The Mermaid Handbook: A Guide to the Mermaid Way of Life, Including Recipes, Folklore, and More

by Taylor Widrig, Briana Corr Scott (Illustrator), Alan Critchley (Introduction)

The book mermaids-in-training have been waiting for. From history and folklore to recipes and tips for ocean preservation, as well as profiles and original illustrations of mer-maidens from around the world, The Mermaids Handbook features everything you need to know to follow the mermaid way of life.

Over 40 healthy and accessible recipes, developed by author Taylor Widrig of Mermaid Fare, a Nova Scotia?based company specializing in wild and cultivated sea vegetables, include scrumptious starters like Mermaid Kaiso Seaweed Salad, new classics like Dulse, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich and Creamy Wakame Casserole, as well as healthy snacks like Smoothie Bowls and Energy Bites, and even homemade beauty products, such as the Coconut Sea Hair Mask—for that salty sea-hair.

Includes an introduction by Dr. Alan Critchley with everything you've ever wanted to know about seaweeds and original 2-colour illustrations by artist Briana Corr Scott (The Book of Selkie).

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction

88 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2020

Reviews

[Dash fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆ A Delightful and Informative Children's Book

I was really excited to read a book all about mermaids, but this book was so much more.

It teaches the reader all about different mermaids and their traits, personalities, where they originated from, and what we can learn from each of them.

The book was very Educational, Informative, had historical references and most importantly teaches readers about the Environment, how to be a lil bit more sustainable, how we can help protect the ocean and do our bit, even giving examples such as beach litter picking.

It also talked about the Benefits of seaweed, the different types of seaweed and where they came from and their uses.

What I liked was that they included a recipe section of some of the mermaids favourite recipes using seaweed. ( just a note to point out that the ingredients are American measurements in cups)

Examples of some of the recipes:-
- sea pesto
- rhubarb and kelp bruschetta With feta cheese & pickled red onion
- Sushi
- sweet potato panko roll
- Ningyo's Kaiso Seaweed Salad
- vegan Caesar dressing
- Mexican Gazpacho
- Miso Soup
- Selkie's Seafood Chowder
- Turmeric Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup with Sautéed Sesame Dulse Swiss Chard
- Kelp Patties
- Marinated Portobello Mushroom Burgers
- Salmon Lasagna with White Sauce and Spinach
- Satay Buckwheat Noodle Bowl with Seared Halibut or Tofu
- Thai Mermaid Cakes with Avacado Cream or Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
- Mélusine’s Classic Mermaid Pie
- Micro Fudge Truffles
- Raw Chocolate Mousse
- Raw Kiwi Coconut Lime Tart

Also included are some natural home made beauty recipes
Examples :-
- Coconut Sea Hair Mask
- Deluxe Whole Leaf Kelp Soak
- Fairy Dust for the Bath
- Mermaid Bath Salts

Not to miss out, they have also included two yummy Natural home made Doggy treats :-
- Beach-Dog Snacks
- Doggy Treats ( uses peanut butter but be very careful as peanut butter can be fatal to dogs if you get the wrong type)

So as you can see this book is so much more than just a book about Mermaids, my only niggle would be the lack of illustrations for the recipes, it would of been nice to have pictures of the finished product.
Also the mermaid Illustrations are presented lovely but I would of loved some bright colours to make this book more eye catching as when I think of mermaids I think of bright colours, fun and magic.

Overall I would definitely recommend this beautiful book for ages 7+



Thank you to Netgalley and Nimbus Publishers for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.



You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...

[ATLANTIC BOOK REVIEWS · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE MERMAID HANDBOOK by @taylorwidrig is a charming read for young and old alike. Combine Taylor Widrig's text with @brianacorrscott's illustrations and you are able to while away reading hours immersed in the world of all things seafolk. I recommend you tuck this book in your beach bag. As you read you can occasionally glance up and out over the water to search the horizon for the glimpse of a mermaid tail.

