Jerry Pinkney chooses tales he loves, and then makes them his own. In doing so, he recreates this classic tale with an emphasis on friendship and family. Melody is the youngest mermaid in her family. Her collection of artifacts from ships she finds below the surface elicit questions no one can answer. She longs to know more about the world above her ocean home.
As one so young, she has a guardian turtle. One day she follows it to the world above and sees a young friendly girl on the nearby shore. She has a strong feeling that the girl might be the answer to her longing for a friend. When the Sea Witch offers to give her legs in exchange for her beautiful voice, Melody abandons all warnings she has heard concerning the hateful, ugly creature. In doing so, she forges a strong friendship with Zion, the young girl she had earlier seen. Only when Melody discovers that the witch is using her now powerful voice to attack the Sea King's domain does she realize the havoc she has released.
Her friendship with Zion is strong, warm and lovely. Ultimately, it is Zion who convinces Melody to leave Zion's world, regain her voice, and make things right. With resilience and bravery, she returns to her ancestral home to challenge the Sea Witch, and bring peace and order back to her family and friends.
Fans of this old story will find comfort in the telling. Admiration for Mr. Pinkney's artwork comes from the beauty found in the watercolors that fill the many spreads with brilliant color and amazing detail. Through careful observation, readers are fully cognizant of each of Melody's worlds.
"You should never give up your voice, for anything."
No comments:
Post a Comment