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Mermaids Fast Asleep
Mermaids Fast Asleep is a stunning and lyrical bedtime picture book that looks at how mermaids sleep in the sea by writer Robin Riding and illustrator Zoe Persico.
26 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 9, 2019
A young girl imagines that there are mermaids underneath the waters, fast asleep, in this rhyming bedtime book from author Robin Riding and illustrator Zoe Persico. The simple text has her constructing an entire going-to-bed scenario, with merfathers and mermothers putting merbabies to bed, and everyone counting fish instead of sheep. As she continues to imagine the gentle routine in this underwater world, the girl on land is slowly lulled to sleep herself...
We often get requests for mermaid picture-books at work, so I was quite pleased when Mermaids Fast Asleep came in. A debut for Riding, it features a gentle text that will read well aloud, and colorful, cute artwork. Persico's palette here reminds me a bit of the work of Brigitte Barrager, in such books as Uni the Unicorn, and although her style is sometimes a bit too cute and cartoonish for me, I think it suits the sweet dream-world of the narrator quite well. I also appreciated the fact that the mermaid world depicted is a diverse one, so children of all backgrounds will be able to imagine themselves into that magical world. Recommended to young mermaid lovers, and to anyone looking for new and magical bedtime books for the younger picture-book set.
We often get requests for mermaid picture-books at work, so I was quite pleased when Mermaids Fast Asleep came in. A debut for Riding, it features a gentle text that will read well aloud, and colorful, cute artwork. Persico's palette here reminds me a bit of the work of Brigitte Barrager, in such books as Uni the Unicorn, and although her style is sometimes a bit too cute and cartoonish for me, I think it suits the sweet dream-world of the narrator quite well. I also appreciated the fact that the mermaid world depicted is a diverse one, so children of all backgrounds will be able to imagine themselves into that magical world. Recommended to young mermaid lovers, and to anyone looking for new and magical bedtime books for the younger picture-book set.
August 29, 2022
I love that the mermaids and mermen depicted here are diverse, including various skin tones, and the color palate for the ocean is so appealing with vibrant yet almost somewhat dreamy pastel tones at times. I could imagine Mary Blair doing something a bit like this if she were creating today. The text is a bit too repetitive for me to really love it, but I know that can appeal to a young child who finds comfort in familiar refrains, especially at bedtime. The fantasy world of a young girl camping and wondering about the mermaids under water is so charming and just the sort of daydreaming I would have enjoyed indulging in as a young girl. I love the final illustration :-)
April 10, 2019
The selling point seems to be the illustrations. The text is okay, but it held the children’s interest.
Storytime
Storytime
May 11, 2020
A little girl imagines merpeople going to sleep in the water below.
“Way down deep / Way down deep / Are there mermaids fast asleep?”
This picture book would be excellent for a bedtime routine. It features a variety of different mermothers, merfathers, and merchildren going to sleep. Illustrations in rich soft colors accompany a gentle text with a repeating phrase.
“Way down deep / Way down deep / Are there mermaids fast asleep?”
This picture book would be excellent for a bedtime routine. It features a variety of different mermothers, merfathers, and merchildren going to sleep. Illustrations in rich soft colors accompany a gentle text with a repeating phrase.
August 23, 2021
One girl and her mom are camping out. A McElligot's Pool story of couplets follows as Mermaids lay low for bedtime.
Great, colorful illustrations and diversified merfolk abound. I won't lie. The repetition is a great way to put your own little merfolk to bed.
It is very sleep-inducing (in a good way).
Great, colorful illustrations and diversified merfolk abound. I won't lie. The repetition is a great way to put your own little merfolk to bed.
It is very sleep-inducing (in a good way).
May 25, 2019
This one was okay but nothing to write home about, especially since some of the rhymes were awkward and the lines were repeated too often for my taste. The idea here is that many youngsters wonder if mermaids sleep just like their young human counterparts. A girl and her mother or older sister sit along the shore as dusk falls and the youngster imagines what it might be like to sleep under the sea. Although I had a vivid imagination as a child, I don't recall being fascinated by mermaids or wondering about what they did at nighttime, but I'm sure others have. My interest in them came much later in life. As other reviewers have noted, the appeal of this picture book comes from its illustrations, which show rosy-cheeked mermaids and their families, modesty preserved with a strip of cloth across the chest. And who knows but that these young mermaids aren't wondering the same thing about little girls living on dry land?
September 23, 2019
"Way down deep
Way down deep
Are there mermaids fast asleep?"
Mermaid fans rejoice! This beautifully illustrated and written poetic story book takes children underwater when a young girl imagines how mermaids get ready for bed every night. I loved the colors and how the illustrator included mermaids of all different skin colors! The story flows with a peaceful rhythm and each page is filled with eye catching illustrations that can leave students gazing at this book for a long time.
Way down deep
Are there mermaids fast asleep?"
