(9) the Selkie Girl by Janis Mackay

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Janis Mackay
Pages: 32

Summary(goodreads.com):
Fergus lives with his father by the sea, but is lonely. He wants a friend more than anything. One day Fergus finds treasure on the beach: a beautiful fur blanket hidden in the rocks. But Fergus doesn't know that his treasure belongs to someone else - a selkie girl has lost her seal skin and can't go home to the sea without it. Will Fergus give his new friend what she needs, and risk being lonely again?

My Review:
Yay! I was so happy when I found that my local library had a new selkie children's book to explore :) After the last couple of selkie books that I've read, I was expecting another let down. However, this story was beautiful! The text is not juvenile, so adults and mer-children can enjoy it together. The illustrations were breath taking, especially of the selkie women. They really captured the alluring magic of selkies.

This book teaches young children the true value of friendship and promises, but also the lesson that if you love someone or something, set it free.
I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Brides Of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan

Book Type: YA Novel
Author: Margo Lanagan
Pages:305

Summary(goodreads.com):
On remote Rollrock Island, men make their living--and fetch their wives--from the sea.
The Witch Misskaella knows how to find the girl at the heart of a seal. She'll coax a beauty from the beast for any man, for a price. And what man wouldn't want a sea-wife, to and to hold, and to keep by his side forever?
But though he may tell himself that he is the master, one look in his new bride's eyes will transform him just as much as it changes her. Both will be ensnared--and the witch will look on, laughing.
In this magical, seaswept novel, Margo Lanagan tells an extraordinary tale of desire, despair, and transformation. With devastatingly beautiful prose, she reveals characters capable of unspeakable cruelty, but also of unspoken love.

My Review:
When I first started this book, I became really curious. Who is this nasty woman Misskaella? Why is she so bitter? Well, the reader learns of her entire life.

Odd Language and Difficult to Understand:
This book is written a bit strangely, and some things and events are not blatantly stated, and I felt the reader has to assume much of what was happening. I was also lost many times throughout the book, mainly because the plot jumps around to different time periods, and the reader has to put the pieces of the story together. It felt disjointed.

Very Long Plot:
I didn't really become interested in the book until about 60 pages in. This is when the witch Misskaella discovers she has magical powers, and this is when the story really picks up! That being said, I felt that some of the plot was not necessary, and the book was very slow at some points. In addition, I wasn't satisfied with the ending, and I was left wanting more. Not to mention, the book ends with quite a depressing tone. I felt that the whole book was about how Misskaella wanted to make people miserable because she was teased for being a plus-sized woman.

Overall, this book was okay, but it wasn't really a page-turner. I give this book (***)  3 stars. 
-Sirenita The Selkie

Among the Mermaids: Facts, Myths, and Enchantments from the Sirens of the Sea by Varla Ventura

Book Type: Collection of Short Stories and Ocean Facts
Author: Varla Ventura
Pages: 238

Summary(goodreads.com):
From Homer's 'Odyssey' to 'Pirates of the Caribbean', mermaids have fascinated popular culture for centuries. This is an enchanting collection of classic stories, facts and tales of mermaids from around the world that will thrill every lover of this romanticised mythological creature.

My Review:
I received this book as a surprise from my selkie mom, and was so excited to read it that I nearly squealed like a seal pup! Sadly, my squeals of excitement turned to moans of frustration and boredom.



Boring Stories and Odd Tidbits:
I began first with a mermaid tale that was Irish in origin... then another Irish legend, and another! The stories in this book lack diversity. About 75 percent of the stories in here seem to have an Irish background, but I wanted other stories from other countries, not just one! I also found the language in these stories to be antiquated, and I wish Ventura updated them for modern mer-readers. I also had another problem while reading this book; there weren't any breaks between the author explaining a subject, and a story being told, and this made me confused as to when a story was stopping and starting.
I also found the small facts in this book to be out of place and not needed. For example, Ventura put in information about pirates and nautical terms, but if this is a mermaid book, why was this added? I felt that this was just "fluff" as they say, used to just fill the book. The last story had nothing to even do with mermaids, and was so boring that I had to stop reading it! :(


No, No, No!:
Selkies are also briefly mentioned in this book... but have blond hair! This seems incorrect to me, since many legends about selkies mentioned beautiful black or brunette tresses. And I should know!
Only two mermaid performers, named Hannah Fraser and Mermaid Mizuko are mentioned, and I think this was wrong of Ventura. There are so many brilliant mermaids swimming nowadays who have different causes, and although I respect what they do, Hannah and Mizuko aren't the only ones. Mermaid Raina also teaches young children to respect the ocean through demonstrations and lectures. Eric Ducharme was also mentioned in this book, and Ventura even recommends his store if you want your own custom tail. However, from my online searches I have seen that he has had a lot of negative feedback as to how he conducts himself and how his tails turn out. I think Ventura should have also added in FlipTails and Merbella Studios; both of them make INCREDIBLE tails!


