The Mermaid's Purse

August 8, 2016
Through lyrical writing and expressive images, Polacco (The Blessing Cup) returns to recurring themes from her books: the importance of family, community, and reading. Polacco again draws on her family history—basing her heroine, Estella, on her own grandmother—while also giving this down-home tale a mystical undertone. When Estella is born during a thunderclap, protected by a caul or “Mermaid’s Purse” (“a birth membrane to some, a miracle to others”), a midwife predicts that she will be showered with God’s blessings “like a spring rain.” As it turns out, Estella is “drawn to storms, and storms to her.” An insatiable reader, the precocious and charismatic girl saves a herd of sheep and the life of a friend using knowledge gleaned from her vast collection of books, housed in a library that neighbors build for her. The community again unites to bring about a satisfying finale after a tornado destroys Estella’s home and library. Robust pencil-and-marker illustrations bridge the narrative’s fluctuating moods, portraying Estella’s triumph and heartbreak with assurance. Ages 5–8.

Once again, Polacco brings forth a new family story, this time about her grandmother.One of nine children, Estella was born in a "Mermaid's Purse," a birth membrane that people believed brought "God's blessing and gifts [that] will fall upon the child like spring rain." For the little white girl, her gift is an uncanny ability to foretell storms, but more than anything, she loves being read to at night. "As soon as Stella could stretch her right arm over the top of her own head and grasp her left ear, she [is] sent off to school," where she teaches herself to read. (Children will be puzzled at the unexplained shift from Estella to Stella as the narrative progresses.) She amasses so many books that her father builds a library for her, which she calls the Mermaid's Purse. She shares her books with all the farming folks. Thanks to her books, she rescues a herd of goats, saves Moon Eyes Fred from drowning, and even teaches Pig Ears Lonsberry to read. The day she senses a tornado coming, her family takes shelter, but the twister demolishes her beloved library. All her books are gone. Or are they? Polacco's signature textual and illustrative styles blend to depict a folksy, bygone past. The pencil-and-marker artwork lovingly evokes the poignant memory, making this one of her most personal-feeling books. Three photos of her grandmother on the back page add backbone to the tale. Heartwarming. (Picture book. 5-9) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2016

Gr 2-4-Polacco tells a story based on her grandmother's early years in 19th-century Michigan. Stella was born in a Mermaid's Purse, otherwise known as a caul, and that meant that she was born blessed. More than anything, Stella loves books. She reads anytime she can and saves up all her money to buy books, too. Eventually she owns so many that her father and other men from town build her a library, and she names it the Mermaid's Purse. Stella's collection soon comes in handy as she uses it to help a farmer save his sheep from dying of bloat, keep her future husband from drowning, and prevent another farmer from losing his water rights. However, her books can't stop the Mermaid's Purse from being destroyed by a tornado. Stella grows despondent, and it isn't until farmers from all over the county find her books scattered around and return them to her that she is finally happy again. The art is done in the muted tones and style that are without a doubt Polacco's trademark. This is the type of family tale that the author/illustrator is known for. The story is lovely, with the message that books can teach anyone about everything. The title also features pictures and tidbits about the real Stella's life after the narrative is over, which is a nice touch. VERDICT A terrific library read-aloud that is also suitable for one-on-one and small group sharing.-Paige Garrison, Augusta Richmond County Library System, GA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2016
Grades 1-3 Fans know that Polacco writes family stories that often tell of kindness, courage, and, sometimes, sacrifice. To read one of her books is like visiting with those dear to her, and this warm and inspirational story about her grandmother's love of books and its impact on her community is no exception. Much is expected of young Stella, and she does not disappoint, transforming her love of books into a mission: she travels around the country, sharing her books with others. This is message heavy, but the assertion that childrenand bookscan make a difference is a valuable one. The story is enhanced by powerful illustrations that focus on the faces and emotions of the characters. Even on those pages where devastating events occur, people are depicted in each other's arms, comforting each other as the effects of a disaster are observed. The book concludes with a brief family history and photographs. Pair with Monica Brown's Waiting for the Biblioburro (2011) for another story about the impact of libraries and books.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)