A 19th century translation of the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen's well-known tale "The Little Mermaid", paired with new illustrations from the artist Bernadette Watts. Watts conveys the mermaid's dreams and heartbreak, reflecting the original sentiments of the story which may be shocking to those who are only familiar with the Disney version. A new breath of life for a classic story.

I enjoyed reading it, but the mermaid won`t get any awards in decicion making let`s just leave it at that.
Sometimes she felt very immature and way younger than she actually is. But the story was enjoyable nontheless.

This is a beautifully illustrated edition of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen. The illustrations are indeed colorful and add the mesmerizing lure of mermaids. I am in love with the Disney version of The Little Mermaid so I was more than happy to check out Hans Andersen illustrated original story. As mentioned it keeps the original telling of the little mermaid, following the illustrations made the story come alive. The beautiful ocean scenes and landscapes make the readers pause and admire the artwork. There is a dreamlike feel to the world and one can easily get lost in them. Bernadette Watts did an amazing job with the artwork.

Unlike the happy-go-lucky and enjoyable Disney version of The Little Mermaid, this version stays true to the original painful and sad ending to the little mermaid’s tragic story in Hans Andersen’s book. I see some people didn’t like that the text seems overbearing or “too much” but I think it's right the right amount on the page. It helps keep the story progressing and feeling in touch with the characters. The book is easy to read and not too long right before bedtime. Although I do feel this should be mentioned for any parent who decides to give this to their child or as a gift, they should be aware that the original story is nothing like Disney’s version. I suggest for you read the story for yourself and decide if you are okay with letting your child read the original story. There is pain, abuse, manipulation, and subservience toward women. The time in which this book was written should also be taken into account. It’s also good to prepare a discussion during or after the book ends. However, for anyone who enjoys reading original fairy tales or Grimm tales with a touch of whimsical fantasy with a heartbreaking end then this book is for you.

Overall, the artwork is lovely but not suitable for children as seemed which is why I suggest parents think about whether or not their child can handle a truly sad ending. Each child is different. As for teenagers or adults who love anything related to mermaids, I highly recommend it!


I have received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great adaptation of the classic Little Mermaid with bright and colorful illustrations. I really enjoyed reading the classic story again as an adult.

An 1836 translation of Hans Christian Andersen’s text by Susannah Mary Paull, commonly known as Mrs. H.B. Paull. It’s paired with lustrous artwork by British illustrator Bernadette Watts, whose paintings evoke fantastic ocean depths and add sari-clad women to a royal human setting evocative of nothing so much as the Arabian Nights. The text itself is intricate and elaborate, as 19th century text is apt to be, which makes this a likely candidate for high school study and adult reading rather than the younger readers the picture book form might seem to indicate. The story too, is of its time. Its complexities are certainly worth pondering over. Its heartrending dilemmas shed light upon the status of girls and women in Andersen’s time. It will work for kids--but only if these complexities are discussed. Otherwise, today's young readers might find it a bit mystifying.

A classic tale, stunningly illustrated with a gentle sea-themed color palette. The beautiful artwork makes the narrative an appealing work for all ages, not just children. Younger children will need help understanding the meaning of some of the words when reading on their own. Five stars and a worthy addition to children's book collections.

The Little Mermaid fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson is a well-known tale and doesn’t need an introduction.⠀
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In this story, a mermaid falls in love with a prince and sacrifices her voice to become a human. Will the prince love her too? ⠀
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In this picture book, the illustrator Bernadette Watts brings this story to life with dream-like illustrations. I was also surprised to see that the original story is a bit different from what we know. The description of the underwater world and the mermaids by Hans Christian Anderson is magnificent.⠀
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I would like have all the fairy tales illustrated as separate books and this book is a great start. A must-read book, but the rich language makes it suitable for kids age 8 and above.⠀

Meet the Little Princess Living Deep in the Sea
I'm sure you have heard of her, because Hans Christian Andersen is an unavoidable part of everyone's lives. The Little Mermaid, The Sea King, the witch and the prince will all be a part of a magical journey.

In Love
The Little Mermaid, living in the blue sea, once chance upon seeing a prince at the shore. And viola! She falls in love. But can a mermaid who live in the sea stay with a land creature? Can mermaid leave the sea? Will she survive on land? Lets find out!

Love has a Price
Mermaid has to be with the prince. But how? Well, here comes the cruel witch of the sea. She has the solution for mermaid's problem. But the witch wants to strike a terrible deal with the Little Mermaid. What is the deal? Will Mermaid agree? Will love come at a huge price for her? Find it out all in the book.