Bad Mer-Reccomendations:
Towards the back of the book, Ventura recommends some good movies, such as Splash! and Mr. Peabody And The Mermaid, but also recommends Peter Pan and Harry Potter, which only involve a few minutes of mermaids, not a whole movie! I was surprised that H20 wasn't mentioned, something I plan on reviewing myself in the future.

In conclusion, I feel that Ventura really missed the mark on this book. There seemed to be a lack of real research into creating a diverse and well thought mermaid book, and this was disappointing. Unfortunately, I give this book (**) 2 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Mermaids: The Myths, Legends and Lore by Skye Alexander

Book Type: Short Story Collection/ Information about mermaids/ Cultural diversity/ Mythology
Author: Skye Alexander
Pages: 224

Summary(goodreads.com):
The allure and mystery of mermaids has taken hold of our psyche for ages. From the Irish merrows who come on land to search for human husbands to the fake Fiji Mermaid made popular by P.T Barnum, these sea maidens (and sometimes men) can be found in folklore and mythology from every tradition in the world.

Inside this captivating collection, complete with beautiful illustrations throughout, you'll discover the myths surrounding these enigmatic beings, explore the common symbols associated with them, and learn tales of merfolk from around the world. Dive into "Mermaids" and get swept away!


My Review:
When I first picked up this book, I was a bit worried that I would become bored, especially since traditional tales was never my cup of sea salt. However, my thoughts quickly changed and I fell flukes over fins for this book! 
What I loved most about this book is how thorough it was; it really covered every aspect of the mermaid legend, and even what mermaids mean in pyschology! Cool! Ive never really thought of why mermaids have such sex appeal until I read this. Sure, they flaunt their beautiful bodies, but they are dangerous and elusive, which Alexander also explores in depth. 

Traveling The World: Different Legends From Around The Globe:

Alexander also explains that in different parts of the world, mermaids can mean good fortune or an ill omen, and this was really interesting to compare and contrast different meanings in other cultures and countries. Some of the countries you will visit are Mesopotamia (The Middle East), Great Britian, Ireland, Denmark, Russia, Africa, India, Australia and North America. I truly loved the diversity of this collection, and loved exploring what different parts of the world think about mermaids. I had never heard of some of the legends mentioned in this book, so it was refreshing to see some new mers! 

I also loved that throughout the book, Alexander has little passages about mermaid sightings. Did you know Christopher Colombus and Henry Hudson saw mermaids? Maybe it was a selkie, like me! :)

More Than Just Mers:

Here are some of the creatures besides mermaids mentioned in this book:
- Ondines     -Sirens     -Mermen     -Water Gods and Godesses     -Selkies
- Nixes 
The legend of Matthew Trewella is even in this book, which is the base of the Ingo Series!
But there is so much more! 

The Negative:
The only bad thing I have to say about this book is that if you are not interested in traditional stories or old tales and fables, even classic literature, this book might not be the choice for you. At times, the book can be a bit boring since many of the stories are similar with slight differences in plot.

This book was an awesome find for my mermaid library! I love how rich and diverse it was, and it's a great resource for those who want to learn more about different water creatures and diverse cultures. I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman (12)

Book Type: Novel
Author: Aimee Friedman
Pages: 320

Summary(amazon.com):\
Sixteen-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science. . .and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate. There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship. . .and reality.



My Review:
Summer romance, hidden secrets and new friendships are found is what fills the pages of this beautifully-written book. What I enjoyed most about reading "Sea Change" is that the setting was described beautifully, and takes part mostly around the beaches of Selkie Island, which reminds me of my own childhood adventures on Fire Island, Long Island. It was actually very comforting to read before bed! I also enjoyed seeing the transformations of the characters in the book. Miranda has a lot of qualities that I saw in myself when I was her age, especially her geeky-nerd side! She is such a humble person, and it's quite cute that she doesn't even see how beautiful she is. Leo is a character I can see many female readers falling for, especially between the ages of 15-18. He has long blond hair, a well sculpted body, an adorable personality and he's a sweetheart, which makes him a perfect match for Miranda. This cover bothers me though. I don't feel as if I am seeing Leo when I look at the boy on this cover... In fact, I feel like I'm looking at Robert Pattinson!  
I do have to admit though, the many romances that play out in this book were slightly cheesy, but that is to be expected in summer romance. After all, the heat makes people do crazy things! I found the ending to be slightly confusing, and the reader is left wondering, "What's going to happen now?" However, I do think this was a beautifully written book, but I would only recommend it to readers are around the ages of 15-17. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

PS: here is the full cover!

