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Monday, July 17, 2023

I Am a Meadow Mermaid, written by Kallie George and illustrated by Elly MacKay. tundra, Penguin Random House. 2023. $23.99 ages 3 and up

 


"I am a meadow mermaid. 

I see the sea in the sky,
starfish in the stars, 
a whale's tail in a slip of the moon. 

I feel the waves in the wheat,
swim through oceans of grass, 
and hide in coral-colored flowers.
"

Narrated by a young prairie girl who loves her life there, though she dreams of the sea. She plays in puddles, lies in grass to feel the sprinklers coolness, and enjoys a bedtime bath after a day in the sun. Her senses are constantly heightened by her life and its many wonders and mysteries. 

She dreams of mermaids and considers herself one of the land, where she sees the sea blue of the sky, and starfish in the night sky. She imagines the feel of waving wheat to be her ocean.  She delights in finding a new friend who needs her help. Her name is Milla, and she has fallen from her bike. Together they discover that they are treasure hunters, full of imagination and on the lookout for adventure. Making wishes, climbing trees, sharing cookies is the order of their days. 

As the sun begins to set, they wave goodbye and go to bed dreaming new dreams of times they will spend together. 

Elly MacKay's cut-paper dioramas, photographed on light-infused backgrounds, give a sense of drama and whimsy that perfectly matches the story's tone. When the two adventurers meet, they become immediate friends.  

Bright and memorable. 

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