posted on 25 Jun 2023

The Mermaid Moon by Briony May Smith

In a small fishing village called Merporth, two very special friends love to spend time together. Merrin is a mermaid whose underwater home is in the village harbour and Molly is a little girl who lives on land in the village itself. The two girls would meet every day after school was finished to talk and play:

“They’d search for treasure in caves and ancient shipwrecks.

They’d surf the waves with the dolphins, and follow pods of whales as they glided through the gloomy depths.”

The girls are especially excited on the day of preparations for a very special evening – the night of the Mermaid Moon.

“That night was the Mermaid Moon festival, and Merrin was finally old enough to join in! All the sea creatures would be able to swim through the air to explore the human world.”

This was going to be the first chance Merrin has had to actually visit Molly's house – but there was just one condition. On the night of the Mermaid Moon, just like Cinderella, Merrin had to abide by one key rule that her mother is at pains to emphasise:

“Make sure to be home before the moon’s reflection disappears from the sea, my little minnow…..Otherwise your scales  will dry out, and the magic will vanish from the cove for ever.”

And, of course, on that night the girls have tremendous fun around the town and Merrin finally gets to see Molly’s house. But soon the night is coming to an end and the girls are busy climbing trees, Molly spots that the moon is beginning to wane.

Then, disaster!

Molly’s foot gets stuck in the branches and Merrin is determined to help her friend – even though her time is running out and disaster could follow.

Will Merrin be the mermaid responsible for bringing the magic of Merporth harbour to an end – forever? Or will there be some other magical event to save the situation?

Well, clearly, I’m not going to tell you because I want you to buy a copy of this delightful fantasy to find out for yourself. Published this month by Walker books, this is a good-natured, generously illustrated picture book with colours that burst off the page.

Author and illustrator, Briony May Smith is inspired, as this new tale demonstrates, by traditional fairy tales and folklore and has previously been shortlisted for the British Comic Awards and twice commended for the Macmillan Children’s Prize. 

You should be able to find a copy of the book at your local independent bookshop but if they don’t have a copy of their shelves, they will be happy to order it for you.

 

Terry Potter

June 2023