reader will absorb, but maybe when they go back and read it again it will strike chords. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

a real exciting adventure
This book is about a kid named Billy, and his sister Sheena. They live on the ocean on a boat. Billy's uncle, Dr. D, is an Oceanographer. He studies the sea. Billy and Sheena go scuba diving to study underwater life, and find new discoveries. They find a lot. Billy even came face to face with a hammerhead shark! One day they found a mermaid. The most amazing discovery in history. Everyone fights over the mermaid because she is worth a lot of money. If you like a really exciting book with lots of action then you would want to read Goosebumps. I thought this was a great book! Iwould give it five stars.

"Just when you thought it was safe..."
I was addicted to these books when I was younger and it wasn't until I was majoring in education in college that I figured out why. They were interesting with bizarre plot twists that most 9-12 year olds don't think about and they were short (usually between 110-130 pages). I could read the whole thing in a day.

My parents also didn't have a lot of heartache with buying me a new book because these are relatively inexpensive (in the neighborhood of 3-5 bucks each).

R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" books aren't scary, just kind of creepy. There aren't graphic descriptions of murder and mayhem. Just some ghosts, werewolves, or potions. The main character is alive in the end, and the final chapter resolves everything.

**Keep in mind, R.L. Stine has other books that aren't in the "Goosebumps" series that tend to be a little harsher when it comes to hauntings and plot. They are written more for the 12-14 age group and are longer (around 150-200 pages).

good only for kids about 8-11
the book maybe enticing to young kids but compared to great pieces by the authors shakespeare, lois lowry, louis sachar, and avi. I read the book about 3 times when i was young. It was ok. nothing scary, but it would make a great movie. i suggest you get it from the library instead of buying it because it WILL get boring.

Tyler's review of this book.
This book is the 2nd best book I have ever read. Just by looking at the cover I knew it would be good. If you ever read this book, write a review.

Deep Trouble
Ever since I was little I loved water.The reason I read this book was because I read deep Trouble 2 first ,so I decided to go ahead and read the fist one.I started reading it and loved it.I can't tell you what happens in the book like the other reviews I read because I'd ruin the story.You'll just have to read it to find out ... Read more

Book Description

The Little Mermaid's universal longing for freedom, independence, and love

is made real by Santore's sensitive presentation. School Library Journal

said, "The opulent full-page watercolors are a perfect complement to this

stylish and authentic interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale."




... Read more

Reviews (7)

captivating
The Little Mermaid is a timeless story to be revisited, cherished, and loved for one's entire life - beyond - for generations. In this remarkable book Charles Santore's breathtaking illustrations bring out the very essence of Hans Christian Anderson's classic fairy tale. He takes his audience directly to this imaginary kingdom where only infinitely beautiful souls exist - the Little Mermaid, whose love was too pure for this world, the prince, whose love for the Little Mermaid was just the wrong kind of love, even the sea-witch, who gives the Little Mermaid the only opportunity to find her prince. Santore has you fall in love with all of Anderson's characters, breaking your heart ever so delightfully.

An enchanted classical "pictorial" novel.
I read the story when I was 9, it was for school and I hated it. I always thought it is a girly book. Now I read it again with the fantastic illustration of Charles Santore, I know why Disney adopt it into a movie.
If you are looking for beautiful modern children illustration works, this is the book you have to get. Charles Santore brings out the mysterious mood of ocean merfolk, which is something missing from any other little mermaid illustrations I've encountered.
The book is a bit pricy but it is worth every penny. It is a classical novel with the quality of classic art.

Not completely original
The illustrations in this book are fantastic. The translation purports to be Mary Howitt's, with "only the smallest adjustments...in concession to contemporary pace and attitude." I find it more romantic, however, to fly through the aether and risk being crushed to pieces rather than the more scientific "sailing through the atmosphere" and being crushed to "atoms." The editor also decided to omit the term "slaves"; apparently she'd prefer to hide from human history instead of facing it. Still, an edited Howitt is significantly better than the insipid prose issued by Disney.

