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'"For as long as anyone can remember, mermaids have swum through our stories and splashed through our dreams. . . . " Where did these mythical creatures come from? What if they were real?
'"Mermaids Most Amazing" provides a comprehensive introduction to these beloved creatures, rendered in beautifully evocative, folk art-style collages and illustrations. You'll meet the fish-tailed goddesses of ancient Polynesia; crafty water sprites of the Pacific Northwest; fake mermaids from British carnivals of the 1800s; and the dugong, whose human-like features and behavior have been mistaken for mermaids by sailors throughout the ages.
'Including several legends perfect for reading aloud, as well as maps of the mermaid world, "Mermaids Most Amazing" is a must-read for mermaid fans of all ages. Who knows what strange (and real) creatures you just might find?' (Publication summary)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
The Art of Narelle Oliver
Joy Lawn
(interviewer),
2009
single work
interview
— Appears in: Magpies: Talking About Books for Children , September vol. 24 no. 4 2009; (p. 4-6) In response to Lawn's questions regarding her artistic vision, innovative techniques and interest in natural Australian history, Oliver says her work is created through the 'intriguing relationship between words and pictures' and how 'they work either together or against each other as different points of view in a narrative' (4). Lawn asks Oliver about her 'vision and vocation' which, through her strong artistic style and celebratory designs of Australian indigenous animals, produces texts that are a 'melding of non-fiction and fiction' (5). Oliver says she has been fascinated by indigenous adaptations of Australian native animals since early childhood and this interest developed further when she studied biology. With her first picture book, Leaf Tail she wanted to introduce young readers to 'some of the less-well-known Australian creatures' but 'did not want to write a straight information book' (5). Instead, she wanted to explore the creative potential of the adaptive features to be found among many creatures - design, shape, texture and pattern - in terms of storytelling and 'problem-solution scenarios' (5). Oliver has also produced picture books about imaginary and mythological creatures, for example, Mermaids Most Amazing, The Very Blue Thingamajig, and Dancing the Boom-cha-cha Boogie, however, it is mainly through her natural history picture books that she aims to capture the diversity of Australia's natural landscapes and 'instil postive feelings about these places in young Australian readers' (6). In this sense, her work is driven by the belief that 'a personal feeling and knowledge of the landscape is critical to developing a desire to preserve that landscape' (6). -
Untitled
2002
single work
review
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , February vol. 46 no. 1 2002; (p. 12)
— Review of Mermaids Most Amazing 2001 single work picture book -
Embracing Ambiguity
2001
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Viewpoint : On Books for Young Adults , Spring vol. 9 no. 3 2001; (p. 28-29) -
Creatures of Fantasy
2001
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , July no. 232 2001; (p. 61-62)
— Review of A Moose Called Mouse 2001 single work picture book ; Mermaids Most Amazing 2001 single work picture book ; The Time Fliers 2001 single work picture book ; The Kangaroo Who Couldn't Hop 2001 single work picture book -
Fantastic Creatures
2001
single work
review
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , May vol. 16 no. 2 2001; (p. 9)
— Review of Mermaids Most Amazing 2001 single work picture book
-
Untitled
2002
single work
review
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , February vol. 46 no. 1 2002; (p. 12)
— Review of Mermaids Most Amazing 2001 single work picture book -
Fantastic Creatures
2001
single work
review
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , May vol. 16 no. 2 2001; (p. 9)
— Review of Mermaids Most Amazing 2001 single work picture book -
Creatures of Fantasy
2001
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , July no. 232 2001; (p. 61-62)
— Review of A Moose Called Mouse 2001 single work picture book ; Mermaids Most Amazing 2001 single work picture book ; The Time Fliers 2001 single work picture book ; The Kangaroo Who Couldn't Hop 2001 single work picture book -
The Art of Narelle Oliver
Joy Lawn
(interviewer),
2009
single work
interview
— Appears in: Magpies: Talking About Books for Children , September vol. 24 no. 4 2009; (p. 4-6) In response to Lawn's questions regarding her artistic vision, innovative techniques and interest in natural Australian history, Oliver says her work is created through the 'intriguing relationship between words and pictures' and how 'they work either together or against each other as different points of view in a narrative' (4). Lawn asks Oliver about her 'vision and vocation' which, through her strong artistic style and celebratory designs of Australian indigenous animals, produces texts that are a 'melding of non-fiction and fiction' (5). Oliver says she has been fascinated by indigenous adaptations of Australian native animals since early childhood and this interest developed further when she studied biology. With her first picture book, Leaf Tail she wanted to introduce young readers to 'some of the less-well-known Australian creatures' but 'did not want to write a straight information book' (5). Instead, she wanted to explore the creative potential of the adaptive features to be found among many creatures - design, shape, texture and pattern - in terms of storytelling and 'problem-solution scenarios' (5). Oliver has also produced picture books about imaginary and mythological creatures, for example, Mermaids Most Amazing, The Very Blue Thingamajig, and Dancing the Boom-cha-cha Boogie, however, it is mainly through her natural history picture books that she aims to capture the diversity of Australia's natural landscapes and 'instil postive feelings about these places in young Australian readers' (6). In this sense, her work is driven by the belief that 'a personal feeling and knowledge of the landscape is critical to developing a desire to preserve that landscape' (6). -
Embracing Ambiguity
2001
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Viewpoint : On Books for Young Adults , Spring vol. 9 no. 3 2001; (p. 28-29)