The Little Mermaid

June 1, 2017

Gr 4 Up-This retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's story about a young mermaid who falls in love with a human prince and sacrifices her voice in order to become human may bewilder readers who know only the more sanitized adaptations of the tale. But those who are familiar with or curious about the original will appreciate this faithful graphic novel reworking, which incorporates the darker details of Andersen's narrative; for instance, walking on human legs makes the mermaid feel as though she is being pierced with knives. The ending is profound and moving and entirely unlike that of the Disney version. The artwork is marvelous, dominated by watery blues and greens; radiant depictions of everything from candles and jewels to sunlight and the sea lend the illustrations a luminous quality. Andersen fans will be mesmerized, and newcomers will want to see what they've been missing. VERDICT Hand this one to readers eager to be swept away by a beautiful and authentic retelling; for most graphic novel collections.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2017
Grades 2-5 Andersen's tale of a mermaid longing to be loved by a human prince is a classic fairy tale, though it differs greatly from the musical Disney version known to many young readers. This graceful, lyrical adaptation by artistic duo Metaphrog serves a great purpose in reimagining that tale, though readers only familiar with the animated version might be shocked by the ending, which stays true to the original. Though this is abridged, the authors keep both the rhythm of Andersen's writing as well as the melancholy he loved so much. None of the characters smile, and all of their brows are creased by worry lines. The artwork is luminous, befitting a sea story, but it is also dark tinged and moody. But the beauty of that art shines through the sadness. Metaphrog uses jewel tones to great effect, with the purples, teals, greens, and rubies highlighting the royal characters and regal settings. The glowing colors and mix of different historical periods with fantasy elements make this an eye-catching addition to graphic novel and fairy tale collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)