The Mermaid Summer by Mollie Hunter

Book Type: Novel
Author: Mollie Hunter
Pages: 128

Summary(amazon.com):
About a hundred years ago, they say, a mermaid ruled the cold sea that washed around northern lands. She was beautiful and dangerous, and the fishermen of those parts were careful to speak well of her. All but Eric Anderson, who scorned her very existence - until the day the mermaid smashed his fishing boat against the rocks, nearly killing him and his crew.
Eric bid his family good-bye, for after that, no one would sail with him. His grandchildren, Jon and Anna, never stopped missing him; so from the moment they saw the mermaid for themselves, they knew it was up to them to tame her and bring their grandfather home again...

My Review:
I honestly have to say, I was quite disappointed with this book, especially since the cover was very enticing and the overall description of the book seemed like it was going to be a beautiful story. However, although the mermaids magic haunts the family, she isn't really involved until towards the end of the book. The beginning through the middle dragged on and bored me a bit. I feel like half the book was about Anna and John obsessing over their grandfather's presents , and the mermaid really was not the center focal point of this book, but rather themes such as family, friendship and love. I feel the best part of the book was the ending only because that is when it started to pick up. Overall I give this book (**-***) between 2-3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

A Stranger Came Ashore by Mollie Hunter

Book Type: Novel
Author: Mollie Hunter
Pages: 176

Summary(amazon.com):

A wild, stormy night . . .
A shipwreck . . .
The sudden appearance of a stranger . . .
That is how it all begins. The stranger is Finn Learson, a young and handsome man who seems to be the only survivor of the wreck. Finn Learson is charming and generous, and the Henderson family gladly give him shelter. Only young Robbie Henderson does not trust Finn Learson and his oddly unsettling secret smile. Robbie is sure that he is hiding something--but what?

My Review:
A strange, handsome stranger enchants a lovely young woman... what is he? That is what I wondered throughout the book... until Old Da starts to tell Robbie about selkies. As readers of my blog may know, I am a huge fan of selkie books, especially alluring mysteries like what Hunter has created. Every time I opened this book, I really felt like I was huddling around the fire with this family telling selkie tales. Everything was very richly detailed, and I could picture everything clearly. The only thing that slightly bothered me about this book was that even though there was quite alot of detail for a small book, I really didn't get alot of selkie-ness. The only time the reader would really pick up on it is towards the end. I would have also liked to see more of Finn Learson's side of life; I wanted him to narrate a few times when he was being sneaky, or maybe to see more selkies as small roles in the book. The ending had a really cool twist though, so I would reccomend reading this! Overall, it was a nice selkie tale with clean detail. I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

PS: here is another cover of the book.
There are alot of different cover versions,
but the tale is all the same!

Neptune Rising: Songs and Tales of the Undersea Folk by Jane Yolen

 Book Type: Collection Of Short Stories
Author: Jane Yolen
Pages: 149

Summary(goodreads.com):
A collection of stories and poems which feature merfolk.

My Review:
To start, I would like to say finding a proper summary was a bit difficult, I guess because this book isn't that well known. It really should be though, because each story in this fabulous collection was excellent! When I first saw this, I was intrigued by the romantic cover art, but you really cant judge the pages of a book just by its cover. I thought this book was going to be just another collection of mermaid stories that I have read before, such as Melusine or The Selkie Wife, but these are all original stories created by the author. What I really found interesting about this book was that each story has an ending that is whimsical, and makes the reader really become aware of every little character and detail of the story. Another positive point is that readers who love selkies will love this book since there are plenty of selkie stories. This is one of those books where I am telling you mer-readers out there, you must go pick this up, immediatly! You will enjoy it, and it is a book that will not take a long time to read. I am aware Jane Yolen wrote other books on mermaids, and I will check those out for my readers as well. I give this book (*****) 5 stars, and it is going in my mer-library soon!
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Summer Of Moonlight Secrets by Danette Haworth

