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The girl and the mermaid
Alina and her granny live in a lighthouse by the a home filled with the warmth of Granny's magical stories.But Alina is worried. Granny's memories and stories are starting to fade away, and she doesn't know how to bring them back. Then one day, she meets a mermaid on the rocks near the lighthouse – and she's swept into a magical deep-sea adventure that will change everything.An instant classic from the bestselling creators of The Girl and the Dinosaur .
32 pages, Paperback
Published March 12, 2025
100 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 8, 2024
This is a beautiful picture book that illustrates the beautiful art of storytelling and its legacy in families as well as a wonderful portrayal of an intergenerational relationship between a grandmother and grandchild.
January 15, 2024
4.25☆ so cute & lovely :) the illustrations are beautiful & the story is short but sweet !! <3
May 10, 2025
Another beautiful picture book and story about keeping family stories alive
February 27, 2024
3.5 stars
A sweet story about a girl and her grandmother and the girl’s concern for her grandmother’s stories fading away one day. Lovely illustrations with a wonderful easy-on-the-eyes colour palette. The story is written in poetic prose or as a prose poem, however you want to see it, so it’s extra sweet. There’s a nice rhythmic tone to it as you read it out loud. The ending is a tad bit abrupt but works well poetically, metaphorically…
A sweet story about a girl and her grandmother and the girl’s concern for her grandmother’s stories fading away one day. Lovely illustrations with a wonderful easy-on-the-eyes colour palette. The story is written in poetic prose or as a prose poem, however you want to see it, so it’s extra sweet. There’s a nice rhythmic tone to it as you read it out loud. The ending is a tad bit abrupt but works well poetically, metaphorically…
October 18, 2024
Book Reading Hanash with "The Girl and the Mermaid", Written by Hollie Hughes, and Illustration by Sarah Massini
🌊🐚🧜♀️✨🌅💦🐠🦀🏝️🌟 In The Girl and the Mermaid, Hollie Hughes weaves a delightful narrative that resonates with the whimsical dreams of childhood. This enchanting tale captures the imagination and transports readers into a vibrant world where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur. The story's central character, a young girl, embarks on a captivating adventure that reflects every child's yearning to escape into a realm of wonder and magic.
🌊🐚🧜♀️✨🌅💦🐠🦀🏝️🌟 Hughes skillfully constructs a narrative that feels both familiar and extraordinary. For young readers, especially those in the Philippines, the elements of the sea—such as the gentle call of waves and the beauty of seashells—are deeply relatable. The imagery conjured through Massini’s illustrations is nothing short of breathtaking. Each page bursts with color and emotion, creating a visual experience that complements the story's themes. The illustrations invite readers to dive deeper into this fantastical ocean world, sparking their imaginations and encouraging them to dream bigger.
🌊🐚🧜♀️✨🌅💦🐠🦀🏝️🌟 What stands out in this book is its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia while simultaneously introducing the excitement of exploration. The young protagonist embodies the curiosity and courage we often wish we had in our own lives. As she interacts with the mermaid, readers are reminded of the importance of friendship and the beauty of connection, whether above or below the sea's surface. This dynamic is particularly resonant in cultures that celebrate strong community bonds, such as those found in the Philippines.
🌊🐚🧜♀️✨🌅💦🐠🦀🏝️🌟 The narrative is not just a fantastical escape; it also celebrates the familiar sounds and sights of coastal life. The rhythmic ebb and flow of the waves serve as a gentle reminder of the serenity that nature can provide. Hughes captures this essence beautifully, allowing readers to feel as if they are part of the story, listening to the ocean’s whispers and discovering hidden treasures beneath the waves.
🌊🐚🧜♀️✨🌅💦🐠🦀🏝️🌟 In essence, this book is more than just a children’s book; it’s an invitation to embrace our dreams and explore the wonders of the world around us. For anyone seeking a heartwarming tale that resonates with the universal childhood desire for adventure and fantasy, this book is a treasure trove. It is a great find that will surely delight children and adults alike, encouraging readers to cherish their dreams and the magic that lies just beneath the surface.
🌊🐚🧜♀️✨🌅💦🐠🦀🏝️🌟 In The Girl and the Mermaid, Hollie Hughes weaves a delightful narrative that resonates with the whimsical dreams of childhood. This enchanting tale captures the imagination and transports readers into a vibrant world where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur. The story's central character, a young girl, embarks on a captivating adventure that reflects every child's yearning to escape into a realm of wonder and magic.
