Mermaid Tales from Around the World

Osborne, Mary Pope

ISBN 10: 0590443771 ISBN 13: 9780590443777

Publisher: Scholastic, 1993

Synopsis

Greek frescos, primitive African paintings, Irish pub signs, and illuminated manuscripts adorn twelve immortal mermaid tales from a wide range of cultures, gracefully told anew and dramatically illustrated in the style of each story's native country.

About this title

From Publishers Weekly

Contrary to what some moviegoers may think, Disney didn't invent mermaids. The aquatic females have figured in myths and folktales since time out of mind, and readers looking for life beyond Ariel would do well to check out the bevy of sea nymphs featured in Osborne and Howell's ( Favorite Greek Myths ) outstanding collection of stories. Osborne has culled her choices from many cultures--African, European, Asian, Native American and Mediterranean, to name a few--and the resulting stories more than uphold her assertion that mermaids are hardly the "typical legendary heroine--beautiful, kind, and in need of rescue." Rather, these spirits are "fiercely strong" and independent, sometimes generous, sometimes merciless. Osborne's retellings are seamless, her prose both vigorous and picturesque ("The morning light shone on her sea-green hair like melted butter shines on cabbage"), while Howell's astonishing illustrations provide a virtual crash-course in art history. In a radical departure from his usual lush, realistic style, Howell instead reaches into the heart of the particular culture producing each tale: the frontispiece for an Iranian tale is reminiscent of a Persian miniature; the artwork for the Greek myth of Galatea and the Cyclops resembles the decoration on a black-figure urn; and the Irish folktale features the kind of stylized primitive that might be found on a pub sign. Readers can only hope that Osborne and Howell will continue to collaborate--their teamwork is magnificent. Ages 7-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4 Up-It's common for folklore retellers to cite their sources, and Osborne does a lovely job of tracing the roots and explaining how she adapted each of these stories. However, it's rarer for illustrators to explain their research and artistic processes, so Howell's notes are fascinating. These appendixes also show the care and scholarship that permeate this volume. Of the 12 tales, only Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" is very well known. The other entries come from around the world and from different times-ancient Greece to 19th-century America. As Osborne points out in her introduction, these selections feature strong heroines who just happen to have fish tails. Being magical creatures, some can offer wealth and happiness; others can become human, marry, and have children; and a few are evil and vengeful. This rich collection is further enhanced by thoughtfully designed color plates and page decorations. Each picture furthers the understanding of the story through content and style (e.g., authentic African patterns are used to decorate the Nigerian tale, while the Greek tale is accompanied by artwork influenced by the area's terra-cotta pottery). An anthology that will enrich any collection.
Karen K. Radtke, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0590443771
• ISBN 13: 9780590443777
• Binding: Library Binding
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 84
• Illustrator: Howell Troy