Magical Mermaids! (Step Into Reading, Step 1: Shimmer and Shine)

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If you like strong girl power books, you’ll love this story of five mermaids who journey to find each other and the sea witches. An ancient evil is being unleashed and is not just trying to kill the girls but also planning on enslaving or killing theircommunities. My kids and I found this book series very entertaining.

Deep dive: Suzie Inman, who organises the Porthleven Mermaid Day. Photograph: Leon Foggitt/The Observer In the west of Scotland, Kate Macleod is captured from above, moving through a northern sea of chill turquoise, her tail rippling out behind her. The aerial shot is from the introduction to Miann na Maighdinn-mara and the point where the magic of the landscape makes you believe that the swimmer below could – possibly – be magical, too. In 1952, US actor Esther Williams starred in Million Dollar Mermaid, a biography of Kellerman, but the real heart of American mermaiding is in Weeki Wachee in Florida, a freshwater spring that has hosted mermaid shows for 75 years. But, says museum professional Rebecca Schwandt, performers only started swimming in tails in the 1960s. Schwandt’s master’s thesis centred around oral histories of the women performing at Weeki Wachee. “For the mid- 20th-century performers, it was a job you could take in the local area. If you didn’t want to be a teacher or a housewife, then you could be a mermaid,” she says. “But at the same time they all also talk about the magic of being under the water. It was way more than just a job.” I dropped over the side, briefly went under and then started swimming Do you want a mermaid friend? What can you do to catch her? You must be very clever — and this book will tell you how. Although it is undisputed that mermaids are some of the most fascinating creatures from mythology, the question of the intentions of these creatures still remains. There are many reports of cultures that have had some sort of positive interaction with these beings, but there are many more that tell of the terrifying and destructive nature of these creatures.Unsurprisingly, Atargatis’ story was a source of inspiration for many cultures. She appeared as a figure in many other cultures under different names and her story was used to give additional powers and characteristics to existing goddesses. Goddesses that were tied to her story over time include Aphrodite, Cybele, and Rhea. Discover Catherine Doyle's five favourite island books 4. My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish by Mo O'Hara (featuring no mermaids, technically) In addition to these goddesses, many of the minor sea goddesses inherited her characteristics as well. A great example of this can be found with the nereids and sea nymphs. They are often depicted as having both legs and fish tails depending on where they were located. The selkies of Icelandic mythology are also known to have similar stories, though instead of a fish tail they are thought to have complete seal skins. Mermaids Around the World Beneath every placid surface and between each crashing wave, the movies’ most magical aquatic adventures portend the possibility of mermaids. Half-human, half-fish creatures swam onto the big screen at the turn of the 20th century, appearing in silent works such as Georges Méliès‘ 1904 short film “The Mermaid” and John G. Adolfi’s 1918 feature “Queen of the Sea” among others. The mythical archetype was subsequently reeled in as the effervescent love interest template for numerous ’30s and ’40s rom-coms, with the concept perfected in Irving Pichel’s well-loved talky “Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid,” starring Ann Blyth.

Melusine’s mother was named Pressyne – she was a beautiful fey who agreed to marry King Elynas when he happened upon her in the woods one day. He asked her to marry him and she agreed. For many years he upheld this promise, but eventually he broke the oath and Pressyne left with their three children. When Melusine turned 15, she asked why they had not been raised with their father and was told about his transgression. She sought revenge against him, but was punished by her mother for disrespecting King Elynas. She was cursed to change into a fish with two tails (or in other versions a serpent) from the waist down on Saturdays. Li Ban and her lap dog lived in an underwater chamber for one year after the great flood. After this time had passed, she was transformed into a mermaid – half maiden and half salmon. Her lap dog was transformed into an otter. Ondina: Ordina means “little wave” in Latin. This is a great name for a young, innocent mermaid. Particularly one that might start off weak in your story, but then grow stronger as the events play out. I read a proof copy of this recently and it is spectacular. Set on the real island of Arranmore in Ireland, it follows Fionn Boyle on a wild adventure filled with magical memory-filled candles, the sorceress Morrigan, and hints at an army of merrows beneath the waves (I have my fingers crossed they will surface in the sequel).

12. “Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid” (1948)

Why? If we match a child’s interest with good books about those topics, then MORE reading will happen! Though there seem to be many overlapping similarities in mermaid stories worldwide, there are noticeable differences that come from varying cultures. Though in many cultures the interactions with mermaids and merpeople in general was considered to be fairly rare, there are other cultures who seem to have had many interactions with these strange sea people. The Nereids