The Book Of Mermaids

An illustrated guide to mermaid art, culture, fashion and magic.

Mermaids are almost always believed to have magical powers and may occasionally take on human form and walk among us. To this day people are fascinated with Mermaid mystery, myth and fantasy. Do you believe?

*Includes "The Little Mermaid," now a major motion picture from Disney starring Halle Bailey and directed by Rob Marshall* Dive into centuries of mermaid lore with these captivating tales from around the world. A Penguin Classic Among the oldest and most popular mythical beings, mermaids and other merfolk have captured the imagination since long before Ariel sold her voice to a sea witch in the beloved Disney film adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid." As far back as the eighth century B.C., sailors in Homer's Odyssey stuffed wax in their ears to resist the Sirens, who lured men to their watery deaths with song. More than two thousand years later, the gullible New York public lined up to witness a mummified "mermaid" specimen that the enterprising showman P. T. Barnum swore was real. The Penguin Book of Mermaids is a treasury of such tales about merfolk and water spirits from different cultures, ranging from Scottish selkies to Hindu water-serpents to Chilean sea fairies. A third of the selections are published here in English for the first time, and all are accompanied by commentary that explores their undercurrents, showing us how public perceptions of this popular mythical hybrid--at once a human and a fish--illuminate issues of gender, spirituality, ecology, and sexuality. For more than seventy-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 2,000 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Exploring legends from across the globe, this narrative text presents the story of the mermaid, offering possible scientific explanations for the myths. Bright images and a playful design will keep even the most reluctant readers interested, while a glossary helps build vocabulary. A broad spectrum of ideas encourages critical thinking.

Three original mermaid tales for children who are just beginning to learn how to read. Meet a scheming mermaid lurking to sabotage the Great Seahorse Race, a mermaid on a journey to the spooky Pirates' Graveyard and a mermaid who just loves to dance! "Irresistible for children learning to read." - Child Education Plus

Kali led a quiet, normal life, she had no reason to suspect she was anything but a human. A much needed vacation turned into a mysterious journey of magic in an underwater world. Now, along with a small group of merpeople including a powerful aunt, an implacable leader, an adventurer, a recluse and a protector, Kali was setting out to stop a powerful merman known as 'The Destroyer'. The outcome would forever change the lives of all mers and humans alike. Will \kali accept the changes in her and embrace this mysterious, magical world in order to save her kind, or would she forsake her true self?

Discover what makes mermaids so magical and become a true believer with this sparkly Mythical Creatures Are Real board book! Gemstone and sparkles and coral, oh my! That's what mermaids are made of! But did you also know that mermaids are vegetarian, or that they can control the weather on the seas? Mermaid lovers will be tickled to learn all sorts of "facts" about these beloved beings in #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Holly Hatam's latest Mythical Creatures Are Real board book. Encourage your little one's imagination with peeks into other whimsical worlds! Look for Holly's Unicorns Are Real, Dragons Are Real, and Fairies Are Real, too!