A breathtaking edition of Andersen's Little mermaid
Ever since my youth Hans Christian Andersen's story of 'The little mermaid' has tugged at my heartstrings profoundly. There have been many translations of this story, some with different endings than Andersen's original tale. This edition however provides Andersen's original story as translated by his friend and correspondent Mary Howitt. The tragic story of the courageous little mermaid who sacrifices so much, will always have the power to touch me deeply. Her longing for love, freedom and humanity is universal. A tragic yet unforgettable heroine. The superb and breathtaking illustrations by Charles Santore perfectly capture and evoke the tragedy of the mermaid's plight and sacrifice.

For children this volume is a great introduction to Andersen which might lead them to his other stories. However this edition of 'The little mermaid' is a wonderful treasure for all people who are interested in Andersen regardless of their age.

A Childhood Favorite
When I was younger, about seven or eight, my mom got me this book, and i fell in love with it. The illustrations in it are beautiful! I would stay up at night just looking at the pictures. when i lost the book, i was going crazy trying to find it. But when i saw that amazon.com had it, i ordered a new one. ... Read more

Book Description

Sukey's new step-pa is a mean, bossy man. Every day Sukey wakes at dawn to work in the garden. All her step-pa ever does is watch her and yell if she so much as stops to fan herself. Sukey's ma calls him Mister Jones. Sukey prefers the name "Mister Hard-Times."

Son one day, Sukey runs away to her secret place by the ocean. There, she calls up Mama Jo, a beautiful black mermaid. Mama Jo's got a surprise for Sukey; a magical kingdom beneath the sea without time or pain. But it's also without people. Is it really better than the world above? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An Excellent Children's Book
This book has become a mainstay in my children's library. I read this book to them over and over again. My 3 daughters never tire of it. The way the tale is written allows the reader to inflect his/her own creativity in delivering the story to an entranced child's ears. You can choose to sing parts of the tale, you can inflect tonality and create the dialect as you see fit, as well. Along with the wonderful, unique artwork, this book will become a classic children's tale for generations to come!

What a marvelous book!
My children sat spellbound as we read this book. We loved this story for the original plot, the strange dialect (not too heavily used), and the unusual art work.

This was a good book about a little girl and a mermaid.
I am a fifth grade student at North Hills Traditional Academy. And,yes, I like this book. I like this book because the pictures are pretty. I like this book because the words are beautiful. I like this book because it tells a sweet story. This book is for people who are caring. ... Read more

Book Description

The complete retelling of favorite Disney movies in a true read-aloud style. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great addition to the Little Mermaid video!
What a great addition to our bookshelf! My 3 year old daughter loves the Little Mermaid video, but I try to limit her viewing time. This book is a top choice to fill in on those days we skip the videos.

This book includes all the major story elements and characters, a feature that is unavailable in the shorter versions I've seen. It also uses direct quotes from the video, which my daughter loves. The beautiful images from the movie are on each page, with short paragraphs, which keeps her engaged, and doesn't take nearly as long to read as you might think.

I only gave 4 stars because I think that with the vast amount of material included, this book is just a little dry. I'm not sure how engaging it would be as a stand-alone read, versus as an accessory to the movie.

For our purposes, though, this a great book, and we read it frequently. Money well spent!

true under the sea story
My kids love this story and so do I. It tells every important detail in a short description. Each page has beautiful pictures with only a few paragraphs so the kids get to turn the pages often. The language comes straight from the movie so that the story teller can use the character voices. This will become a favorite with your family too. ... Read more

Book Description

Frequently one wishes to say to another, "I wish you the best of everything." This book delivers this message with power and sincerity.

