Mermaid Tales From Around The World by Mary Pope Osborne

Book Type: Children's Literature/ Mermaid Stories
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Pages: 96

Summary(amazon.com):
The book presents legends and tales that have stirred the imaginations of people. From Andersen's Little Mermaid to Nigerian Fish Husband, these sea spirits all determine their own fate.

My Review:
I have read countless books on different collections of mermaid stories, legends and tales from around the world, but I think Osborne wrote one of the best books on this particular mer-subject. This book takes you through time and into many different cultures, some of which include Native American, Asian, Russian and many more! A common theme throughout the stories Osborne chose for her fabulous book is that, like the summary concludes, all of these mermaids and/or sea spirits chose their own fate, which if you think about it, is seen in many other mermaid books. Each of the mermaids presented in this collection are strong, devious, sometimes even evil and defiant, however, some are soft, gentle and kind. There is a wide variety of different personalities in this book, so everyone can connect with many of the stories. In addition, I really love how Osborne simplified these classic tales that were often written in a language that might pose as strange or confusing, and worded them in a way that was easy to understand and follow, but didn't write them in a juvenile fashion. Readers will also love the fabulous artwork that begins each story, which helps visualize the plot even further. This really is a great read, and I hope to buy this soon! I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Mermaids and Mermen by Shannon Knudsen

Book Type: Mermaid information
Author: Shannon Knudsen
Pages: 48

Summary(goodreads.com):
The breaking waves glow white in the moonlight as you walk along the beach. Suddenly you hear a voice singing a song. It's as sweet a sound as you have ever heard. You see a strange creature - half woman and half fish - sitting on a rock in the water. She is beautiful, and her voice enchants you. Without thinking, you follow the mermaid's song farther and farther into the dark, cold sea . . . From ancient myths to authors such as Hans Christian Anderson to modern movies, people throughout time have told tales of mermaids and mermen. These magical creatures of the sea are said to tempt sailors to follow them into the ocean, but the sailors drown in the chase. In other stories, humans capture merfolk and force them to live on land, or merfolk take human visitors to their amazing underwater cities. Learn more about these fantastical beings who have captivated us since ancient times.

My Review:
When it comes to books on mermaid legends and information, this book is one of my favorites.  What I really enjoy about this book is that there is no magic nonsense. This book goes in depth with the charms and powers of merfolk, and explores the variety of mermaids around the world. Another part this book covers is the fakes and frauds in the mermaid world, such as the Feejee Mermaid, and Jenny Hanivers. Another section I enjoyed about this book is the mermaids of the modern world, which lists different media in which mermaids are spotted. The book also has a really beautiful design and great pictures. This is not a book that just children will enjoy, but adults as well. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Mermaids by Dana Meachen Rau

Book Type: Children's literature/ Children's information book
Author: Dana Meachen Rau
Pages: 24

Summary(googlebooks):
Mythical creatures are a big part of a child's world-they appear in legends told by family and friends, in books read during story time, and in movies and television. In for Real?, children at the independent level explore the real stories behind these mythical creatures and expand their reading skills. Children learn to read while discovering why legends about aliens, dragons, mermaids, monsters, and unicorns arose. They will also learn how to sort fact from fiction.


My Review:
As you can tell from the summary listed above, this book is aimed for children developing their reading skills. However, I was not disappointed with this book. I really like how Dana Meachen Rau lists the origin of the mermaid tale, what mermaids are known as around the world and famous explorers who thought they saw one. This book, although written in a juvenile style text, is great for someone who wants to know some basic facts about the mermaid legend. However, there weren't any pieces of art that are common in children's books, and this book didn't have any new facts that I didn't know (hey, I'm a mermaid fanatic! I know everything!). This book also has some websites and other mermaid/fantasy books listed in the back. Although I don't recommend this book for people who are looking for a well written mermaid book, this one is great for children who are learning how to read. I give this book (***) 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie