Retold by Mary Pope Osborne; illus. by Troy Howell

Scholastic Inc., 1993

Image from Google Books

In Mary Pope Osborne’s introduction, she explains that in her research she “expected to find the typical legendary heroine- beautiful, kind, and in need of rescue” but instead found “a fiercely strong female character. Universally” (viii).  This is one of the great strengths of this volume of mer-tales.  Some of the sea maids are good, some evil, and some in-between, but all are rich characters and none are “passive, sugar-coated heroines” (ix).  Osborne found tales from all around the world, from North American Indian, Nigerian, Iranian, Chinese, Japanese, and Ukrainian tradition, in addition to the European tales. Troy Howell’s illustrations are gorgeous full page introductions to each story, illuminations of each story’s first letter, and small drawings at the end of each story.  As he explains in his artist’s note, he illustrated “each one in a style representative of its place of origin,” after extensive research on the artistic traditions of each country (81).  He even signed each painting according to the style he was mimicking!  His attention to detail and astounding artistic flexibility take this collection from good to extraordinary.  

(This review was originally submitted to my Materials for Children class)