Book Type: Novel
Author: Danette Haworth
Pages: 256

Summary(goodreads.com):
At The Meriwether, Florida's famous antebellum hotel off of Hope Springs, nothing is quite as it seems. Secret staircases give way to servants' quarters and Prohibition-era speakeasies make for the perfect hide-and-seek spot. Allie Jo Jackson knows every nook and cranny of The Meriwether—she's lived there her whole life—and nothing surprises her, until the first time she spots the enigmatic and beautiful Tara emerging from the springs. Tara's shimmery skin, long flowing hair, and strange penchant for late moonlight swims disguise a mysterious secret—and once Allie Jo and her friend Chase discover Tara's secret, nothing will ever be the same. 
From the celebrated author of Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning comes another magical summer tale full of memorable characters and a one-of-a-kind setting

My Review:
A swirly moonlit night. A secret dip in the springs; the cover of this book screams must read! When I first picked this up from the library, I thought this book was going to be about mermaids, but can you imagine my shock to learn it was about my favorite mermaid, the selkie! Haworth really captures the imagination and dialect of eleven-year old Allie Jo, and thirteen-year old Chase, who become fast friends after discovering the mysterious new guest named Tara. This book was full of magic throughout every page, and I mean that. The way the author wrote each of Allie Jo, Chase and Tara's dialect was perfect and distinct from one another. However, I had a small problem with this book. I think there should have been more selkie folklore incorporated into this story. Although Tara is recognized by the reader as a mystical character, there was not a ton of "selkie-ness" to her. This story had a really sweet ending and an incredible middle that made the reader want to continue reading until the end! I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

My Trip To Atlantis Marine World, Long Island!

So recently I took another trip with my amazing boyfriend, Brandon, to Atlantis Marine World on Long Island!  Its stunning!
I noticed that there were some selkies there of two different varieties! Here are some pictures :)
*Please note: after reading David Kirby's book "Death At Seaworld" I do not visit aquariums or zoos anymore. However, Atlantis does have great rescue programs for the sea life around Long Island*

These Selkies were so beautiful in the water! And adorable on land :)

Boyfriend looking at the seals :)

Selkies playing with some interactive toys :)

                                 

Here is a picture of one of the sea lion selkies! Beautiful creatures!

Lastly, Here is a video of the sea lion selkies swimming!
One of them was named Salty, and even did a cute kids show!

Enjoy!

-Sirenita The Selkie

Tales Of The Seal People by Duncan Wiliamson

Book Type: Collection Of Stories
Author: Duncan Williamson
Pages: 160

Summary(amazon.com):
A collection of Scottish folk tales featuring silkies, the seal people who can take human shape.

My Review: 
It is really hard to give a full summary on such amazing stories based on selkies. This book really dives into the classic Irish/Scottish legend of the selkie creature, or the seal people. What I really love about this book is that each story has a selkie character, yet they are very different from one another and are remarkable and memorable. They aren't just a bunch of selkie stories; they have meaning to them. What I also love is that these stories aren't all happy endings, which makes them more realistic and true. They were written to be based off of the lives of crofters and people who depended on the sea for a living, and each tale has a moral or virtue to share at the end of it. Sometimes, a bad character will get what's deserved and sometimes a good character might loose someone after helping one of the seal folk. All the story endings are different, and the outcomes are unpredictable, which makes it more exciting. The only problem people might have with this book is that a majority of these stories were passed down through oral tradition, which means they were spoken stories that were passed down instead of written on paper, so the language can be a bit fuzzy and confusing. This book is really a treasure to anyone who loves folk tales, mythology or selkies! I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Seal Children by Jackie Morris

Book Type: Childrens Literature
Author: Jackie Morris
Pages: 32


Summary(amazon.com):
When a fisherman named Ewan falls in love with a selkie — half-woman, half-seal — she gives him her sealskin as a sign of her love, and bears him two children, Ffion and Morlo, before returning to her own people. A few years later a stranger comes to the village, telling of a land far away, and Ffion and Morlo remember their mother's mesmerizing stories of the cities of gold and pearls beneath the waves. This atmospheric tale of love and freedom is the first picture book written and illustrated by well-known artist and writer Jackie Morris.