🌊🐚🧜♀️✨🌅💦🐠🦀🏝️🌟 Hughes skillfully constructs a narrative that feels both familiar and extraordinary. For young readers, especially those in the Philippines, the elements of the sea—such as the gentle call of waves and the beauty of seashells—are deeply relatable. The imagery conjured through Massini’s illustrations is nothing short of breathtaking. Each page bursts with color and emotion, creating a visual experience that complements the story's themes. The illustrations invite readers to dive deeper into this fantastical ocean world, sparking their imaginations and encouraging them to dream bigger.
🌊🐚🧜♀️✨🌅💦🐠🦀🏝️🌟 What stands out in this book is its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia while simultaneously introducing the excitement of exploration. The young protagonist embodies the curiosity and courage we often wish we had in our own lives. As she interacts with the mermaid, readers are reminded of the importance of friendship and the beauty of connection, whether above or below the sea's surface. This dynamic is particularly resonant in cultures that celebrate strong community bonds, such as those found in the Philippines.
🌊🐚🧜♀️✨🌅💦🐠🦀🏝️🌟 The narrative is not just a fantastical escape; it also celebrates the familiar sounds and sights of coastal life. The rhythmic ebb and flow of the waves serve as a gentle reminder of the serenity that nature can provide. Hughes captures this essence beautifully, allowing readers to feel as if they are part of the story, listening to the ocean’s whispers and discovering hidden treasures beneath the waves.
🌊🐚🧜♀️✨🌅💦🐠🦀🏝️🌟 In essence, this book is more than just a children’s book; it’s an invitation to embrace our dreams and explore the wonders of the world around us. For anyone seeking a heartwarming tale that resonates with the universal childhood desire for adventure and fantasy, this book is a treasure trove. It is a great find that will surely delight children and adults alike, encouraging readers to cherish their dreams and the magic that lies just beneath the surface.
December 14, 2025
A stunning lyrical rhyming story, the way it was written was just gorgeous, it really connected you to the story, it was perfect for the themes of under the sea, mermaids and lighthouses, It was so gorgeous.
The story was really beautiful too sharing a Grandmother and Granddaughter who loved to share stories together, until one day the Grandmother started to lose some of her memories. The little girl joins a mermaid on a sea adventure and finds herself getting the stories of her Grandma’s adventures back from before, so she can tell them to her. It was so beautiful, heartfelt and magical.
The illustrations also were beautiful, they seemed hand drawn water colours style and it was so stunning to look at, it really made you connect to the story being told just by looking at them. They were so wonderful and I loved seeing all the sea animals joining them on the adventure, seeing the beautiful lighthouse lighting up with the stories. So gorgeous and I do recommend it as it will touch your heart so much with this stunning story.
The story was really beautiful too sharing a Grandmother and Granddaughter who loved to share stories together, until one day the Grandmother started to lose some of her memories. The little girl joins a mermaid on a sea adventure and finds herself getting the stories of her Grandma’s adventures back from before, so she can tell them to her. It was so beautiful, heartfelt and magical.
The illustrations also were beautiful, they seemed hand drawn water colours style and it was so stunning to look at, it really made you connect to the story being told just by looking at them. They were so wonderful and I loved seeing all the sea animals joining them on the adventure, seeing the beautiful lighthouse lighting up with the stories. So gorgeous and I do recommend it as it will touch your heart so much with this stunning story.
March 19, 2024
It is a lovely rhyming picture book with amazing illustrations and a very nice story about a little girl going on an underwater adventure to help her grandma keep her memories.
The story flows so nicely and the rhyming is like reading a poem. Little one loved it 🥰 , kept her interested throughout the story and is a real page-turner. Hollie and Sarah made again a wonderful book. We own The Girl and the Dinosaur and it was one of my daughter's first books that we both love it.
I definitely recommend this book to any parent, librarian, bookseller or teacher. I can't wait until next week for publication day to buy a copy for our library.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC
The story flows so nicely and the rhyming is like reading a poem. Little one loved it 🥰 , kept her interested throughout the story and is a real page-turner. Hollie and Sarah made again a wonderful book. We own The Girl and the Dinosaur and it was one of my daughter's first books that we both love it.
