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Review: Mermaid and Pirate

Mermaid and Pirate
Written by Tracy Baptiste
Illustrated by Leisl Adams
Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Algonquin Young Readers, 2023. Picture Book.

In this charming picture book, a mermaid and a pirate meet each other after a terrible storm causes the pirate to accidentally catch the mermaid. As they try to communicate with each other, the pirate only hears "glub" and the mermaid only hears "aargh." They both help each other out of sticky situations and become lifelong friends.

This book was so cute, and I appreciated the representation and diversity in the characters. The story is somewhat similar to other mermaid stories, but the illustrations are beautiful and unique. The characters show that despite their differences and language barrier, kindness and friendship are universal. This picture book would be a great read-aloud, and one to share with the whole family. Any pirate or mermaid lover will definitely want to read this one!

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