Welleran Poltarnees has taken Snell¹s text and selected a painting or illustration for each wish, giving additional life to an already marvelous text. We assert, without exaggeration, that this is the nearly perfect gift book. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Little Eyes Beware
Very good historical information of mermaids....but did not give the book to my young child because of the nudity featured in the artwork. The artwork is indeed classical, beautiful, and very sensual.

terrible! hated it!
I bought this as a gift for a 10 year old this christmas and her first impression was " why on Earth would you buy this book for ME?" I felt really bad when i read it myself. The author uses old paintings anyone who is into Mermaids has already seen a million times, nothing new here.. and nothing recent in terms of art! Also this book is not very large or really very informitive. It essentially brushes across the subject of Mermaids as if this was your first introduction to the subject. I didnt' learn a thing there was tons of old quotes on Mermaids all of them meaning nothing. The worst part other then the lack of real research and imagination, was that all the paintings don't have captions so if you want to know where the paintings came from, who made them and what story they are from you have to find it somewhere in the back of the book, truely annoying and unnessary. This book or any book on Mermaids could have been "oh so much more". I have no idea why it got so many high stars from people! There is I see now, Tons of wonderful books on Amazon much better then this one on mermaids dont' let your search stop here.

wonderful collaberation of mermaid pictures
I was so pleased when I looked inside this book. This book includes beautiful pictures of mermaids as well as interesting sayings, information, and poems about mermaids. The pictures weren't just cute drawings but paintings, excerpts from magazines, pictures from storybooks, and medieval drawings of mermaids. I am a mermaid lover and only like the best of mermaid books. This is book is one of the best. I recommend this book to anyone who loves mermaids.

"Mermaids" is fantastic!
I think her "Mermaids" book is the best out of all of them, although I haven't yet bought her "Guardian Angel" book. Great pictures with observations and other poems make this book a keeper. I highly suggest it!

If You're Looking for Facts, Check the Britannica
This slim, beautiful little volume is very satisfying if you are looking to enjoy the beauty of mermaids. It does not have a lot of "facts" but why would you be searching for facts about mermaids when they inhabit the nebulous realm of magic? This book contains 49 full color illustrations of mermaids, some of the more famous ones like Waterhouse's and Pyle's are included, but so are many that you probably will not have seen before. Ratisseau is a brilliant compiler and she has outdone herself here with super research and a flair for the subject. The text consists of many wonderful quotes, again, some famous and some obscure. The page lay-outs are tasty and most of the illustrations have a luminous sea-blue border around them, all printed on quality paper and perfect for gift-giving or for treating yourself. ... Read more

Reviews (93)

Mythological Mermaid in Love
I am very pleased that I gave Donna Jo Napoli's books a second chance. I read Crazy Jack and, for whatever reason, did not like it very much the first time around. A few months later, I picked up Sirena and did not regret it one iota. "Sirena" combines the Greek myths with sirens, nymphs and mermaids as well as Odysseus and Troy. The mermaids are told that if they fall in love, they will become immortal. Sirena, one such mergirl, distances herself from the school of nymphs she normally follows and ends up falling for a wounded man who was on his way to the war. After a short while of tending to him without his knowing, she finally reveals her true nature to him and their relationship builds, slowly at first, then to a state in which they regard themselves as married. The book takes place over a few years so you do feel as if you get to know Sirena and fall into her normal daily pattern right along with her. This book is the embodiment not just of the Greek myths, but of the saying: "If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it is yours. If it doesn't , it never was."

Sirena
I have never read one of Ms. Napoli's books before, but I had just stumbled across this book and decided to read it. The book was captivating and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. The story was about a mermaid who wants to become an immortal, but cannot do so until she has the love of a human man. She and sisters have the gift of a beautiful voice that seduces any man that hears it. But when Sirena meets the love of her life (an abandoned soldier on the island of Lemnos), she finds herself reluctant to sing. But by meeting him, Sirena discovers the true meaning of love and strives to have it herself.