Legends of seafolk from around the globe is where the book begins. Fascinating facts about the mermaids of Albania, Japan, the Arctic and Africa are just some of the mermaids you will discover in this book. Proof that the enduring stories of merfolk are universal. Brianna Corr Scott's original depictions of mer-maidens are sweetly drawn.

Try your hand at one of the recipes included here. If, like me, you are not a lover of fish as food (I hope this fact doesn't stop me from officially being a mermaid), you will find recipes for hair and body products made from seaweed and your canine friend might be happy to have a delicious homemade seaweed treat. I found the Dessert section particularly appealing.

Taylor Widrig has given us pause for thought with these lines.

"We are all creatures of the sea, each of us a part that makes up one whole.
What this means is that we are all like a single drop of water that is part of the whole ocean.
No matter where in the world we live or the color of our tails, all of us, humans and mermaids alike, want one common
thing peace.
Peace to be ourselves, peace to be free, and peace to
to pursue our life’s dreams.
When we understand that we are each a drop of water
in the ocean of all living things, we can feel connected
by compassion.
We then put that feeling into action by demonstrating
kindness to all the creatures above and below the surface of the water."

Take advice from the author and have a "Mermaideous Day!" I certainly intend to.

[Sara Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mermaid Handbook by Taylor Widrig was an eclectic mix of categories for mermaid lovers.

The book starts off with mermaids from around the world. I have read a lot of books about mermaid folklore from around the globe. This book incorporated ones I had never heard of. I loved how many cultures were covered. However, they only focused on the positive happy mermaids. While it goes better with this book, I find the darker tales just as fascinating and would have liked to have seen some of those included as well.

Then the book goes into “The Mermaid Way.” This section covered fun ways you can be a mermaid in your day to day life. It then covered environmental issues, and how you can help save the oceans. This section also covered several other important topics.

The book ends with a very detailed section on seaweed. Followed by a bunch of recipes. My local stores do not carry any of these seaweed varieties, but I hope to find them elsewhere and try them one day. While the book is monotone with turquoise and white, I find recipes most appetizing with coloured photos.

I love all things mermaid. I found this book a little all over the place at first, but then it all came together to make a very unique mermaid book. I would have liked to have seen more colour throughout the book (kind of like how the cover is.) I would have also liked to have seen a few more recipes. They could be mermaid inspired, and not necessarily have seaweed in them.

I received an electronic advanced reader copy from Nimbus Publishing through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mermaid Handbook earns 5/5 Tails & Seaweed...Engaging and Informative!

“A Guide to the Mermaid Way of Life, Including Recipes, Folklore, and More” is just that...more! Tap into your inner mermaid with Taylor Widrig’s “The Mermaid Handbook.” She has gone well beyond a traditional cookbook with a unique selection of recipes to bring a fascinating look at stories of mermaids from different cultures, the way of a mermaid, and insights in the health benefits of seaweed. Don’t ignore the “Author’s Notes” that, from her perspective as a mermaid, Widrig provides insights into the oldest “superfood” sea vegetables, importance of living like a mermaid, and hoping to inspire people to do so. I got my mermaid on!

The word “mer” comes from the French word for sea, and “Mermaid Folklore” Widrig interprets eight centuries-old legends of “seafolk” from Brazil to Africa, Medieval Europe to Canada, Japan to the Arctic, and from Ireland and Scotland to the Middle East. The legends may be set in different environments, north to south and east to west, with a wave of unique cultures, but the spirit of the merfolk seem basically similar: strong, protective, and magically inclined. I enjoyed the story of Mélusine who, upon marrying a King and granting him wealth and power, she requested one day a week for herself, only herself. Saturdays. Oh, what I would give for one day a week to myself!

To “cultivate” joy is “The Mermaid Way.” Just like any creature including humans, “no two merfolk are the same,” and every merperson has a special ability, so contemplate what is yours? Widrig continues with delightful insights into “Cultivating Joy,” “Demonstrating Kindness,” and ideas for “Enjoying Your Ocean Home: Sailing Ships and Beach Trips” from Beach Etiquette to activism, from avoiding products harmful to the ocean to choosing sustainable seafood. The one section “Eating Healthy” was very interesting focusing on the Healthy Benefits of Seaweed.

