LILY THE POND MERMAID

Lily the mermaid tends to the pond and its inhabitants, but her worries threaten to overwhelm her.

Alongside her tadpole pal Bobble, Lily cares for the plants, obtains algae for the snails, and cleans up garbage thrown into the water. She frets about her freshwater friends, and her worries peak after a storm ravages the pond. Finding her inner courage, Lily talks through her fears with her friends, and together they restore the pond. Fleming offers a child-friendly representation of anxiety, touching on experiences that will be familiar to many: repressing one’s emotions, feeling overburdened and turning inward, and, finally, asking for help. The story ends with the necessary reassurance that readers, too, can eventually resolve complex emotions. Children will be captivated by Fleming’s luscious illustrations. Round-eyed, sweet-faced Lily has striking white hair and a burnt-orange tail. Her skin is light tan, and she appears to have vitiligo. An especially eye-catching full-page image depicts an uncertain Lily floating on the water’s surface, too worried to sleep; on another, Lily is blown about by the raging storm. Eagle-eyed readers will notice the darling Bobble transforming from tadpole to frog as the book progresses.

A meaningful, beautifully illustrated portrayal of anxiety.