The Mermaids' Lullaby [Hardcover]

Kate Spohn (Author)

Book Description

Glitter sparkles on every page of this genuine treasure by Kate Spohn, whose work has been described as "truly extraordinary" by the Horn Book Reviewand "luminous" by Kirkus Reviews. This is a tender sea song, sung to sleepy mermaid babies by mer-mommies and mer-daddies. From the tapping of the sea urchins and the sound of bubbly voices to flashing fish and the circle of mermaid dancers, children will be lulled by words as soothing as lapping waves and captivated by art that is joyful and inviting.  

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Swirls of glitter add a dreamy dazzle to this bedtime book. Spohn's (Dog and Cat Make a Splash) meltingly soft paintings, in fresh pastel colors, show "mer-mommies and daddies" tucking their little ones in for the night. Spohn tunes the listener's ear for the "lullaby" of sea sounds: "Let your bright eyes shut/ as your sweet shell ears hear an ocean song," including smiling crabs "fiddling" and a school of fish "flashing." Lyrical lines croon, "Sleepy, sleepy mermaid babies,/ time to hold mermaid dolls/ in your tiny starfish hands"; the illustration shows four babies, each in its own pod of apple-green seaweed sheets, curled up with fish-tailed cuddly miniature figures of themselves. Between the delectable pictures and the soft lull of the wordsAthe glitter merely heightens the appealAthis siren song will float children off into sweet, sweet dreams. Ages 2-5.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 2^-5. In this peaceful, appealing bedtime story, children experience the sights and sounds of an underwater community as fiddling crabs, tapping urchins, flashing fish, and singing whales make up a quiet evening symphony. The gentle verse rocks mermaid babies to sleep as mer-mommies and mer-daddies prepare to celebrate the end of the day by dancing their children into dreamland. Spohn includes many lovely poetic references in her text--from a "water-worn whale" to mermaid babies' "tiny starfish hands" and mer-adults who "sweep shell shapes into the sandy floor." Gold glitter highlights Spohn's muted illustrations, dressing up the colors of the pictures without being tacky and adding a special flair to the calming, charming bedtime read. Together, text and art feel as refreshing as an easy trade wind on the ocean. Kathleen Squires

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; illustrated edition edition (May 26, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679891757
• ISBN-13: 978-0679891758
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,033,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Kylie's Mommy, February 19, 2006

By 

Kylie's Mommy (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mermaids' Lullaby (Hardcover)

My daughter received this beautiful book from my best friend. She and I love mermaids and she did a search on Amazon for mermaid books and this popped up. Not only is the bedtime story sweet, the pictures are vivid and lovely. I also love the fact that the mer-mommies and daddies are of different colors. I started to read this to my daughter when she was 2 months old and she was very attentive when this book was open. She is now 6 months old and is still captivated when I read this to her. Sadly, my best friend passed away recently but she knew how much my daughter loves this book. Hopefuly Kylie will share "Aunt Mia's" love of beautiful and magical mermaids.