The Mermaid and the Shoe
Gr 1–4—Created with watercolor and pencil crayon, this tale is unique in its style. One of Neptune's 50 daughters, Minnow doesn't think she is remarkable. In fact, she thinks she's truly useless, with no talent of her own. Her only companion is a little orange sea horse. Minnow is a curious mermaid, always asking questions that no one seems to understand. One day she finds a dainty little red shoe. It is only when she sets out on an adventure to learn about the purpose of shoes that she truly realizes that she is an explorer. The mermaid finds answers to her questions and rushes home to tell everyone of all that she has learned. While there is no sea witch to be found in this work that is reminiscent of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, Minnow's narcissistic sister Calypso is quite mean. Campbell's illustrations employ ample blues and grays to portray deep waters of the sea. The mermaids are all identical, with fair skin, white hair, and thin bodies. It is only when Minnow catches a glimpse of the human world that the pages become vibrant with hues of red, yellow, and orange. This book is suitable for independent reading as well as a read-aloud. Minnow's tale will remind readers that it is okay to ask questions and seek answers, to stand out and be unique.—H. Islam, Brooklyn Public Library