THE MERMAID, THE WITCH, AND THE SEA, by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, is a brooding, magical adventure with a healthy dose of intrigue. Ever since Flora killed a man to prove herself worthy of a pirate's life aboard the Dove, she's been desperate to escape to a better life. Lady Evelyn Hasegawa is desperate to avoid an arranged marriage in the Floating Islands, a “several-months-long voyage” away from home. When Evelyn boards the Dove, Flora is given the task of guarding her, so the lady may be sold--intact--to work as a "slave-whore" on the Red Shores. Although Flora sees Evelyn as a typical spoiled Imperial, she is impressed by the compassion Evelyn shows when she uses her own blood to keep a captured mermaid alive. And the Sea, mother to all mermaids, notices, too... (YA)
A SONG BELOW WATER, by Bethany C. Morrow, is the second mermaid (well, technically siren/mermaid/magical creature) book I want to talk about this month. In it, Tavia does all she can to stay hidden and safe. Because now that sirens are exclusively Black women, “the romance is dead.” All it takes is the suspicion that a dead woman was a siren, and her murderer will likely go free. Along with “play-sister” Effie, who is not a siren--but lives for her part as Euphemia the Mer at the Renaissance Faire every year—Tavia does her best to navigate high school in a modern-day Portland that is chock full of sprites, elokos, a gargoyle, and more. But, as the furor over Rhonda Taylor’s murder grows, Tavia finds it harder and harder to stay silent. Narrated alternately by Tavia and Effie, who possibly has a magical origin story of her own, this compelling tale of fantasy and friendship has plenty to say about a host of important issues, including bigotry, oppression, and the need for change. (YA)
OUR FRIEND HEDGEHOG: The Story of Us, by Lauren Castillo, is a tender friendship story, with a classic feel to it, which describes the series of events that brings Hedgehog, Mutty, Mole, Owl, Beaver, Hen and Chicks, and Annika Mae together. Hedgehog and Mutty live together on a tiny island in the center of the river. Life is pretty good, until the Terrible Storm blows Mutty away, and Hedgehog immediately swims to the mainland to find him. This book, the start of a series, describes Hedgehog's quest to find her beloved friend. It’s a beautifully illustrated and designed chapter book, with a gorgeous, textured cover. It should appeal to the same audience as the Toys Go Out series, but a more obvious comparison is to Winnie the Pooh. (CB)
Picture Books:
OUTSIDE IN, written by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Cindy Derby, highlights the way, even when "we forget Outside is there," it still reminds us by "send[ing] the sunset and shadows inside to play.” Outside “feeds us,” “cuddles us in clothes, once puffs of cotton,” and “holds us in wooden chairs, once trees.” I need to stop now, or I’ll retype the entire, text, each line more lovely than the last. Watercolor and powdered graphite illustrations make alarmingly good use of color, and the cover is designed to work with the dust jacket in an intriguing way.
SWASHBY AND THE SEA, written by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Juan-Martinez Neal, is the story of curmudgeonly retired Captain Swashby, who loves the sea. When he retires, it's “to a small house on a small beach as close to the sea as he could be.” Life is “salty and sandy and serene,” until the new neighbors move in next door, “a girl and her granny, who planted umbrellas, scattered beach chairs, AND boarded Swashby’s deck without permission!” Swashby wants nothing to do with them, but the sea has other ideas… Martinez-Neal’s ebullient illustrations are masterfully rendered in acrylics, colored pencils, and graphite on hand-textured paper.
Finally, if you’re looking for a wordless, wonder-filled picture book, there's DANDELION’S DREAM, by Yoko Tanaka. A budding dandelion dreams of unfurling into a “real” lion, to enjoy a magical journey by train, ship, and plane, all the way to a most glorious finish.The striking charcoal illustrations are enhanced with digitally applied yellow to highlight the main character’s whimsical exploits.
--Lynn
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