Book Review - 'The Fairytale Hairdresser and the Little Mermaid' by Abie Longstaff (Writer), Lauren Beard (Illustrator)

Another story entry in 'The Fairytale Hairdresser' series I stumbled upon in my local library. It is about Kittie Lacey as she handles the hair and problems of, you guessed it, the Little Mermaid, here named Coral.

It is very cute and pretty, and slight spoilers, but in this version of 'The Little Mermaid', the mermaid not only lives but stays a mermaid, and the redhaired aquatile uses her singing talent to become a famous singer! Her trying to get a man by changing so much about her unique self is what causes her grave trouble (she thinks the lifeguard (who is also a prince... okay) she fancies won't like her tail). The bottle in which the Sea Witch traps her voice is actually called "Essence of Coral". And in the end, Coral's romantic life, achieved by being herself, takes a backseat to her career! She never needed to alter her appearance, or uproot herself in an entirely new environment for a man. Her voice is her essence, it is what makes her her. Whatever style her hair is, her voice is the most important thing about her! That's her happily ever after!

Intentional or not, this is an impressive feminist message to send to children.

'The Fairytale Hairdresser and the Little Mermaid' is about female friendship and comradery, too. Kittie is such a good, supportive, uplifting, benevolent, conducive, comforting and reassuring friend to Coral, with her head on straight. She calls Coral "love" at one point. Aww!

It is creative, colourful, charming, sparkly, and full of fairy tale cameos, elements and easter eggs! I also like Kittie's scuba diving gear, worn to visit Coral to do her hair (there really is no task that's too great for her, is there?), and for other objectives, where she doesn't cover her own hair but lets it fly free in the sea. Kittie is a hairdresser, but she is not vain, pedantic or picky! She isn't afraid to get dirty and messy in her job! She is a creative artist and liberated soul, more than anything.

Now that I have read a few 'The Fairytale Hairdresser' books, however, I am starting to see a storytelling pattern: the kind, caring, friendly, brave, clever and resourceful Kittie does a fairy tale character's hair, and ends up on a quick adventure with them, where she falls into a trap with them, but then she saves them in their fairy tale by using her hairdressing tools, against a one-dimensional, typically ugly villain (not very progressive, that, and in this case the Sea Witch doesn't seem to want to do anything with the mermaid's voice - what is her end goal? To lure and trap Kittie and make her give her a makeover every day? Really?), who is punished and arrested by the end.

I hope this familiar formula isn't in every 'The Fairytale Hairdresser' book, and it won't get too predictable and stale as I read more of these books. But I am enjoying them so far.

I can't wait to devour more, like the scrumptious sweets they are.

My review of 'The Fairytale Hairdresser and Rapunzel' can be found here, and my review of 'The Fairytale Hairdresser and Red Riding Hood' can be found here.

Final Score: 3.5/5