Strange story¿
Napoli has written numerous enjoyable retellings of folk and fairy tales for the young adult audience. In this book, I felt she faltered. She tells the story of the Greek Sirens (which are pictured to be mermaids).Sirena, the main character, knows that she is cursed, being half-human. The only way to lift the curse is to convince a man to mate with them. Then, she will become immortal. Sirena decides to separate from the other Sirens and finds a castaway alone on an island. They are initially afraid of each other, but begin to fall in love. Will Sirena want to be immortal after falling in love with a human man? I found the story dragging a lot, and perhaps because the story of the Sirens isn't as well known as some of Napoli's other retellings, it seemed a bit boring to me as well. I think she has written better.

Best Read
I got this book from my school library. At first it took me a while to get into it, but it was wonderful nonetheless. Then as I got more into it, I brought it home and couldn't stop reading it! I fininshed reading the book today, and it is definetely, without a doubt, one of the best reads I've ever read, and that there probably is out there! It is probably my favorite book. It's full of mystic, myths, and love. And I absolutely love the ocean, so I loved how the main setting was there. I also found Sirena, the mermaid, a great role model that many can relate to. I highly reccommend this book to everyone. I am definetely going to get my own copy! It is absolutely astounding....

Sirena, Sirena
I have read several of Napoli's books, and she has a writing style I've come to appreciate. She sticks with this style in "Sirena", and although I had a bit of a hard time getting into this story, it was good nonetheless.

I didn't like Sirena's character until the end of the book, when she showed she was more mature and wasn't so naive. This book has a lot of references to greek mythology, but it's simple to understand and very interesting. While reading this story, I grew to appreciate the ocean even more, and I must say, if you read this, it would do well to find a beach or fly to one, because you're going to want to lay in the warm sand after!

If you liked 'Zel' or 'Crazy Jack' or any other Napoli book, I totally suggest you read this book. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Mermaids in a different light.....
This wonderful book written by Mary Pope Osbourne puts memaids into a different light. Most of us (I think) view mermaids as fantastically beautiful kind and caring creatures. Although most of the mermaids in this book are depicted as being beautiful they can be very scarey as well. My daughter who will soon be eight described this book as, "Neat, but a little scarey." It was very interesting to read the stories from different countries. These mermaids are very different than the one portrayed in the Disney film. It is refreshing to read about mermaids in a cultural interpretation.
If you are a mermaid fan you will enjoy this book.

An incredible book for all mermaid lovers
i'm 15 years old and have always loved mermaids. My favorite movie is Disney's The Little Mermaid, and i am always interested in any books i come across about them. i came across this book in 6th grade. it was my teacher's book, but i stole it for the entire year! i read it over and over again, i was mesmerized by the stories and pictures. most of the stories i havnt even heard before. i was so sad when i had to give it back, but just now, 3 years later, i found it on this website! i ordered it right away and couldn't be happier. i reccomend this book to anyone that has a facsination with mermaids. this book is truly wonderful.

Excellent stories and illustrations
This book is wonderful for all ages. It includes stories from all over the world, not just Europe. The illustrations are excpetional, with the artist emulating the style of whatever area of the world the story is from, resulting in a genuine feel. The stories are told well, and the book is large enough to be able to show the pictures to a story-time group if desired. I am an adult, yet I found the stories to be interesting and though not dumbed down, accessible to almost all age groups.

For water maidens and those who love them...
This work as a whole will enlarge your understanding of water maiden creatures, but don't expect to find any rivetting storytelling.

The value of this book lies in its cultural scope. How intriguing to note that water maidens play a significant role in the folk lore of such diverse cultures! And how interesting to see how these creatures vary from country to country (for they are not all mermaids as the title would suggest). Readers will discover an added bonus in Howell's artwork, which enhances the cultural flavor of each tale to great effect.

However, each tale is written in a sparse, folk tale style--flat characters and settings with little descriptive embellishments. For this reason I would recommend this book mainly to those who love mermaids and other sea creatures, rather than to those who just looking for a good story. But recommend it I do, for it is a fine collection.

An Incredible Book! An Exellent read for mermaid fans!
My name is Shell and I am 11 years old and I loved this book, its pictures are astonishing with its beautiful colors. One of my favorites is The Nastasia of the Sea, always testing the boy of his loyalty for her. This also contains a very well known classic, The Little Mermaid, by Hans Chistian Anderson. I have read its stories for hundreds of times always wanting to read it again and again, I'd read one story, then I'd have to finish the whole book! I have rented this book many times hoping to find it in a store to buy, but never found it, now I have purchased it, it like a dream come true! Or at least it's an early Christmas present. This book is very extrodinary and not like any other, it kind of gives you a bit of the culture where it came from, as its stories is set in the same mood as all the stories from the cultures. The pictures are like all the other pictures from the cultures too. Such as the picture of Menona of the Waterfall which is Indian its picture looks as if an Indian artist painted it.The whole book is finely illustrated and well told too. It's a very good book and I sure mermaid fans would love it. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great Book!
I ordered this book sight unseen because of the 5 star reviews. They were right, it's a great book.

A MUST FOR MERMAID COLLECTORS!!!!!
I COLLECT MERMAIDS AND THIS BOOK IS MY FAVORITE OF ALL THE MERMAID BOOKS I OWN. WHEN I FOUND IT ONLINE IT WAS SO AFFORDABLE I BOUGHT 2. GREAT GIFT IDEA!!

Beautiful Artwork!
This book was worth the wait! Great pictures and captivating writing. My coffee table was waiting for this work of art. You will not be disappointed in this book.

Delicious!!!
This is one of the most gorgeous books I own. I just wish there were more books on Mermaids and my favorite myth "Melusine". This book is a must-have!! Every time I read it I have the urge to add table salt into my bathwater a la Splash.

Mermaid Fans: A Must Have!
This book is fantastic! It's a Mermaid Collector's dream come true. Mermaids: Nymph of the Sea contains a myriad of color and visual stimulation. It is so much fun to read visually and intellectually. I enjoy the author's use of graphics, pictures, creative ideas, texture of the pages and typography. It's well worth the cost. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Mermaid Mary is wonderful!
After reading this book (voraciously on my lunch hour) I found myself thrown back into my own childhood. It's a great read for adults as well as late elementary school aged kids. Mermaid Mary is charming and determined! This book made me feel (as a 27 year old woman) the way the Ramona books made me feel as a kid. It helped me to remember what it feels like to trust your gut instincts and be true to yourself. MMM embraces who she is and blooms as a result. I remember all of these feelings! Her trip with her grandmother as a companion in place of her recently passed grandpa is touching, exciting, and reminded me what it felt like to loose a parent and deal with that loss. Not only do I identify with Mermaid Mary, but I feel that there is a piece of her in all young girls. This book gets five stars from me and reminds me to embrace the dreams that I have that might seem silly or unimportant in the big scheme of things. Not only is the book GREAT, but there is a very fun interactive website that can be used in conjunction with the book for classroom or homeschooling purposes! (www.MermaidMary.com) I will be following this authors career and look forward to treasuring more books as fast as she can write them. I hope to see my collection of childrens and junior literature expand with Lynn Hazens name showing up frequently on the spines!

Mermaid Mary Margaret...Marvelous!
If I could choose a young girl for my very own, it would be red-headed Mary Margaret--a girl who wishes with all her heart to be a mermaid. I read this riveting book, cheering for MMM with every turn of the page. Even though girls will absolutely love her, everyone will find the book refreshing. Set on a cruise ship in the Grecian Isles, Lynn E. Hazen has created a world so real that I smelled the salty air and olive oil even in these Blue Ridge Mountains. If I ever cruised into a Grecian port, I'd fully expect that spunky red-headed Mary Margaret to greet me as I disembarked the ship! This is an author that I'll keep my eye on. I'm anxious to see where she'll take us next. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Well Written Kids' Story
Mermaids Don't Run Track is a good book for 3-5th graders. The characters are action oriented from the first page, and immediately face two interesting mysteries concerning the camp director and the track coach. The Bailey School kids suspect one is a werewolf and the other a mermaid. The art work is also very good and adds detail and interest to the story. The book is approximately 7,000 words long.

A similar book for the same age group which I would recommend is "Abby and the bicycle caper."

Liked how Eddie was always trying to be the big shot.
My name is Leigh. I liked that Eddie tried to be always a smart aleck. And how he said that he would prove that Mrs. Waterford wasn't a mermaid. And whenever they got in the lake, Eddie would try to splash her. And I liked when Eddie pulled Liza in the water. ... Read more

Book Description

Stories of the Mer-Folk, especially Mermaids, exist in nearly every culture around the world that sailed the oceans or large rivers. Human-like, except for their iridescent, scaly tails, Mermaids and Mermen have fascinated humans for thousands of years. Because the largest of these beings exist in the oceans, most people are not aware that smaller versions of the Mer-Folk live in inland rivers, streams, marshes, and large or small waterfalls. Like many other magickal beings, the Mermaids travel easily between this world and the astral planes, appearing only to those who truly seek to know them and learn their ancient powers. Magickal Mermaids and Water Creatures brings these fabled creatures out of the storybooks and into real life through the studies of D. J. Conway. Within the pages you will learn about: * The secret powers of Mermaids and Mermen. * Different water creatures and where you can find them. * How to entice water folk for friendship and health. * How to avoid dangerous water folk. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A collection of stories about the Mer-Folk

D.J. Conway has worked in the fields of magick and Paganism for over forty years: her background lends to Magickal Mermaids And Water Creatures: Invoke The Magick Of The Waters: a collection of stories about the Mer-Folk which exist in nearly every water culture the world over. Ocean mermaids have influences on the weather and water alike: their secret powers and how to find and use them are revealed in a unique coverage not to be found elsewhere.
... Read more

Book Description

A merrily alluring guide to the realm of mermaids.

If you've ever heard the call to be such a creature, Imagine You're a Mermaid! is the guide for you! Awash with information on all things mermaid, this book offers tips on what to wear (seashell tiaras and seaweed hair extensions), where to live (in coral castles with turrets of pearl), and what to do (look beautiful and maybe make some mischief).

Dripping with mermaid tales, sea scenes, and even some treats to try (mer-ingues, anyone?), and saturated with stunning artwork (including watercolors, of course), Imagine You're a Mermaid! is guaranteed to drown your boredom.

Key Features: - Fun to read, look at, and do activities - Eye-catching illustrations complement delightfully silly descriptions ... Read more

Book Description

Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Aster a strange thing happened.

They say the prince married a girl who was not what she appeared and that another girl who saved the kingdom vanished without a trace. Some said it was witchcraft. Some said it was only a legend. For those who knew the truth, it was magic....

Rescued from the sea at an early age, Pearl grew up within sight of the water...and the castle. With her pale skin and silvery hair, she was an outcast in the village. Her only friend was a boy she met on the beach -- a young prince named James, who understood Pearl's desire just to be like everyone else.

Their friendship is viewed from afar by many: a disdainful king, Pearl's worried foster parents, a jealous young mermaid, a lovestruck merman, and the powerful sea witch. Now a storm brews in the kingdom, with a tidal force that could keep Pearl and James apart. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Not Big on this one guys
This book was very annoying. If you like books with crazy romances this is the book for you. I hated how this book ended. When it was over I threw it at my TV and only touched it agian to put it away on my bookcase. They build you up for one thing and then it gives you another. It was very well written, and general had a very good plot. But most people read these books for the romance in them and not for the plot. It just amazing how someone is in love with some one one minute and the next, they are in love with someone else, everyone is happy, eveyone has a girlfreind or boyfriend, the end. You see I am a fan of cheezy love stories, but this pushes it. I have loved every other book I have read in this series. My reconmendation is that you buy another one of these books, like scarlet moon, the story tellers daughter, or snow. All excellent books. But dont let me stop you. It isnt awful, but decide for yourself, alot of other people seem to like it.