This section is an excellent source of information with “An Introduction to the Seaweed Kingdom,” and along with “Historical Uses of Seaweed in the Maritimes,” one gets an excellent overview of the health benefits, sustainability, and the types of “sea vegetables” available. I’m not a big seaweed fan, other than wrapped in my California roll, but I am adventurous, and plan to explore online and at my local health food for those products, like dulse flakes and sugar kelp, with this section as my guide.

Last, the recipes...“Mermaid Recipes!” I am a cookbook fanatic, but an amateur cook, so I reviewed the varied recipes starting with Snacks and Appetizers, then Sushi 101, Salads and Soups, Mains and Sides, and topping off with Desserts. I chose a meal of recipes to try looking closely at whether the recipe is easy to follow and ingredients are easy to come by. Each recipe starts with a nice intro including background, suggestions, and insights, complete ingredient list, and directions an level of cook can understand.

Snack: Cranberry Ocean Bars; cranberries, almonds, coconut, and...dulse flakes? That ingredient was not at my local market, but I called my health food store, and with contactless pick-up, I was able to use it. Taste? Not bad. It was a great snack!

Sushi 101: Sushi Pizza; pizza! Using shari (recipe included), avocado, crab, and Sweet Thai Chili sauce (recipe included) made for a unique, but delicious lunch.

Mains: Marinated Portobello Mushroom Burgers; a nice alternative to a regular Big Mac. Great seasonings. Add dulse bacon (recipe included), but romaine lettuce as the “bun” was not for me. I found a nice whole wheat bun...toasted was the way!

Desserts: Raw Kiwi Coconut Lime Tart; It was a refreshing treat, and yes, reminiscent of a Key Lime Pie. I found spirulina at the health food store, too.

Beyond setting a healthy table, I was excited about the “Mermaid Hair and Body” recipes. I made three small jars of Mermaid Bath Salts; one for me (loved it with lavender essential oil), one for my neighbor (lemon), and one for a friend (rose). My inner Mélusine loved my Saturday soaks.

I don’t have a pet, but “For Our Furry Friends” recipes for Beach-Dog Snacks and Doggie Treats seem delightfully fun!

“The Mermaid Handbook” is a unique, clever, delightful cookbook to add to my collection. I was fascinated with the mermaid lore, insights into seaweed, and healthy “sea vegetable” versions of recipes. Although many recipes are well worth my attention, I am not sure how often I’ll incorporate the seaweed ingredients, it may not be me. I know that’s the premise of the book, but alternate ingredient suggestions would have been well received. A few “Fun Facts” are added with delightful “Did you know-s.”

Disclosure: I received an eBook ARC from Nimbus Publishing thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.

[Lisa Ks Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first saw this book. Being in the cooking section, I of course expected it to be, well yes, a cookbook. But as you will see, THE MERMAID HANDBOOK is so much more than that.

Packed full of mermaid information, THE MERMAID HANDBOOK opens with the chapter, Mermaid Folklore, introducing the reader to mermaids from around the world. The next chapter, The Mermaid Way, teaches us to embrace the mermaid in us all. From Cultivating Joy and Demonstrating Kindness to Beach Etiquette and taking care of our beaches and so much more. Then comes, Eating Healthy which leads to the cookbook portion of this delightful book.

Here’s a selection of recipes you’ll find in THE MERMAID HANDBOOK. Cranberry Morning Ocean Bars, Sea Pesto, Marinated Mushrooms and Cream Cheese Roll, Sushi Pizza. Salads with dressings such as Ocean Goddess, and Sundried Tomato. More great recipes include Miso Soup, Selkies’ Seafood Chowder, Marinated Portobello Mushroom Burgers, Salmon Lasagna with White Sauce and Spinach, Maritime Cauliflower Fried “Rice”, Micro Fudge Truffles, Raw Kiwi Coconut Lime Tart, and many more.

But wait, THE MERMAID HANDBOOK doesn’t end with recipes. Oh no. Any true mermaid needs to know about hair and skin care, so you’ll find some lovely tips here.

More? Well, yes. Mermaids seem have furry friends who like to have yummy treats, and you’ll find two recipes for your canine companions. Nothing for felines, but then, I doubt most mermaids are comfortable around cats. You know, what with their fish tails.

All in all, THE MERMAID HANDBOOK turned out to be much more than I expected, in a wonderful, whimsical way.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful little book for any aspiring Mermaid or lover of mermaids! Neat facts, lovely illustrations and some truly excellent seaweed recipes!! Definitely recommend.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

**I received an e-ARC from NetGalley for an honest review**

It's a great concept for a book, and I know people of all ages who would love a book like this! But I couldn't figure out exactly who this book was aimed at- at times it felt like it was more for children, and at other times it felt more like it was for adults who loves things that are whimsical and mermaid-like.

I liked the opening with the different kinds of mermaid mythology found around the world. Some I had never heard of before, so it was a nice read.

The recipes were nice, but not exactly what I was expecting. I think there should have been more recipes included that could have been achieved with very basic and/or lower cost supplies (kelp, dulse flakes, Atlantic wakame, hemp hearts aren't exactly easy to find in nowheresville, USA, and when you can find them, they aren't exactly affordable).

Overall, 2/5 stars. I wanted to like it, but it fell a little flat, especially in a pandemic world where money is hard to come by. This seemed perfect for people who can afford to special order supplies, live near coastal areas, live in areas that have access to health food stores, and it seemed especially perfect for the "Influencer" crowd.

[Alyssa Zaczek · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a little mermaid, I would've been delighted to receive this book! I gobbled up all the excellent tips on "The Mermaid Way" of moving through the world (underwater or otherwise,) the mermaid self-care ideas, and the immersive, healthy recipes that will encourage both good nutrition and fun in the kitchen. As a grown-up reader, I was pleasantly surprised that the opening section is all about different mermaid mythology from around the world - these are not white-washed, Disneyfied mermaids, but the more difficult aspects of some of the origin stories are handled gently and with grace. On the whole: A cute, inclusive book that will remind all merfolk big and small that being a mermaid is about the song in your spirit, not the scales on your tail.

[Gabriela Compres · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have loved to find this book in my school library when I was in elementary/middle school. There was a time, when I was younger, that I was obsessed with mermaids. I enjoyed the layout of this book. At the beginning, the author includes some folklore about mermaids from all around the world. Then, she provides the reader with some lifestyle tips about how to live like a mermaid - taking care of the earth and our oceans. And the last part of the book, which actually ended up being the most amount of pages, were mermaid-inspired recipes. To me, it felt more like a mermaid cookbook with extras instead of a mermaid book with some recipes at the end, which is what I thought it was going to be. Overall, it was a sweet and whimsical book!

[Gracie Lei · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Mermaid Handbook” provides a wealth of information about mer-people from their legends, the habitat, values, recipes, to self-care remedies. This is the perfect book for a younger audience to both engage and fascinate. My only critique would be that some of the ingredients for the recipes are very specific and not necessarily easy to purchase/come-by and there are no substitution recommendation (this would be immensely helpful and make the recipes more realistic for regular/semi-regular use). It would also be helpful if the recipes included images of what the final product should look like. Overall 4 stars!

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of this was useless to me, but there was great lore in here about variations of the mermaid myth around the world, which helped me flesh out some D&D things.

If you're a crafty person or someone who likes cooking up recipes infused with folklore, this could be a winner for you, but I didn't really give af about that.

[Rebecca Batley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was sweet. Half of it tells the reader about mermaids, the other has recipes etc in. For mermaid crazy young children this book would be a lot of fun. It is nicely presented but lacks the stunning beauty of some similar books on the market.

[Gem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is adorable, such a lovely gift for all the mermaid lovers out there, the mermaid recipes are a really sweet touch and would be great for a little girls (or big girls) birthday party.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book but mostly a cookbook which I was not expecting. Mostly sea vegetable recipes though, which is cool!