My Review:
This is one of my favorite children's books about selkies. What I love most about this book is the vibrant and rich artwork. The way the humans in this book are drawn and painted is abstract, yet very beautiful, as well as the selkie mother and the other seals. However, I really love the author's slight twist on the tale of the selkie wife, which I cannot tell you the end. This story was not written in a juvenile style of language, which means children and adults alike can both enjoy this heart-warming classic tale. I know I am definitely adding this to my mer-library. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Seal Child by Sylvia Peck

Book Type: Novel
Author: Sylvia Peck
Pages: 208

Summary(goodreads.com):
Molly and her family have always spent long, lazy summers on Ambrose Island. There, Molly can watch for glimpses of the great gray seals that haunt the Maine shore or spend hours walking along the beach with her dog Clyde. But this year her vacation promises to be even more fun when she meets a girl named Meara. Molly and Meara are the same age, yet there's something about her new friend that makes Molly wonder who she is and where she came from. Nothing can prepare her for the strange truth . . . or for the dramatic event that's about to change their lives and their friendship forever.

My Review:
Fantastic summers with the family, cold winters at the beach with mysterious seals; that is the essence of this book. I really enjoyed how sly the seals were in this book. The reader has a feeling that the seals around Ambrose Island are selkies, but it is not revealed until the outgoing and beautiful Meara arrives at Ruby's house one day. From there, the reader definitely picks up that something is odd about Meara. Unfortunately, it is not revealed that she is a selkie until later on in the book. The ending though, was my favorite part of the story. It was beautiful and bittersweet, but I will not reveal that to you guys! The only thing I did find bothersome about this book is the main character Molly. She can be quite bratty and obnoxious at times, and it was irritating to read her comments to people. But overall, this book was really sweet and I recommend it for people who love selkies. I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie
PS: This is another version of the cover:

The Seal Mother by Mordicai Gerstein

Book Type: Children's Literature

Author: Mordicai Gerstein

Pages: 32

Summary(goodreads.com):

A seal sheds her skin and becomes a beautiful woman, but even after marrying and bearing a son she longs to return to her seal family in the sea.

My Review:

The Seal Mother is a beautiful children’s story about the legend of the selkie, only this is a slight deviation. I must say, this is another beautifully written children’s book. Selkies are one of my favorite mermaid-type creatures to read about, even if it is a children’s story.  My favorite part about this book is the bond between the mother seal and her child. Unlike the more traditional legend of the selkie, The Seal Mother still sees her son throughout his life, even when he gets to be an older man. As I have mentioned in previous posts about children’s books, I always believe they must have great illustrations, and The Seal Mother definitely does! There is a uniqueness to the way the sea is painted, and the selkies/ seals are drawn and colored beautifully. Overall, this story, combined with its captivating illustrations is a great story to read as an adult or to read to your children as a bedtime story. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.

-Sirenita The Selkie

Daughter Of The Sea by Berlie Doherty

Book Type: Novel
Author: Berlie Doherty
Pages: 115

Summary(goodreads.com):
Gioga is a gift from the sea to the childless Jannet and Munroe--but only a temporary one. The couple treat Gioga as if she were of their own flesh and blood, not understanding that they would need to let her go before long. When it comes time to return their daughter to her rightful home, desperation sets in. No amount of toil and bloodshed, however, will distract Gioga from the longing she feels to return. . . .

My Review:
Selkies are one of my favorite sea creatures, as well as my favorite type of mermaid. I always love to read about selkies, whether it is a children's book or a novel, such as this one, and have plenty of books on selkies on this blog. I am completely in love with this captivating story! Every time I picked this up to read it, even if I read a few pages, I was absolutely captured by the magic of this story. What I mostly love about this book is the selkies are not described very much, and there is an element of mystery to them. This book really makes you want to keep turning the pages to find out what Gioga's fate is. Also, I love the Celtic language in this book. I felt like I was taken to the Irish or Scottish shores. This is also a quick and fun read, and if you are a fast reader, you can finish this in a few days. It is also a great beach read! Anyone who loves selkies will absolutely love to add this to their mermaid library. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

I Spy A Selkie! A Trip To The Zoo Part II !

In a recent post, I mentioned that I had more "mer-mish" secrets to share with you! Well, on my trip to the zoo, I also saw.... Thats right! Sea Lions! They reminded me so much of selkies :)
*please note: after reading David Kirby's book "Death At Seaworld" I do not visit aquariums or zoos anymore*

The selkies were curious about the trainers
cleaning their tank!

