In a twist on the classic tale, shock turns to happiness as Kiniro proffers a special gift before her final escape.Īnd now for the story behind the story. When the octopus family returns, a shocked Baby finds Kiniro asleep in her bed. Instead of a fair-haired girl, a raven-haired mermaid does the testing of the food, the chairs and finally the beds.

Instead of three bears, Brett’s version features three octopuses who have built a perfectly inviting home. Like the more than 40 million other of her books in print, “Mermaid” takes readers on an adventure in another world, this time under the sea. Sure enough, bestselling author and illustrator Jan Brett tells an underwater version of “Goldilocks.” What a charming story and beautiful collection of illustrations Brett presents. Replete with a perfect meal, Kiniro proceeds to the living area, where she spies three chairs.Īdults reading “Mermaid” aloud can expect young readers to interrupt at this point. The contents of the second shell tastes too slimy, but the third seashell of food tastes just right. The food in the first shell tastes too crunchy. There, Kiniro finds breakfast waiting on a table in three different sized seashells. Her curiosity gets the better of her, and she swims inside. In the simply titled “Mermaid,” Kiniro, a young mermaid, happens upon a delightful house made of seashells and coral. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, $18.99 ages 4 to 8.

The mermaid by jan brett