Happy Ending?
Do you know what is the best part of a children's book? Happy ending. But do you think the mermaid will find her happily ever after? Will a sea creature be able to live with a creature of land? Take up the book and have an answer to all your questions.

Illustrations!
People generally go in for abridged versions of fairy tales for easy understanding of the children. But that won't be necessary since Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid has come in an illustrated book to provide an exciting read for all the dreamers.

The book is a perfect haven for seeking a visual delight; all thanks to the renowned illustrator Bernadette Watts.
The illustrations are gentle brush works that will transport you to the dreamland. The magical blue hues and the tender golden flow of the mermaid's hair are all that you would need for entering into a new world.

So put book a copy of the freshly released book that will take you to the journey of our Little Mermaid from the sea to the land (and then back again to the sea?....Read to find out)
[You may check the review here: https://bibliosbookwormblog.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-little-mermaid.html ]

I adore the little mermaid and i love the art style. the soft colours and drawings matched the tone perfectly.

This is a beautifully illustrated edition of the Little Mermaid tale by Hans Christian Andersen. The illustrations are etheral, and colorful, and seem a bit misty like watercolors. They add majesty and splendor to the familiar tale. My daughter appreciated looking at each one and finding different details (the whales and other assorted fish). Thank you to NetGalley for giving us the opportunity to view such a pretty picture book in advance of publication.

I love this story and the illustrations are absolutely stunning. If these were a painting I would hang them in my house.
This was an arc copy from netgalley.

I saw this and k ew I had to download it for my little cousins. They love this story so it’ll be nice to have a copy available when I visit them. The illustrations are very pretty!

2.5 stars

The art is simple and plain but the background is beautifully colored. Reading through this made me realize I prefer some abridged versions than the original since there's so much over explanation and weird wording choices.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy for an honest review.

You cannot really understand the mesmerizing power of mermaids until you read Hans Christian Andersen’s original. And you cannot really understand our modern obsession, from Disney’s Ariel to the plethora of mermaid stories being produced today, without hailing back to the creative mind who made the biggest contribution to our collective mermaid lore.

That said, get yourself a copy - any copy - of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid. Many beautifully illustrated versions exist. The prose is different in every version because of the various translations into English (Andersen was Danish). No matter, the story still shines whatever the translation and whoever the illustrator.

This version, illustrated by Bernadette Watts, lends a child-like, hand-sketched feel to the story, No overworked, overly slick digital renderings here. The bright, pastel hues are bold and the style reminds me of the d'Aulaires. A good version that captivated my kids at bedtime.

Thanks to North and South books who provided me a copy for this review.

Evocative and Stunningly Gorgeous Illustrations

What a visually evocative and beautiful version of the classic fairy tale *The Little Mermaid*! You most likely already know the story, so what sets this book apart are the illustrations, which are breathtaking. Whether the scene takes place below the sea or on land, the illustrations have a dream-like, not-quite-reality feel to them yet evoke a mystical world that feels true to itself. The colors used are mostly soft pastels, although many are just slightly different from normal, perhaps a hint darker or a little brighter, which I think adds to the dreamlike quality. The way the type is written, though, this is not a book that is meant to be read to a group of children. It should be read by a parent or caregiver who can snuggle close to the child so he or she could look at the beautiful illustrations while the parent reads it to them. If you have been a fan of this particular fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, pick up a copy of this book. The illustrations are simply gorgeous and should not be missed by a fan of his work.

This was a beautiful classic fairytale filled with gorgeous illustrations. The story was sweet and magical and would be a great for all kids. I found it to be a nice and easy read for kids and think they would immensely enjoy this@

This is one of my favourite fairy tales and beautiful art work and illustrations in this book definitely bring this book to life.

A very easy and well writen story. Very fun for kids. Perfect bedtime story because its not to long. Easy to read.

The Little Mermaid is one of my favorite fairy tales. The illustrations in this version really brought the story to life in a way that it hasn't ever done before. Highly recommend everyone pick up a copy when it releases!

The illustrated The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson and Bernadette is a marvellous little tale that recounts the exact story of The Little Mermaid.

The illustrations are very soft and subtle, making this story feel more whimsical than how dark it actually is. I did enjoy re-reading this fairy tale and taking a trip down memory lane, with the help of some pictures this time around! I appreciate new versions of these stories coming out with new pictures to help bring the classics back to life.

My only complaint is that this version it felt like it didn't bring anything new to the story. It was just new pictures. I understand it's an exact replica with new pictures, but I wanted a little more? Maybe more exciting pictures with brighter (or even darker) colours? This soft palette just didn't feel like it matched much. It felt more Disney than Hans Christian Andersen.

Three out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.