THE MERMAID'S TWIN SISTER

A sequel to A Wave in Her Pocket (1991, ALA Notable) with six more tales featuring such characters from superstition and folklore as ``de duennes,'' the mischievous spirits of babies who died unbaptized, and ``La Diablesse,'' ghost of the last Arawak on Trinidad: a siren with one cloven hoof who dances men to their deaths. Mixed with these supernatural stories are bits of Trinidadian history and cultural lore, e.g., the origin of ``callaloo'' (a tale resembling ``Stone Soup''). Written in dialect, each chapter contains a story-within-a-story (told by ``Tantie'' to her grand niece) that unhurriedly unfolds to reward patient readers or listeners with its suspense, humor, and folk wisdom. Inviting, neon-bright pastels vibrate in the jacket art; each chapter has its own full-page b&w illustration. (Folklore. 8-12)