The Fishermen and the Mermaids
Do you believe in mermaids? The fishermen certainly do. They hear them gently calling in the middle of the night and watch them frolic with the dolphin during the day. But, it isn’t until a horrible storm arises that threatens their lives when they experience the magical reality of their existence. Yet, no one else believes they exist, causing the fishermen to wonder, “Do mermaids only appear to the fishermen of the sea?”
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite
The Fishermen and the Mermaids is a work of fantasy adventure fiction written for children by author Judith M. Ackerman and illustrated beautifully by Kristina Wheeat. Set on the high seas with a magical element at play, the story begins with a father, who was once a fisherman, recounting a magical tale to his daughter. We learn of a terrible storm in which the father fears he might lose his life and never come home, at which point the mermaids really do appear to come to his rescue. Though no-one else believes that they are real, one man and his daughter share the magic of the mermaids together.
For a relatively short book with extensive illustrations, there is much to devour and enjoy among the pages of this magical book. Author Judith M. Ackerman constructs a deceptively simple storyline that will leave young readers asking many interesting questions once the tale is done, and that is combined with dynamic and dangerous moments of peril and amazing rescue. Suitable for both guided and independent reading of children of all ages, the illustrations by Kristina Wheeat only add to the depth of feeling and the magic yet realistic sense of the story. The colors deepen and match the atmosphere of the writing, creating a synergy between story and image that makes particular scenes stay in the reader’s mind long after reading. Overall, this makes The Fishermen and the Mermaids an enchanting read that children and their reading buddies are certain to fall in love with.
