Quick Booktalk
In this thick book filled with pull-tabs, a school of merkids learns to dance from the sea creatures it meets.
About the Illustrations
The pictures in this book are very colorful and sweet, and the characters are a diverse cast of boys and girls of varying skin colors, but the real appeal is in the moveable parts that are activated by pull tabs. Each page as well as the front cover shows a sea creature moving whichever part of its body inspires the merkids' dance moves. For the seahorse, it's the tail; for the narwhal, it's the horn, etc. The tabs and the pages to which the movable parts are fastened are really thick and sturdy, which is what makes the book so bulky.
Story Time Possibilities
This book seems like it will be really fun in story time, but I'm a little concerned about being able to support its weight and move the tabs at the same time. My story time audience includes my own kids, and I often call on them to help me do things, so for me, it might just be a matter of roping my eight-year-old into holding the book. In other settings, I'd be less inclined to want to invite the kids to pull the tabs just because it opens up a potential logistics nightmare where not everyone gets a turn and there are hurt feelings. I also feel like one rough kid could potentially destroy the whole book. I'm pretty determined to try it in my story time, but your mileage may vary. Potential themes include dancing, sea creatures, the ocean, and, of course, mermaids.
Reader's Advisory
Though this book is technically a board book, I wouldn't hand it to either of my toddlers, both of whom are supremely rough on books. It's better suited to a four- or five-year-old who understands how to be careful with books and who will be interested in acting out the movements along with the merkids. My friends and I have several four-and-five-year-olds among our kids right now, and I can already tell they are going to love this book.
Disclosure
I received a review copy of Mermaid Dance from Paula Wiseman Books in exchange for an honest review.
