Beach Bum Mermaids
By Ammi-Joan Paquette, Illustrated by Marie Letourneau
Tanglewood, $16.95, 32 pages
“Mermaids live out in the ocean, but they like to come ashore to play. There are no mermaids here today. But… we can leave them a surprise for when they come back!”
The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids, by Ammi-Joan Paquette, is the perfect book to set the stage for a summer trip to the beach. Marie Letourneau’s illustrations combine engaging photography and hand-drawn mermaids. The realism of the pictures sets the stage for a scavenger hunt with items that are commonly found throughout the coast. The whimsy of the mermaids and prose inspires adventure and imagination. Who wouldn’t look at a tide pool differently if trying to find mermaids or their treasures? The text is simple enough for young readers and it invites children and their adult friends to make up their own chapters of the story. The calming nature of the book is perfect for a nap or bedtime story.
Reviewed By Brenda Searle