Mermaid fans rejoice! This beautifully illustrated and written poetic story book takes children underwater when a young girl imagines how mermaids get ready for bed every night. I loved the colors and how the illustrator included mermaids of all different skin colors! The story flows with a peaceful rhythm and each page is filled with eye catching illustrations that can leave students gazing at this book for a long time.
February 12, 2020
This book would be perfect for the right audience. A child who ADORES mermaids for sure ;) It's also nice that there is a mention on mer-fathers and mer-mothers which makes the book perfect for whatever homelife a child might be in. However, it's not for me.
I like going to sleep books. And repetition is good for building literacy skills. I personally found the book too "wrote," too "one dimensional" for my taste.
I like going to sleep books. And repetition is good for building literacy skills. I personally found the book too "wrote," too "one dimensional" for my taste.
September 20, 2019
Be honest, we have all gazed into the deep and wondered if we might see a mermaid. (Thank you Ariel). A soft story that helps your imagination to wonder what is down below the water. I loved the rhyme and repetition. It helps with the calm of the story. Enjoy this comforting and wishing upon a mermaid story.
October 31, 2019
Do you think there are mermaids way down deep? Do you think these mermaids are fast asleep? A little girl stares into water as the sun sets and imagines the mermaids down below. There are merparents rocking their merbabies. Dolphins singing lullabies. Mermaids snoring away. Mermaids counting fish instead of sheep. All kinds of mermaids that are laying down to rest after a long day.
Mermaids Fast Asleep explores the magical word of mermaids with song-like words that mimic a lullaby. The book has beautiful, whimsical illustrations. The illustrations are colorful cartoons that explore diversity. Every mermaid and mermaid family seems to have a different shade of skin. Cool colors are used, the colors getting cooler and darker as the book goes on, illustrating the night falling. The words are lyrical, but the rhymes are not completely perfect and the rhythm is a bit forced. Despite that, the book is alluring and would still be a great one to read aloud to a young child, especially at bedtime.
++Review originally published on Children's Book and Media Review++
http://byucbmr.com/reviews/mermaids-f...
Mermaids Fast Asleep explores the magical word of mermaids with song-like words that mimic a lullaby. The book has beautiful, whimsical illustrations. The illustrations are colorful cartoons that explore diversity. Every mermaid and mermaid family seems to have a different shade of skin. Cool colors are used, the colors getting cooler and darker as the book goes on, illustrating the night falling. The words are lyrical, but the rhymes are not completely perfect and the rhythm is a bit forced. Despite that, the book is alluring and would still be a great one to read aloud to a young child, especially at bedtime.
++Review originally published on Children's Book and Media Review++
http://byucbmr.com/reviews/mermaids-f...
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April 12, 2019Really pretty illustrations, but the rhymes weren't perfect and sometimes felt forced even when the rhythm was right.
June 5, 2019
Gorgeous! Would work for storytime. Found a new artist that is a favorite for sure!
July 10, 2019
Sweet with a repeating refrain, children who like mermaids will be over the moon.
July 27, 2019
Beautiful illustrations and a very lyrical story about mermaids.
August 1, 2019
LOVE the art
August 11, 2019
The illustrations are so cute, and I quite liked the soft, lullaby-esque text. Very wondrous in tone.
October 22, 2019
Well I think it's safe to say this is a book I will be reading to my hypothetical future children thousands of times.
November 6, 2019
Such a beautiful bed time story, good example of rhyme! Lovely, magical illustrations!
December 31, 2019
Fun illustrations but the text is 🤮
January 9, 2020
PJ story time 01-08-2020
March 8, 2020
I mean, I don’t love rhyming picture books but this was sweet and those mermaids, especially the merbabies, were too cute to rate this less than 4 stars. I love them.
September 3, 2020
Sweet, simple text and gorgeous illustrations make this a lovely bedtime read for mermaid-loving kids.
October 12, 2020
Love the dreamy and gorgeous illustrations!
May 26, 2021
A young girl's imagination about the sleep patterns of mermaids are explored and delved into in this lyrical and rhyming poem about life under the sea.
January 19, 2022
I absolutely love this book. And so do my little ones! (My 5 year old daughter is convinced that she has a mermaid mom and dad, so...)
June 8, 2022
The artwork is beautiful and dreamy, but the text could use help.
August 8, 2022
This is the kind of book that you read for the illustrations. The mermaids have different colors of hair and skin, and the families have different colors of hair and skin too. Beautiful.
June 3, 2023
This is a sweet story about wondering if there are mermaids way down deep, fast asleep.
September 12, 2023
I give it a 3 for the stunning illustration 🩷 not a big fan of the whole story, a bit redundant to read and not very clear on what the purpose is... but my daughter and I loved the beautiful colours.
January 26, 2024
A goodnight book wonders if mermaids fall asleep way down deep under the water. Not a whole lot of content here, but the pictures are beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews