The Little Mermaid by Susan Blackaby

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Susan Blackaby
Pages: 32

Summary(amazon.com):

A little sea princess, longing to be human, trades her mermaid's tail for legs, hoping to win the love of a prince and earn an immortal soul for herself.

My Review:

When I first picked this book up from the library, I thought, "Oh no. This is going to be terrible!" However, I learned once again not to judge a book by its cover. This book is a retelling of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson, but it is simplified for children learning to read. Oddly, the illustrations matched the simplicity of the story and got the message across easily enough for children to understand. The only bad comment I do have is since the text is very simplified and large, I can only guess that adult mermaids wont enjoy this as much as smaller children. This version is perfect for little mers to read on their own. I give this book (****) 4 stars.

-Sirenita The Selkie

Disney's The Little Mermaid A Merry Mermaid Christmas by Mary Man Kong

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Mary Man Kong
Pages: 24


Summary:
Ariel learns about the human holiday, Christmas and what the true meaning of Christmas really is.


My Review:
Mermaids and Christmas; where did this idea come from? I'm not sure, but I love the combination! This book is so unique and original, and often, readers don't get a peak into Ariel's life outside the original plot of The Little Mermaid. What I loved about this book is the main concept. Ariel learns that gift giving may be difficult, especially when you want to give something perfect, but Christmas isn't about that. It is about enjoying your family and friends, the food, songs and celebration! Ariel also learns that you don't have to give a big gift for the receiver to be happy; it just has to be something the person will find special and treasure. I also loved that the text wasn't juvenile, and there wasn't a lot of text per page. It was a very short, but sweet story. This book definitely gets (*****) 5 stars, and when I buy it, I'm going to read it every Christmas Eve :)
-Sirenita The Selkie

Disney's The Little Mermaid Classic Storybook by Sheryl Kahn

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Sheryl Kahn
Pages: 95


Summary(amazon.com):
A beautiful sea princess, longing to be human, trades her mermaid's tail for legs, hoping to win the heart of the prince she loves.

My Review:
I'm so happy to review another "The Little Mermaid" book! What I liked about this book is that all of the original details of the plot were kept, something that is very important for people like me, who love Ariel :) The way the text was written wasn't juvenile, and adults can read and enjoy it as well. What I also loved were the illustrations, especially the storm scene and Ariel's transformation. Take a look:

I thought these illustrations were very unique, and I have never seen Ariel's transformation drawn! I love it! There were some small details that bothered me. Although the first page mentions King Triton's concert, the reader sees Prince Eric on his ship instead. Also, the Seahorse Herald is green in the book, but this is what he looks like:

Overall, I thought this book was perfect for "The Little Mermaid" collectors like myself, and the illustrations are perfect for people who love to draw! I give this book (*****) 5 stars.

-Sirenita The Selkie

Disney's The Little Mermaid by Lara Bergen

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Lara Bergen
Pages: 96

Summary(amazon.com):
Ariel dreams of visiting the human world and dancing with the handsome prince, Eric. Finally, she gets her chance-but the evil sea witch, Ursula, has stolen Ariel's voice. Can Ariel get her voice back and win Prince Eric's love before the sun goes down, or will Ursula ruin Ariel's dreams forever?

My Review:
This is seriously the BEST Disney's The Little Mermaid book I have ever read! Not a single detail is cut out from this book, and pretty much all of the dialogue from the movie is put into the book as well. I mean it guys, every single scene from the movie is kept! The best part of all was the illustrations... they are perfect, full of color and life, and there is an illustration on almost every single page. The only downside I could think of is that this book is a bit lengthy (take a look at the top of this post), so this might be a very loonnng bedtime story. I really loved this version the best so far, and I definitely would give it more than five stars!
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Little Mermaid: Step Into Reading by Ruth Homberg

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Ruth Homberg
Pages: 32

Summary(amazon.com):

Disney's The Little Mermaid comes to Diamond Edition DVD and Blu-ray in October 2013! Ariel is one of the most beloved Disney princesses of all time, and now girls ages 4–6 can relive the magic of the film with this Step 2 book.

My Review:

There are many, many, MANY versions of The Little Mermaid, but this version is perfect for little mer-children learning to read! This book has large text and small sentences so children can practice reading. Older mermaids might have a problem enjoying this, mostly because a lot of the major details are cut out, and the text is way too simple. However, the illustrations are quite nice, and are excellent for inspiration. I give this book (***) 3 stars.

-Sirenita The Selkie

The Little Mermaid by Stephanie Calmenson

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Stephanie Calmenson
Pages: 24

Summary(amazon.com):
Ariel is tired of living under the sea–she wants to be human and walk on land. She gets her chance after making a deal with an evil sea witch, but something’s fishy! Can Flounder, Sebastian, and Scuttle help make the little mermaid’s dream come true? Find out in this full-color retelling of Disney’s classic film, The Little Mermaid.

My Review:
There are so many versions of The Little Mermaid, and I plan to cover each and every one on this blog! This small book does keep the original quotes such as "Have you ever seen anything so wonderful in your entire life?" and "It's a dinglehopper. Humans use these little babies to straighten their hair out." The book also follows the original story line with minimal details cut out. Also, the text wasn't simplified in a juvenile way with short sentences and big words. However, the images were okay, but they lacked the bright and spectacular color palette that usually comes with Ariel and her kingdom. This book was okay at most, and there are definitely better versions out there. I give this book (***) 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

When Mermaid's Sleep by Ann Bonwill

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Ann Bonwill
Pages: 32

Summary(amazon.com):
 In this beautifully lyrical bedtime picture book, young readers will be whisked to a land where mermaids sleep and pirates snore; where fairies slumber on flower petals and a giant's sleepy sighs make the valleys rumble. Featuring dream-like illustrations by Society of Illustrators Gold Medal recipients Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher,When Mermaids Sleep is an ideal addition to the bedtime canon.

My Review:
This book is a perfect bedtime story! I wish I had read this when I was a kid! Although mermaids play a small part in this book, there are other many mystical creatures, such as pirates, genies, treasure, wizards, unicorns and much more. The illustrations are breathtaking and are a perfect example of what a picture book should be; bright, colorful, captivating and clever. The pictures really transform the reader to a fantasy land. The text in this book is actually a poem, but it tells such a beautiful story. I would definitely recommend reading this, even if you're an adult. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Barbie In A Mermaid Tale 2: A Big Golden Book by Kristen L. Depken

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Kristen L.Depken
Pages: 48

Summary:
A full colored picture book that is based off of Barbie In A Mermaid Tale 2

My Review:
As I have previously mentioned on my other blog Media Mermaids and on this blog as well, I love Barbie In A Mermaid Tale! Although many people would expect it to be juvenile because it features Barbie, it actually wasn't at all. What I loved about this book is that the text wasn't simplified for young readers, and older mermaids will be able to enjoy this with the mer-children. The illustrations were also brilliantly bright and beautiful! I have noticed something about the illustrations of Merliah. She looks way too girly in the books compared to the movies. Take a look and see what you think:

notice how thin she looks, and
how much makeup she's wearing as well!

Much more natural and normal!

I really did love this book, and I plan on adding it to my collection! I give this book (*****) 5 stars.








PS: There is also a smaller golden book. Here is the book cover:

Although the smaller golden book is similar, the big golden book has more detail to it. Check them both out to see which one you prefer :)

The Little Mermaid: Sealed With a Kiss by Melissa Lagonegro

Book Type: Children's Literature

Author: Melissa Lagonegro
Pages: 32

Summary(amazon.com):

Ariel loves playing hide-and-seek with her little seal friend. But when the princess can’t find him anywhere she begins to worry. After a long search through the ocean, Ariel finally finds him. The happy princess gives the seal a huge hug—and seals it with a kiss! This sweet Step 2 book features the Little Mermaid in her very first Step into Reading.

