The Little Mermaid written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney is an enchanting story inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen favorite. In this story Melody lives with her older sisters and her father, the Sea King, in the realm of light. The Sea Witch, who has vowed to destroy their Kingdom, lives in the realm of shadows.
Melody, a beautiful princess with lovely brown skin, is named for her gorgeous voice. She longs to have a friend but has been warned not to venture from the Kingdom. One day, after she finds a doll in a sunken ship that looks a lot like her except for its two stick legs, she follows her guardian turtle up to the surface of the water in search of answers. She sees a girl on the beach with two legs just like the doll. She begins to sing and the girl waves to her. But Melody is then urgently called home. She is sad and thinks she will never see her friend again.
By and by the Sea Witch captures her and offers to give Melody human legs so she can walk on land and visit her friend in exchange for her most precious gift. “You can have legs, my child…but I will have your voice.” Melody agrees to this very bad bargain.
The illustrations, rendered in watercolor with luscious shades of blue, green and orange, are a visual feast with exotic fish, frolicking bubbles, underwater jewels and shipwreck treasures.
The Little Mermaid by Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney is a captivating story for readers 5-9 years of age with an important message----- there is nothing worth the price of your voice! (Little Brown and Company, 2020).
Activity Questions for The Little Mermaid
What relics from the world above the surface of the water has Melody gathered from sunken ships? Play I Spy and study the illustration of Melody playing with the found doll and locate the following items: an accordion, a gold watch, a silver spoon, a glass pitcher, a decorative guitar, a coffee pot, a glass vase, a Captain’s wheel, an opened jewelry box and a china plate and cup. Now, if you could collect things from below the surface of the water what would your list contain?
Desperate to save her father, The Sea King, from the attack of the Sea Witch Melody finds her voice and shouts a loud and powerful “NO!” Have you ever spoken up and spoken out when something was happening that was not right? How did your speaking out make you feel? Draw a picture of the incident where you found your voice.
Older readers may want to read the Hans Christian Andersen tale and see how the storyline differs from this reinvented tale. Jerry Pinkney’s A Note from the Artist at the back of this book is interesting as to his creative process.
