Haunted by strange dreams, Princess Maressa sneaks into the forest to visit the hidden pool. As she stares into the water, a face appears. Frightened and unsure what it means, Maressa visits Weelo the wise woman who sends the princess on a journey packed with adventure. Maressa meets Merlone, and a delightful cast of characters. Along the way, she learns that when you follow your heart, magic happens!
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grades 3-6--This original work, chock-full of New Age philosophy, is pleasant but unexceptional. Written and performed by writer/actress/musician Shaeri Richards, it tells of Maressa, a princess, bored with her life, who misses her brother who has left to fight the "Underlanders." She sees the face of a young man in a pool, and is amazed when she notices him selling produce at the local market. Helped by Weelo, a wise woman, Maressa goes to meet Merlone, the farmer. Merlone reveals that he lost his father 12 years earlier to a monster on a mountain, causing his mother to cease speaking and to waste away. Merlone plans to return to the mountain to avenge himself and to find a magic flower with which to heal his mother. Maressa convinces Merlone to allow her to travel with him. During the journey, she discovers that her father, the king, has conquered the "Underlanders" and that they are trying to recover their territory. Maressa and Merlone arrive at the mountain to find that the "monster" in the cave is actually Merlone's father who had slain the original monster, but had been enchanted into remaining to guard the cave. They find the magic flower and return to Merlone's farm. Back at the castle, Maressa's wounded brother is revived by the magic flower. The king decides to enter into negotiations with the "Underlanders." Several other interesting characters enliven the story, and Richards does a good job of giving unique voices to each. In the press release, Richards erroneously claims that this story "offers something new characters who embrace both the masculine and feminine side of themselves." There are numerous examples from children's literature of characters who transcend their gender roles in much more interesting ways: William in William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow (HarperCollins, 1972), the pirate queen in The Pirate Queen by Emily McCully (Putnam 1995), and Sally Anne in Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett by Steven Kellogg (Morrow, 1995), just to name a few. Five pop rock songs, which Richards sings very nicely, are integrated into the story. For most libraries, this will be an additional purchase.
Beverly Bixler, San Antonio Public Library, TX
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Beverly Bixler, San Antonio Public Library, TX
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From the Publisher
In Maressa & Merlone: A Musical Fairy Tale, writer/actress/musician Shaeri Richards hascreated an audio book for kids which offers something new, characters who embrace both the masculine and feminine sides of themselves. In the tale, Maressa & Merlone embark on a quest to find a healing flower. By learning to use the intuition and compassion of the feminine, and the courage and logic of the masculine, they ultimately achieve an outcome both magical and positive.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Parents and kids will find this enchanting,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Maressa & Merlone: A Musical Fairy Tale (Audio Cassette)
The story and music are by Richards, who also sings in this fairy tale of Princess Maressa, who visits a forest pool and discovers friendships in unusual places. This provides all the elements of a fine fantasy: a quest, the use of intuition and personal power to succeed in a goal, and magical, positive adventures. Parents and kids will find it enchanting.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous & Fable-ous!,
By Would Rather Be Reading "Or Running" (Colorado, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Maressa & Merlone: A Musical Fairy Tale (Audio Cassette)
Maressa and Merlone is a magical fable - an adventure led by the daredevil Princess Maressa who is later joined on her journey by the handsome and determined Merlone. I must admit, though I loved all the characters in this amazingly produced story - Winchester the Frog is my favorite. Shaeri Richards has succeeded in creating a tale that is "fabulous and fable-ous." When you analyze the tale by going below the stories surface, you will realize that universal truths are enforced and weaved within to teach but not preach to your children. It did not surprise me that some reviewers totally missed the mark with their comments. Ignore them. Ms. Richards talents reach out to gently pull in the listener.Your children will fall in love with the entire cast of characters in Maressa and Merlone.
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