The Little Mermaid: La Sirenita
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Retold in both Spanish and English, the universally loved story The Little Mermaid will delight a new generation of readers. The striking illustrations give a new look to this classic tale, and the bilingual text makes it perfect for both home and classroom libraries.Veronica Betancourt - Children's LiteratureIzquierdo preserves Hans Christian Andersen's melancholy tale of unrequited love with all of its frightfulness and sacrifice. The little mermaid loses her voice, tail, and life because of a prince whom she rescued on her first trip above water. Though her life is a tragic one, only redeemed by her flight to the Realm of the Air upon death, her character is not well developed. Izquierdo, perhaps pressured by the confines of length, focuses too much on conveying the original plot of The Little Mermaid and loses sight of her struggle as an individual. Max's illustrations, though fantastical and in bold comic-book form, do not pick up all the slack of characterization. Though this version has some slight faults, it is a beautiful production. The translation is sound and the illustrations are exciting. Max utilizes the moving compositions of advertising and film to create a work of tremendous visual appeal. Readers are sure to love the seascapes, and story, because it is so faithful to the original. The book's greatest strength is in Max's engaging illustrations, and is worth reading simply to enjoy them. However, it is also an updated version of a classic fairy tale, fit for any class writing its own revised fairy tales. 2003 (orig. 1999), Chronicle Books, Ages 3 to 8.
