MERMAIDS MOST AMAZING

Oliver illustrates scattershot mentions of fish deities and merfolk sightings worldwide—plus some proven hoaxes—with dark-lined, hand-colored linocuts enhanced by the occasional shell, fishhook, or bit of netting. She closes with five short, retold folktales, four of which come from Pacific or Indian traditions. Though several of the images are of lissome (discreetly posed) fish-ladies, overall the sea dwellers here have a distinctly unhuman look that may broaden the outlooks of younger viewers with Disneyfied expectations, and perhaps lead them on to the more comprehensive likes of Shirley Climo’s Treasury of Mermaids (1997). (source notes) (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)