The Merman [Paperback]

Dick King-Smith (Author), Fox Busters Ltd (Author), Roger Roth (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 13, 2001 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

From the beloved author of Babe: The Gallant Pig comes a charming fantasy about 10-year-old Zeta, who befriends a merman while on vacation in Scotland.

While vacationing in Scotland, Zeta meets a rather unusual fellow. He's a terrific swimmer. He chats with seals. And he has a fish tail. Marinus is a merman -- definitely not your average summer friend. Who else could teach Zeta everything from swimming to astronomy to French? Everything's an adventure when Marinus is around, and as the summer ends, Zeta knows she'll miss her new friend terribly.

Luckily, Marinus has one last surprise in store for her -- one that will last a lifetime. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

On her 10th birthday, a lonely girl on vacation in Scotland has a chance meeting with a merman, and their friendship leaves a lasting impression. Ages 8-12.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-King-Smith is a master storyteller with a lively sense of humor. Unfortunately, he employs a heavy hand here, and the book misses the mark. Zeta is vacationing with her parents in the northernmost part of Scotland. She's lonely and bored until she meets Marinus, a merman. He lectures her on astronomy and leads her by the hand into deep water where suddenly she can swim. Anything that he teaches her, she will never forget. At summer's end they say good-bye; only Marinus knows that he will not live to see the child again. When she returns to Scotland in two years, he has been replaced by Thalassa, his granddaughter, who teaches Zeta the song of the merpeople so that she can teach her appropriately receptive descendants the glories of the sea. The final chapter is touching, when Zeta, now "Grannyzee" to her grandson, calls a mermaid to their side. The author's Jenius (Hyperion, 1996) also addresses the wondrous powers of a great teacher blessed with a great student, but that book makes readers laugh out loud while seeing that learning can be as much fun as teaching. The Merman, on the other hand, remains a pedestrian read until the last few pages when real emotions enter the story. Readers finally feel the magic of fantasy when it is too late; the story has ended.
Judith Everitt, Orchard Hill Elementary School, Skillman, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (March 13, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044041718X
• ISBN-13: 978-0440417187
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,182,967 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dick King-Smith was a farmer for twenty years before becoming a writer, and most of his animal stories are based on his farming experiences. He won the Guardian Award with The Sheep-Pig, which became the blockbuster film Babe. Dick lives in Gloucestershire.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Summer-Schooled by a Merman, August 30, 2009

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Merman (Paperback)

This story is about a girl named Zeta who is on vacation in Scotland with her family. One day she goes down to the beach and discovers a merman named Marinus. From that day on, Marinus teaches her everything from French to swimming. But finally the day comes when she has to go back home. Marinus gives her a gift that will last her a a lifetime. Read this book to find out what it is!
I am a fifth grader and I thought this was a pretty good story that was easy to read. I recommend it to anyone in 3rd grade and up. I would probably read it again because it is one of my favorite types of books: adventure and fun-filled.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story about a wise father figure - Caution SPOILER, September 14, 2010

By 

markboyd - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Merman (Paperback)

I read this to my 5 year old one chapter a night for a week. It is a very kind story which introduces the Merman as a father figure and a little girl who learns to swim and learns french waking in the early mornings. In one of the chapters near the end (caution SPOILER) the merman's daughter comes to meet the girl and tell her that he has passed away. I and my daughter cried a bit, so be ready for it with small children.

Overall a wonderful book.