I definitely recommend this book to any parent, librarian, bookseller or teacher. I can't wait until next week for publication day to buy a copy for our library.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC
November 2, 2024
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
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
September 29, 2024
has everything i love about childrens literature: gorgeous and enchanting illustrations, fairytale-esque writing that hooks you into the story, and a beautiful message. this was, at its core, a story about upholding family culture, memories, and traditions and the importance of fostering those intergenerational ties. not only that, but themes of cultural exchange, repecting others livelihoods and cultures and being able to share that positively with the world.
a great bed time read (as i write this at 1am. even adults need bed time books!)
a great bed time read (as i write this at 1am. even adults need bed time books!)
February 25, 2025
Our Review...
A divinely illustrated story of a girl and a mermaid helping her grandmother keeping her treasured memories alive.
With beautiful rhyming text, this is a great read aloud and the most wondrous illustrations that bring the underwater world to splendidly to life, join in with the joy of this terrific new Hollie Hughes picture story book.
From the author and illustrators of bestselling The Girl and the Dinosaur – also in-store now, these are a great set for any adventurous girl.
Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books
A divinely illustrated story of a girl and a mermaid helping her grandmother keeping her treasured memories alive.
With beautiful rhyming text, this is a great read aloud and the most wondrous illustrations that bring the underwater world to splendidly to life, join in with the joy of this terrific new Hollie Hughes picture story book.
From the author and illustrators of bestselling The Girl and the Dinosaur – also in-store now, these are a great set for any adventurous girl.
Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books
April 24, 2024
This is a sweet, heartwarming picture book with colourful illustrations. It's told in fun rhyming sentences, and I think children will enjoy exploring the ocean with Alina. It's probably a good choice to read as a bedtime story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
August 8, 2025
Love the magical art that mermaid stories demand, especially the gold accents. The story itself was sweet, though I felt that the adventures the grandma used to go on was a little vague. I was hoping for some more out-of-this-world magic given that it’s a mermaid adventure. I do love the touch of the memory well and using the lighthouse as a projector for those memories. That was very well done.
February 17, 2024
Thank You Netgalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC.
This book has a stunning and whimsical art style, that complements the easy to read story that is suitable to read to children.
This book has a stunning and whimsical art style, that complements the easy to read story that is suitable to read to children.
August 12, 2024
This picture book is lovely and quiet and magical. It's great to read for a bedtime story or lap read with gentle rhyming text and lovely saturated illustrations.
Is this a great book? Absolutely not. But mermaid books are always in high demand, and this one is better than many.
Is this a great book? Absolutely not. But mermaid books are always in high demand, and this one is better than many.
June 25, 2024
A beautiful book about family, love, memory and the power of stories!
August 13, 2024
This has a very pretty cover, nice illustrations, and sweetly engaging rhyming text.
August 23, 2024
I would be so down for a mermaid to take me into the deep and provide me with a shell full of stories!! Love the color palette and textures used!!
Read
August 27, 2024a lovely story of an aging grandmother with her granddaughter
who keeps her grandmother's mermaid stories alive
who keeps her grandmother's mermaid stories alive
Read
January 29, 2025Really gorgeous book with great illustrations and a great story to go with it.
September 1, 2025
Cute story and illustrations about a girl who travels to a mermaid city to find the stories her grandma is starting to forget.
March 18, 2024
Beautifully written and illustrated. A lovely story about keeping memories and stories alive for everyone.
April 8, 2024
A delightful short tale of a young girl trying to help her grandmother's failing memory recall her magical stories. She finds assistance in an unusual source - the merpeople who live in the waters around their lighthouse home.
Beautifully illustrated, this charming, moving story should warm the coldest of hearts. Wonderful.
Beautifully illustrated, this charming, moving story should warm the coldest of hearts. Wonderful.
March 20, 2025
amazing artwork ❤️
January 15, 2026
This is a "turning the hearts of the children to their fathers" kind of book. Storytelling through generations is beautiful.
February 27, 2024
(3.75) Un album qui m'a pas mal retournée, et pour cause ça faisait longtemps que j'en avais pas lu un qui jouait autant sur les rimes. Et tant mieux, j'avais peur que ça surfe un peu trop sur la mode des sirènes.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews