By Kelly Dipucchio
Illustrated by Raissa Figueroa
New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books, 2021. Picture book.
Oona is a new kind of little mermaid. Since she was a baby, she has been an intrepid treasure hunter, exploring the depths of the ocean with her sea otter pup Otto and finding discarded items from the shore. But the biggest treasure of all, is an extra sparkly crown wedged in a deep corner of the ocean - the one treasure she just can't seem to get. When she fails to get the crown. she is ready to give up on treasure hunting altogether. But with encouragement from her friends and a good amount of grit, she realizes that she can keep trying even when things get difficult.
The illustrations in this picture book are the real star, depictions of Oona with her dark skin, bouncy afro, luminous seaweed accents, and stripey tail are adorable and charming on every single page. The ocean is radiant with a color palette of greens, blues, and magentas that accent Oona, her darling otter friend Otto and their treasures nicely. To match her bright and bubbly depiction, Oona is an effervescent protagonist who readers will easily find themselves rooting for. This book is a must for all mermaid fans.
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