Member Reviews
Thanks for NetGalley and North South Books for providing an advanced copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This edition of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson is beautifully illustrated by Bernadette Watts and the perfect thing for the fans of The Little Mermaid. The illustrations are almost ethereal in nature, they accompany the original story perfectly.
The original story is quite different than the Disney version and it's really a treat to read. Most people do feel it's a bit darker but I think it conveys a better message to young girls even if at times it's a bit jarring. While the text is kind of crowded onto the page, the art is lovely and I think that it would be the perfect gift for a collector.
The story is classic and the illustrations are lovely, however there is a lot of text on the pages. Best for older picture book readers. Received copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The illustrations are lovely. The retelling is good. The file, however, does not include the complete text.
Expect this: this book is more of words than of illustrations.
The artstyle is a bit underwhelming but it works for the book which I guess it's original purpose is to tell the story as it is.
I loved it. But I cannot say the same about the artstyle or the choice of colours used. It's a bit underwhelming but also quite intimidating to the eyes.
I expected more from this book I guess judging from its cover.
I cannot help getting disappointed as I kept on reading the book.
I would have appreciated the book more if the book was represented as it is with minimal illustrations. Because the narration is amazing and in-depth.
The illustrations or the colour hues might work well with the physical version of the finished copy with possible glossy bigger pages.
Thanks #NetGalley for the book.
One of my favourite fairytales, the illustrations in this book were beautifully paired and helped to bring the story to life.
Hans Christian Andersen wrote this book with such a beautiful descriptive take on the same story we heard as children about The Little Mermaid. My 5 year old daughter is starting to want me too short stories too her. This one I will certainly add too my list!
I love all things fairytale related, so I was very excited to recieve this book from netgalley and the publisher. The story is great, but there are a lot of words to be a children's book. The illustrations were gorgeous.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for approving my request
Although I have not been a fan of classics I loved this book .
There is only one way the Little Mermaid can win the prince’s heart and gain an immortal soul: she must agree to the sea witch’s terrible deal—give up her voice in return for a pair of legs.
Don't go by its title .Your opinions will surely change
I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
This is a beautifully re-written story about the little mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen but re-written beautifully by the author. The detail in this book is excellent and the story is superb. This is a book we will be reading again and again.
Each page has quite alot of text on it but the pictures surrounding it are lovely.
** I received 'The Little Mermaid' from NetGalley and North South Books, in exchange for an honest review **
I love different variations of 'The Little Mermaid, and Hans Christian Andersen's version is not the lighthearted fairy tale that many have become accustomed to reading. Rather, this version is very raw and emotional. A group of mermaid sisters each wait their turn to experience life in the human realm, yet they see that life outside of their ocean realm isn't all light and beautiful. Aldo, the mermaid that yearns for life with her prince pays a price that's riddled with extreme challenges.
I appreciate children's stories that share a dose of challenge in their quest for happiness. Hand Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid' offers us just that--a fairy tale that describes a young mermaid's journey to happiness, despite all of the obstacles that come her way. I really enjoyed reading this fairy tale!
Gorgeously and vibrantly illustration with a stunning use of colour, this illustrated edition of The Little Mermaid is a delight through and through and truly captures the heart of the story.
This story never ceases to enchant. A timeless classic refreshed with stunning illustrations. Each page pops with beauty and brings new depth to the story. I adored it!
3.5/5 stars
Wow, I'm very glad that I've finally read the original Hans Christian Andersen tale of 'The Little Mermaid' as it's my favourite Disney princess story. I really loved the writing style, totally brought me back and made me feel like I was living in the time period. I think it's such a splendid story. I will say, however, that although I liked the art style, I wanted more from it? It didn't match the story of the mermaid, in my opinion. Loved this one!
What a treat. "The Little Mermaid" by Hans Christian Andersen was one of my favorite fairy tales as a child, so reading this edition twenty years later was as heartwarming as you can imagine.
Even more than the tale, the most incredible part of this edition are the illustrations. With the pastel color palette, they evoke a feeling of sentimentality, charm and delight. What's more, when the story gradually becomes more dramatic at around page 13, the color shade turns blue and grey, masterfully playing on the reader's emotions. On that note, one remark I have is that the artist should add more bright pastel tones to the happier portions of the tale, which is the very thing that appeals to most readers starting from the cover page.
This got me thinking that I'm unsure who is the intended audience of this edition. While I read and adored "The Little Mermaid" as a young child, the font in this version is rather small and more applicable to elementary or middle school students, as well as sentimental adults like myself. In order to expand the audience, the publisher should perhaps make the font slightly bigger.
Finally, unfortunately the Kindle edition of my advanced copy is simply unreadable; the pages are sideways, images blurry, and it's impossible to zoom in properly - or even read it at all when sideways. This must however be a technical issue which will be fixed before the publishing date.
Nonetheless, I absolutely adored this beautiful edition of "The Little Mermaid" which I will certainly be coming back to with joy.
The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson is one of my favorite classic fairy tales. Although this story is the inspiration of the Disney movie of the same name, don't expect that you know the true origin story of the classic tale. The Little Mermaid is a dark story that is far from the story people think they know. Exploring the sea from the little mermaid's point of view is so whimsical and engrossing. I would definitely recommend this tale to all those who are a fan of the movie or those who want to begin reading classics.
This book would be an excellent addition to any collection of fairy tales. There is a significant amount of text on some of the pages, and the print seems small in order to fit it all, but the illustrations are lovely.