Points for creativity
With her book Midnight Pearls, Debbie Viguie stays away from what The Little Mermaid gave us and made a completely different story on mermaids. The book's cover itself provides a mystical feeling of enchantment and the unknown.

I do have one wavering opinion. Her story was rushed at times, especially towards the end. I reckon she was rushing to finish up with the story to get it over with. She went over descriptions and action-packed parts too vaguely. She did, however, take her rushed pace down a notch for the dialogues.

I enjoyed the friendship between Pearl and James. It shows how two people from two different social standings can connect and relate. It's a sweet touch.

Midnight Pearls is a nice, light book to read especially for a trip to the beach. It would make a nice gift for those who enjoy stories of such, especially young ones.

A Different Type of Tale
Definately not your average Little Mermaid story. Basic story setting is the kingdom of Aster. Characters are Pearl, a mermaid who was taken in by a human family, James, Prince of Aster and looking for a wife, Kale, Pearl's or Adriana as we come to know her, betrothed, and Faye, the mermaid who falls in love with James. The entire book was well written, but my only complaint was that everything seemed to be rushed. Other than that, I would reccomend this book to anyone who loves a good fairy tale, or in this case a mermaid tale.

It could have been so good!!
I repeat the title again and again! The first half of the book is EXCELLENT. I could read it over and over. But...as soon as the new mermaids come into the it, the author really screwed things up. Even though we don't get to know the characters too well, the two main ones, Pearl and Prince James, were doing things completely out of character. All their feelings that were previously mentioned were thrown out for no good reason. I suppose that it was nbecause it was the only way for the book to have a good ending, with everyone living-but I would have preferred it the other way. it could have been such a good, emotional book---there was so much potential. I'm still glad I read this book, however, so I could se for myself how it was. So good ahead, if you're still not convinced from the other reviews (however, I warn you, they have major spoilers!!!)

Promises much, delivers little halfway through
Based on the Little Mermaid, as everyone probably know. The introduction in the back - jealoused young mermaid...tidal force that could keep James and Pearl apart... - is entirely rubbish and has nearly no connection to the book. Reading it, you would think that after everything Pearl and her prince would be happily ever after despite the so-called "lovestruck merman" and "jealoused mermaid," being a YA romance book and all. Right? Wrong! All the intensity built up in the front between James and Pearl was promising, but the ending that each went off their own way with a pretty prince and princess just rubbed me the wrong way.

The characterization is decent in the beginning - believable, clear, and nicely written - but things started to go downhill when a mermaid saved James and his feelings for Pearl just evaporated in his determination to marry the pretty girl who saved him. I thought this was unlikely of a thoughtful prince who often escaped the palace to talk to think and talk with Pearl to throw away his best friend (whom he was about to propose to before he fell into the water) in favor of the girl who saved him. I mean, where had all those years they shared went? Pearl's personality, on the other hand, was about as bland as her hair. Her attraction to James faded promptly when a merman who claimed to be her betrothed appeared - without any hints of jealousy, upset, or shock.

Their encounter with the antagonist, Sea Witch, was unbelievably short and unfortunately, not sweet. The king's assassination was very simple, straightforward, and explained, and I don't mean that in a good way. The ending was just so, blah. The second half of the book lacked the emotional play and complications that the first half promised, making the conclusion extremely predictable and yet, you couldn't feel any feelings for the characters. To sum it up, it's not the best book I've read, nor is it bad. I read the others in the series and I liked "The Storyteller's Daughter" better by far, perhaps because I'm rather unfamiliar with the original tale. Also, if one liked YA fantasy, I recommend John Peel's "The Secret of Dragonhome" - a pity it isn't more known. Also, Gail Carson Levine's humorous reworks of fairytales are also worth a read. ... Read more