Book Review - 'The Girl and the Mermaid' by Hollie Hughes (Writer), Sarah Massini (Illustrator)

What a beautiful and precious picture book about mermaids.

It's also about family, friendship, community, history, memories, what's under the sea - and lost underneath the surface - and a lighthouse that lights up said golden memories in beams. The art is just lovely; simple yet lively, ethereal, dazzling, and as magical as the multilayered story full of symbolism. It is a tale (tail) told in rhyme, in poetry, which is a nice touch, adding to the soothing, relaxing tone and experience.

Also included are conches, seaweed forests, pirate ships, magic undersea kingdoms, dolphins, turtles, whales, and other sea life. Don't forget the stars, too. The twinkling stars above.

What enchantment is packed in thirty-two pages. What oceanic, timeless wonder. This story is a gift.

And the mermaids are totally topless. Good thing they have seaweed sashes, right?

Final Score: 4/5