Mermaids Most Amazing - Hardcover

Narelle, Oliver

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399242880 ISBN 13: 9780399242885

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2005

Synopsis

"For as long as anyone can remember, mermaids have swum through our stories and splashed through our dreams. . . . " Where did these mythical creatures come from? What if they were real?
Mermaids Most Amazing provides a comprehensive introduction to these beloved creatures, rendered in beautifully evocative, folk art-style collages and illustrations. You'll meet the fish-tailed goddesses of ancient Polynesia; crafty water sprites of the Pacific Northwest; fake mermaids from British carnivals of the 1800s; and the dugong, whose human-like features and behavior have been mistaken for mermaids by sailors throughout the ages.
Including several legends perfect for reading aloud, as well as maps of the mermaid world, Mermaids Most Amazing is a must-read for mermaid fans of all ages. Who knows what strange (and real) creatures you just might find?

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Grade 1-5 - This Australian import demonstrates the long-held fascination with mermaids throughout history. In three brief chapters, Oliver introduces legendary water folk from different lands and examines whether mermaids are "Real, Unreal, or Just a Seal"; traces sightings over the years and throughout the world; and tells of documented frauds and tricks. The book closes with five folktales from a variety of cultures and an ode to mermaids. Combining full-page paintings with smaller vignettes, the hand-colored, folksy linocuts are embellished with tiny beads, charms, and other bits of collage that deftly illustrate the lively text. The whole package pays great attention to detail, and yet one illustration lacks sensitivity. An American Indian tale from the Pacific coast erroneously shows a mermaid with a feather headband. With its attractive cover and subject matter, the book is likely to be popular; however, libraries should take this shortcoming into consideration. End pages depict a map of the mermaid world. - Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Hillsboro, OR
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist:

Gr. 2-4. References to mermaids are -everywhere--in folktales and myths around the world, even in historically documented sightings, such as Columbus' account about seeing three mermaids in 1493. This book, first published in Australia, looks first at whether mermaids are make-believe or just mistakes sailors made when they gazed at sea mammals. It then presents a rich assemblage of fishtailed gods and water spirits, along with a recounting of mermaid legends. Oliver's hand-colored linocuts and collages lend an appropriately exotic and edgy feel to the text. Like dipping into an antique "wonders of the world" compendium, the book's lore is exciting (a list of sources is appended for readers who want more), and the full-page illustrations, double-page spreads of text and art, and expansive double-page spreads with a single image, such as the gigantic beached Mermaid of Alba, combine to make this both attractive and intriguing. Connie Fletcher
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0399242880
• ISBN 13: 9780399242885
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Narelle Oliver