WHEN MERMAIDS SLEEP

Rhythmic lines will lull youngsters who are fully immersed in fairy-tale lore into a dreamy state.

The verse provides the progression, occasionally a stretch, from spread to spread. The waves that rock the mermaids also carry ships on which pirates sleep on trunks. These trunks contain treasures dug from sand. The castle is made of sand, and this is where wizards watch the night sky, and so on until readers encounter the sleeping child, whose ordinary room is seemingly touched by magic as a curl of stardust drifts in through the open window. Images of typically frightening creatures such as giants and goblins slumbering may remind children to put their problems to bed, that nothing can harm them, although younger, less sophisticated tots may find them a tad disturbing. These spreads are interspersed with scenes of the more expected and enchanting denizens of fairyland: The mermaids gently rock on seaweed beds, unicorns rest on pillows of leaves, and fairies are comfortably cupped in flowers underneath the moon—the same moon that shines into the child’s room. Lush, jewel-tone illustrations feature rich patterns and are as luminous as if they too are touched by moonlight.

Youngsters are sure to carry these images into their dreams.