My Review:

As readers of this blog may know, I LOVE any book that features the story of The Little Mermaid, especially the Disney version that features one of my favorite mermaids, Ariel! Although this book was written with simple sentences and is meant for little mermaids learning to read, it was such a cute and sweet story. I wish I was Ariel, playing with the adorable baby seal, especially since I'm a selkie :) Anyone who loves to draw Ariel will find that this book a perfect inspriation. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.

-Sirenita The Selkie

Mermaids: A Magical 3D World of Mermaids

Book Type: Children's Literature
Pages: 12


Summary(goodreads.com):

Down below the waves, where mermaids play: that’s where this captivating Step Inside transports young children. As kids turn the pages, they’ll travel across the ocean floor, with its layers of plants, shells, fish, and even sunken treasure. But they’ll also learn what a mermaid’s life is like as she attends school in the ocean; enjoy fun and games in the Pearl Palace, where all the oysters live; help decorate the underwater garden with shiny glass; peer into the Little Urchin Nursery; and celebrate the spring tide with a ball.

My Review:

Even though I am a young adult, I still love to look at picture books, especially ones with pop ups and tabs that hide little mermaid secrets! The reader is first introduced to Melody the mermaid, who is giving a tour of the mermaid world. She was once spotted by a young human boy while exploring the shore, but we have to keep it a secret from her dad, King Neptune! What I love about this book is the unique details the author created about the mer-world. Melody tells us that she is learning to speak shark, and has three pet dolphins! It also shows what merchildren do during recess, their chores, and the nursery for little mer-babies. The pictures were my favorite part of this book; they are beautiful and captivating! Instead of pop-ups, the pictures are layered with detail. I actually plan on buying this book for my collection, and I definitely recommend reading it whether you're an adult or child :) I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Thora: A Half Mermaid Tale by Gillian Johnson

Book Type: Novel
Author: Gillian Johnson
Pages: 229

Summary(goodreads.com):
Thora's no ordinary girl. She's got scales on her legs, purple feet, and a blowhole that squirts water from the top of her head. Thora's a half-mermaid. And as mermaid law commands, Thora must spend ten years at sea and ten years on land. In a houseboat called the Loki, Thora sails the seas with her mermaid mother, Halla, and guard ian, Mr. Walters. But following her tenth birthday, Thora heads to the seaside town of Grimli, where her father grew up.

In Grimli, fat-cat tycoon Frooty de Mare will stop at nothing to expand his Tooty Frooty Enterprises. With the help of new friends and her pet peacock, Thora has her work cut out thwarting Frooty's evil plans -- not to mention doing a bit of exploring into her own Grimli roots.

Gillian Johnson's fanciful tale captures the unflappable spirit of an exceptional young heroine who, despite being half-mermaid, somehow always manages to land on her feet.

My Review:
Witty, brilliant and cleverly funny, Thora  was one of the funniest and strangest mermaid books I have ever read!  The beginning of the book starts off with a prologue that explains the mermaid law, which explains how Thora is a child of land and sea, but in a poem, and it reminded me of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" sung by Ursula in The Little Mermaid. The book is also filled with child-like illustrations, and I love how Johnson made them look as if they were drawn by Thora herself. The characters in this book are so unique and original, but also clever and odd! Halla the mermaid is one of the main characters, and she is the most interesting and strangest mermaids ever! She is very caring, and loves Thora with all her heart. She also has hair that smells like pumpkin pie! Frooty De Mare, the villain of the book not only has such a funny name, he represents the awful things businessmen do, and he plans to build the Tooty Frooty hotel. I literally LOL'd at this. Thora is a character that everyone will appreciate and adore, and reminds me of myself. She is curious, very wise for her age, witty, funny and intelligent as well. She is so open to cultures around her since she has traveled the world so much, and this makes her a positive role model. I felt bad for her at times, because she is very odd, and nobody wants to hang out with her. However, what I loved most of all about this book is that it proves that you can learn outside of the classroom ( check out The Merman by Dick King Smith if you like this idea too!)
This book was so different from other mermaid books, and I really loved all of the characters and uniqueness of each element. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
PS: stay tuned! Thora has more adventures!
-Sirenita The Selkie