All About Mermaids

Mermaids and unicorns are subjects of great interest in my house, so when I saw the title All About Mermaids, I knew what I needed to do. My test audience demonstrated an unequivocal positive regard for the book, and I have to say that I did as well. A lot of our knowledge about mermaids is limited to the story of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen and the danger mermaids pose to men, singing them to their deaths. This book goes beyond these common perceptions.

True to its title, All About Mermaids follows the structure of an encyclopedia, sharing the history, anatomical structure, habitats, and behaviors of mermaids all over the world. Mermaids are portrayed as strong and active, not merely sitting on rocks or pining near the shore but swimming with dolphins and leaping over the moon. I appreciate that mermaids of all shapes, sizes, and races appeared in this book; they were not confined to a certain part of the world. Vlad Stankovic’s illustrations, done with watercolors, colored pencils, and photoshop, conveyed the rich tones of underwater sea life and the exuberance of mermaids and mermen.