THE MERMAID'S SHOES

Long after she’s back home in the city, a little girl dreams of her vacation by the sea.

On the last day of her vacation, Mia finds a pair of swim fins on the beach. She thinks they are “mermaid shoes” and is very excited that they fit. She takes them back home with her, where the rumble of traffic reminds her of the murmur of the sea. Mia wears her fins everywhere, but kids on the playground tell her that she can’t be a mermaid without a tail. So Mia makes one out of one of her mother’s skirts. Now where should she go? The sea is too far away, so Mia rides her bicycle to the zoo. She remembers a sea there. What she finds, behind the safety of glass, are sharks; no place for a mermaid. She tries the river—too deep and no big fish—and a museum, which has an impressive hall dedicated to the oceans. But it’s too dry. Mia returns home, sadly. Suddenly, she hears a familiar gentle murmur and, when she follows it, feels drops of water on her face. It’s her neighborhood fountain—and just where this little mermaid belongs. Te Loo’s loving paean to childhood imagination is told with refreshing directness and complete respect for her heroine. The many panoramic illustrations have a dreamy, joyful vibe that is greatly enhanced by masterful use of color and perspective.

Genuinely sweet.