The Mermaid’s Shoes by Sanne te Loo (2014) published by Lemniscaat, originally produced in the Netherlands (2012).
Who hasn’t dreamed of being a merperson? It’s no wonder there are so many stories about them—they’re magical. I’ve recently put scuba diving on my bucket list because of my own desire to swim and breathe underwater like a creature of the sea.
(click image(s) to enlarge)
On her last day of summer vacation, Mia finds a pair of curious objects (aka swim fins) on the sand and decides they must be mermaid shoes. After that, she wears them everywhere (including in her sleep; see them jutting off her bed in the blue picture?). Mia fancies herself a mermaid. She even fashions a tail to attach to her fins.
One of the many beauties of this book is how the ocean follows Mia. It’s in her dreams and it’s at the zoo she visits; the museum; it’s painted on a bus in the road and displayed on platters in the seafood shop window.
From the very first page, Sanne te Loo creates the joyful whoosh of the sea that calls to Mia like a song.
At the end of the book, Mia finds the perfect place to let her mermaid tail be talk of the town! (Hint, hint: there’s a clever clue that appears in all the scenes of said town, even Mia’s view from her window in that first spread subtly shows where she’ll eventually end up.)
Thanks to Myrick Marketing & Media for the images!
I received a review copy; opinions are my own.
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Guys, the Mertailor makes realistic looking mermaid (and merman) tails. The kind you can swim in!
In fact, his site says, “they are built with a custom polycarbonate Monofin that will provide power and speed for swimming through water like a dolphin.” Like a dolphin!! Dreams can come true!
Many are pricey, okay, but perhaps worth it for someone who really truly has a dream of playing mermaid. Or maybe just fun to look at and play fantasy mermaid for a moment. That’s what I do every time I’m in a pool or the ocean anyway. So here they are:
(photos by Chris Crumley.)
Then, check out this video of The Mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida. Yeah, it’s an underwater mermaid performance. Must see to believe.
And since I can’t be a performer in that show, I’ll plan a trip to Tulum to go snorkeling or scuba diving in the cenotes.
Those illustrations are lovely! I really like the color palette.
And the mermaid tails are amazing. I know of several kids who would love to have those. I think a tail would go well with your scuba gear. 😀
Jilanne,
Me too! The illustrations of the town are lovely too though not pictured here.
There are children’s sized mertails at the site. Best gift ever, right?!
Also, thanks. Me too. You have to be pretty brave to rock one, I think.
It’s so great to learn about this picture book because so many kids dream of mermaids. I fancied a life underwater after going to the World’s Fair though I don’t recall having ever read a mermaid story when I was a child. Happy there’s a book to foster these kinds of fantasies.
I STILL dream of being a mermaid.