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Summary
Summary
In this captivating reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen's classic, Caldecott medalist and bestselling artist Jerry Pinkney conjures a poignant friendship story and an epic tale of redemption -- the definitive new version for our time.
Melody, the littlest sea princess, is not content just to sing in the choir of mermaids like her sisters. She is an explorer who wonders about what lies above the water's surface . . . especially the young girl she has spied from a distance. To meet her requires a terrible sacrifice: she trades her beautiful voice for a potion that gives her legs, so that she may live on land instead. It seems like a dream come true at first. But when trouble stirs beneath the ocean, Melody faces another impossible choice -- stay with her friend, or reclaim her true identity and save her family.
Legendary artist Jerry Pinkney's singular reinvention of this tale about love and sacrifice empowers young, twenty-first century girls with the strong message that "you should never give up your voice . . . for anyone ."
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3--In this modern adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson's, "The Little Mermaid," Pinkney uses his signature pencil and watercolor technique, coupled with inspiration from African mythologies of water spirits, to depict an empowering reimagining of this beloved tale. Readers are plunged far below the sea to a simultaneously dark and luminous watery world, lush with plants and lurking sea creatures. Melody is the youngest of the Sea King's four daughters and the family is depicted as merfolk of color. She yearns for exploration beyond the sea and to befriend the girl she spies on the distant, unfamiliar shore. Eliminated is the traditional plot line of the mermaid desiring the love of a prince, making this adaptation not only approachable for young readers, but a celebration of a strong, independent girl. However, in line with the classic plot trajectory, Melody sacrifices her most precious gift, her voice, to the evil Sea Witch in exchange for legs to experience the world beyond the sea. Ashore, Melody befriends the girl she saw from afar, Zion, also a girl of color similar in age to Melody, who tells her "you should have never given up your voice … for anything." After the leisurely climb to Melody's journey ashore and pivotal realization that her voice is a powerful gift, the inevitable good versus evil battle that erupts between the Sea Witch and the Sea King, calling Melody back to the sea, may feel somewhat rushed to conclusion. VERDICT An essential and empowering adaptation, for all ages, and every collection.--Emily Brush, Novi Public Library, MI
Publisher's Weekly Review
Caldecott Medalist Pinkney's (A Place to Land) recasting of Andersen's fairy tale affirms girls' voices and power while offering dazzling undersea magic. Melody, the Sea King's youngest daughter, spends her time sifting through shipwrecks until a forbidden trip to the ocean's surface offers her a glimpse of Zion, a human girl she yearns to meet. A bargain struck with the terrifying Sea Witch gives Melody a human body in exchange for her voice, and she spends an idyllic day outside a sunbleached village with Zion, who is curious, patient, and accepting of Melody's differences. Just as Melody appreciates shipwrecks, Zion investigates insects, and before Melody departs, Zion presents her with a chrysalis--a metaphor for Melody's transformation. "It is growing wings, and very soon it will fly over land and sea." The dynamic energy of the ocean currents, portraits of characters of color and entities both real and imagined, and a final battle with the Sea Witch give the undersea spreads breathtaking drama and sumptuousness, while the message (in Zion's words, "you should have never given up your voice... for anything") conveys the importance of summoning one's own power and finding friends who do the same. Ages 4--8. Agent: Sheldon Fogelman, Sheldon Fogelman Agency. (Nov.)
Horn Book Review
Pinkney brings readers Black mermaids and a richly imagined undersea world in this addition to his picture-book takes on classic tales (most recently The Three Billy Goats Gruff, 2017). Most of Hans Christian Andersen's original elements remain -- a Sea King in a merfolk kingdom; the titular mermaid princess with a "majestic" voice, who longs to walk on land; and a sinister Sea Witch, looking for revenge. Pinkney's most significant change is that he replaces the romance in the original tale with a friendship. Melody, the little mermaid of the story, visits the Sea Witch to swap her voice for legs so that she can spend time with Zion, her new friend on land, who tells her she shouldn't have given up her voice "for anything." When Melody learns that the Sea Witch is endangering her family, she swims back and saves them. Pinkney gives the protagonist more autonomy and less punishment than in the original; in a closing author's note he explains such choices. Pinkney's lush, iridescent illustrations are breathtaking. His beautifully colored, primarily blue undersea world is juxtaposed with the earth-toned, sand-covered world above and its "fiery ball" in the sky. The Sea Witch -- who has fingered tentacles, horns, and sharp, terrifying teeth -- is particularly menacing and is always surrounded by ghoulish sea-creature sidekicks. A spirited and elegant revisioning. Julie Danielson November/December 2020 p.79(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
The classic fairy tale is reimagined as a story of friendship, family, and inner strength. Melody, the youngest princess in the realm of the merfolk, is curious about the world above the ocean surface. She collects objects from sunken ships and asks questions no one will answer. One day, she follows her guardian turtle to the surface and sees a human girl on shore, who waves to her. Melody wants a friend, and when the Sea Witch, a monstrous red creature, offers her legs in exchange for her beautiful voice, she is fairly easily led astray despite the long-standing warnings of the merfolk about the Sea Witch. Melody makes it to shore and makes a fast and deep friendship with Zion, but when she discovers that her voice has empowered the Sea Witch to attack the Sea King's realm, she must return, regain her power, and restore order for her family and her merpeople. The replacement of the original love story with a friendship story is a warm and welcome touch for children, and Melody's agency throughout makes her an admirable heroine even if her quickness to leave her family seems rash. Pinkney's lush watercolor scenes draw readers in with rich detail and vibrant hues. The merfolk and Zion are brown-skinned with curls, and the meticulous rendering of the merfolks' fins and shells brings the mythical creatures within reach of realistic imagination. Another modern classic from one of our finest illustrators. (author's note) (Picturebook. 5-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
In this revised and slightly abridged version of Andersen's beloved story, Caldecott Medalist Pinkney has made some relevant changes for today's children. When Melody's father, the Sea King, warns her against leaving her elaborate undersea coral castle, her desire for adventure and exploration inspires her to swim to the ocean's shoreline where she meets Zion, a brown-skinned human girl who embraces her as a friend and soul mate. But Melody has sacrificed her voice to the evil Sea Witch in exchange for legs. When this bargain threatens not only Melody's family but the people living on land, Melody courageously returns to save both worlds, destroying the frightening red-tentacled monster. Triumphant, she finds her "true voice--a voice that no Witch could imprison or silence." Pinkney's artwork, done in pencil and watercolor, swirls with curvilinear images on every full-bleed page. The blues and greens of the underwater realm teem with sumptuous ocean life--schools of fish, foamy bubbles, seaweed, and the flotsam and jetsam of former civilizations. The Sea King's garments are encrusted with jewels and treasures of the sea; his gold trident sparkles; the mermaids' pearly necklaces complement their shimmering green tails. On land, golden hues wrap the shore and silvery seabirds drop and wheel overhead. Pinkney has created a virtuosic alternative that celebrates the acceptance of differences and adds transformative girl power to Andersen's complex and disturbing original.