FICTION

The Mermaid

by Jan Brett (text) & illus. by Jan Brett
Putnam. May 2024. 32p. Board. $9.99 ISBN 9780593695746.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2–It’s never too soon to start bringing toddlers and babies into the wondrous details of Brett’s books, so there is much to love about this sturdy 2017 retelling of Goldilocks’s story, now in a board book and therefore a portable, chewable form. The text has not been altered; in the waters just off Okinawa, Kiniro, a mermaid is drawn to a small seashell house. When she enters, she finds a table set for breakfast. She samples each dish, but prefers the smallest one and finishes it. Her puffer fish friend observes all, including her discovery by the octopus family when they return to their home. Vibrant illustrations in shades of turquoise, pink, green, and blue include fantastical border art, perhaps for older siblings to help explore.
VERDICT This has always been a book to share, but now it’s ready for little hands. For folktale and fairy tale shelves, too.
Reviewed by Kimberly Olson Fakih , Jul 01, 2024

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