Arent they just adorable? I also got myself a stuffed sea lion, which I named Selkie!
-Sirenita The Selkie

Seal Song by Andrea Spalding and Pascal Milelli

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Andrea Spalding and Pascal Milelli
Pages:32

Summary(goodreads.com):
Finn loves to swim with the seals in a secret cove. He arrives at the cove one day and rescues a young seal tangled in netting. Finn wishes the seal could live on land. That night the seals sing. "No good comes from seal songs," says Finn's father. When Sheila, a mysterious girl no one has ever seen before, appears on the cannery docks, the fisher folk are uneasy. They believe the newcomer is a magical selkie, a shape changer.

My Review:

This book is similar to Selkie by Gillian McClure, with slight differences in the plot, but this story is about a selkie who is rescued and then returns the favor to her human companion. Also, even though this book is a children’s book, it bored me slightly, and the plot didn’t have too much depth to it. The language in this book was not too juvenile, so I believe adults can enjoy this story as well. It was lightly entertaining, and I love books about selkies, whether it’s a childrens book or a novel. The artwork in this book had a lot of texture to it, and was at times, abstract, yet the images were very vivid and colorful. Personally, I was not a big fan of the artwork since I do not like abstract art, but they were still aesthetically beautiful. I recommend this book for children and adults alike to share and enjoy. I give this book (***) 3 stars

-Sirenita The Selkie

Selkie by Gillian McClure

Book Type: Children's literature
Author: Gillian McClure
Pages: 32

Summary(goodreads.com):
Peter is curious about the legend of the selkie, a seal who can turn into a girl. When his curiosity gets the better of him, he discovers that the selkie is more than just a legend-she is a friend.



My Review:

Amazing pictures and beautiful words; that is what a true children’s book is made of. This book was imaginative and beautiful, and teaches children that money is not the only riches someone can posses. This wisdom of the sea is an even greater treasure, which is what this book was all about! Although this selkie legend was not quite like the original, it was still a well written story that both adults and children will love. Not only is the story captivating, but there is amazing artwork within these pages that a lover of selkie stories will enjoy. The colors and images are very rich with life, and as soon as I was done reading the words on the page, I would stare at the beautiful pictures of the selkies, which were absolutely perfect! The only thing I would say was that this book was written in a more juvenile style since it is aimed for children’s attention. However, this is still a book that people who love sea folklore, selkies or mermaids will enjoy. I give this book (****) 4 stars.

-Sirenita The Selkie

A beautiful selkie girl!

A Treasury Of Mermaids: Mermaid Tales From Around The World by Shirley Climo

Book type: mermaid stories from around the world/ Children's literature
Author: Shirley Climo
Pages: 80

Summary(goodreads.com):
Lavishly designed and illustrated, this beautiful book is the definitive collection of mermaid lore. A catch of international mermaids, from a Japanese ningyo and a Swiss nix to an Irish merrow and an Alaskan nuquot swim through the pages of this elegant volume. Full color.

My Review:
This book was definitely a treasure as the title suggests. Even though this book is intended for children to read, I found myself enjoying this book very much.  I have heard of the different types of stories and mermaids from around the world, from the merrows of Ireland to the ningyo of Japan. However, I have never read any of the stories mentioned in this book, and I found them all interesting and beautifully adapted and rewritten. This children's book is great for someone who is interested in folklore from around the world, or for someone who just loves mermaids, like me! The only thing I must say I was surprised about was the lack of images in this book. At the beginning of each story, there is one colored image and a few black and white pictures throughout each story, but I feel that for a children's book to really come alive, there should be some beautiful artwork, such as the cover. I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Selkie Girl by Susan Cooper

Book Type: Children's Literature/ picture book
Author: Susan Cooper
Pages:32

Summary(goodreads.com):
A retelling of the legend from British coasts and islands in which a man falls in love with a beautiful seal girl and forces her to live on land and be his bride.

My Review:
As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I believe that just because a book is meant for a child, doesn't mean an adult can't read it! This children's book tells of the legend of the selkie and her sisters, and the fair-haired selkie, who is shown on the cover, is captured by a fisherman. This book really captures what the selkie legend is all about, such as the origin of the tale and certain aspects, like if a selkie's pelt is captured, they cannot return to the sea. This book was not written in a juvenile style in my opinion. The only thing I would change about this book is the artwork. It is kind of cheap-looking, and has a sketch-like, concept art look. However, this did not push me away from loving the tale written on these pages, and I am definitely going to add this to my collection, since selkies are my favorite type of mermaid, and legend as well. I loved this book, and I recommend this to people who love selkies, or as a good bedtime story to share with your children! I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie