SOLVED. Childrens Fantasy Picture book, beginning reading level. Princess finds a sea monster (actually a scuba diver, never seen in kingdom) on a beach. Medieval look. Read around 2010-2012, published 1980s/1990s? [s]

[Eve]

This is a childrens fantasy picture book that I probably read around 2010-2012. I was looking for it and came across someone who couldn’t remember either. Their description was better than in my head so I’ll put that here: “80s/90s published picture book about a hidden kingdom on an island (maybe?) And a princess/woman on a beach finds a "creature" coming out of the sea - turns out its a scuba diver and no-one in the kingdom had ever seen one. Don't remember much else plot wise, but I remember the art in the book was phenomenal. The entire kingdom was very medieval, dress and architecture, and the stranger from the ocean was a modern diver. I've been searching forever for this title and have come up short every time. Please help!” I believe it had a title sort of like ‘the princess and the monster’ or something like that. I want to say it had a picture of the princess on the cover? Maybe the ocean as well? If anyone has read it, please help me!

[Becca]

The Monster from the Sea by William H. Hooks - the description doesn't give much away but one reviewer here on Goodreads mentions the scuba diver.

[Kris]

Even, I added some details to the header/ topic title. Feel free to edit.

Are the illustrations: simple or detailed, realistic or cartoon-like, painted watercolors or bold graphics, color or black-and-white? Do they remind you of a similar illustrator or children's author?

[Kris]

Becca's suggestion of The Monster from the Sea by William H. Hooks sounds like your book.

Amazon.com's description:
"A princess longs for excitement, but the king won't allow visitors or let anyone leave the island. So when a strange monster pops out of the sea and terrifies everyone on the island, the adventurous princess decides to find out more about the creature--and where it comes from."

Worldcat.org's description:
Subjects: Princesses -- Juvenile fiction. Scuba divers. Change.

[Eve]

Thank you so much, this is it! Have been trying to remember it for years!