As an educator, children’s books are a huge part of my life even though I don’t have children of my own. I honestly fell in love with the story from the very first page. Kids will absolutely love listening to the story as Zandi learns how to love and take care of the ocean. It will allow students to think creatively on how they also can share the importance of taking care of our world and how they can do their part. The author does a wonderful job captivating readers and cannot wait to read more of her books.

I received this book in exchange for a honest review from NetGalley.

This book was absolutely beautiful with an excellent message. My niece who is five absolutely loved the amazing illustrations and understood the magnitude of the message to protect our oceans and ocean animals.

Zandi's Song is a beautifully written and illustrated story for young readers by Zandile Ndhlovu and Katlego Keokgale (illus.). Due out 26th March 2024 from Amazon on their Crossing Kids imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book will be included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is an uplifting book with a very serious message of stewardship, courage, honesty, and conservation. There's a wonderful synergy in the text and illustrations about using individual power and agency for good, protecting our oceans and our Earth, and of speaking up and speaking truth to those in power. Main character Zandi does what she can to protect ocean-mother Maya and all the life around her. Despite being "just a child" she fearlessly observes and learns from the things she sees in the ocean.

Recommended for 6-8 year olds, much of the text will possibly be a bit complex for the youngest readers, but will make a great classroom or bedtime read with an adult or facilitator. The illustrations are colorful and lush and readers will have fun finding and naming the animals and identifying features in the pictures.

Another bonus is that it has positive representation and the main characters are strong, female, and black. The story is told with some details of Zandi's culture which touch on her braids, the interrelationship of all life and her society. The author/publisher have also included an abbreviated list of links for further reading.

Five stars. This would be a great choice for public/shool/classroom acquisition, home use, and gift giving.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This was so beautiful!! Oh my! I loved the story and the illustrations. Absolutely gorgeous all around!

I thought that this was a really lovely book!

This was a book that my 6-year-old daughter really enjoyed, and it was well written and nice, bright and clear for her to read to me.

The book has some brilliant illustrations and they really do bring the story to life.

The book had a great theme regarding plastics in the ocean which is something my daughter was learning at school in the last term of 2023, so it was great timing for us to read it together. The topic really is something that is really relevant as well and this would be a great book to read in a school as well as at home too as it is really positive.

It is 5 stars from me for this one, very highly recommended!

I found this to be a very empowering and beautiful story. This is such a beautiful book that little girls, in particular you black girls are able to have fun with. We need more children's publications like this where kids of all backgrounds are able to visualize themselves as being anything they want to. Not to also mention how beautiful of a message this story sends around protecting and loving sea animals. This story was truly amazing and I cannot wait to spread this message across all platforms. Excellent book.

Can anybody adapt this book to an animation movie already?!

Just 40 pages and it feels like I have watched a very good animation movie. No, not just a short clip but a full length awesome movie which I would suggest to every young person I know. Yes, that’s how good this book is!

Start with the author’s not and it will make a whole lot of difference when you read the book. Let the kids also know what the author has to say and it would make a huge impact.

It is the story of a girl who’s fascinated with the ocean but she’s afraid to explore it. One fine day she gets to meet the ocean which turns her into a mermaid and takes her deep into the ocean’s magical world!

However, she’s sadden by how much harm and damage we humans have done to the ocean and how this is affecting the lives there. She questions the ocean how and what she can do to help. Well, she gets the answers and so will we when we get this gorgeous book when it comes out! It’s phenomenal!

The artist! You are awesome!!!!

Thank you, Amazon Crossing Kids, for the advance reading copy.

This is a great book to tell our kids about the importance of protecting the sea. The illustrations are gorgeous and the story is easy to understand. Very recommended!

Thank you, NetGalley and Amazon Crossing Kids for providing me with this ARC.

Zandi's story is so important in teaching children to protect the ocean and the importance of learning from our history as to not repeat it. I read this book with my 3 and 5 year old who were both attentive throughout the whole story. At the end, my oldest was able to understand the true meaning of the story and how we need to protect our oceans in order to protect everything that lives within it. The illustrations of the story were absolutely beautiful! We will be purchasing this book when it is released!

Zandi’s Song teaches young readers about properly caring for our oceans. A young girl, Zandi, is taught by the ocean itself about the whales and dolphins and creatures that live in it. She learns about the ocean and the history of her village while discovering the way humans impact the waters. The reader is drawn into the story with images of garbage floating just above the sea floor. Young readers learn how to care for the environment and positively impact their own communities with Zandi.
The illustrations are vibrant and colorful with lots of rich texture that captivate the imagination.

This is a beautifully illustrated book with a story of a young girl learning about taking care of the ocean and the harm people have done to it. A beautiful book to help deliver a serious lesson to kids.

I was swept right into the sea with Zandi.

Through lyrical language and powerful illustrations, this is a beautiful picture book with an important message.

This children's book will make a great read aloud or addition to every home, classroom, and school library. It would also make a great companion text as young people study the importance of preserving our lands and oceans.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC!

I wanted to love this book and in part I did. The story brings such a quality of tradition and respect to nature and our place on the earth and the responsibility we have to care for it that is beautiful,

I know that this is a story and is meant to be a conversation starter with our children about caring for the ocean but it starts out with the ocean telling a child not to be afraid and that she’s safe which sounds amazing but is pretty scary to think of a kid not understanding, you know? It also feels as if it’s putting the entirety of the burden on this little girl and that seems too much as well.

BLACK. MERMAIDS. 👏🏽
That is all.

Seriously though, this book is STUNNING. The illustrations jump off the page. The art style is beyond gorgeous. The message of conservation and keeping our oceans clean is so important. I’d recommend this to anyone

Zandi’s Song is a beautiful and powerful children’s book about who we are, where we come from, and what each little person can do to make this world a better place.

This book is beautifully illustrated and captures Zandi’s first swim into the ocean. While she’s afraid, she meets Maya the ocean and Maya explains this is home. We get an incredibly powerful backstory and the story of Zandi’s lineage. This isn’t just a story about a mermaid; it’s the connection we all have to family and to nature.

As an educator, this book is very important not only in the discovery of lineage and our ancestors, but with learning how we can take care of our earth.

We receive a powerful author’s note explaining own personal life experiences with the ocean, and other resources for parents and teachers to share with young children.

This story would be an amazing book to read during Earth Day before picking up garbage outside and having important discussions.

I highly recommend this book for its message, illustrations, and representation.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this amazing book.

This was a really lovely story about a young girl named Zandi and her introduction to the ocean, its spirit guide Maya, and the creatures that live in its waters.

The story of the whales and what happened to them was particularly moving, but the storytelling held me spellbound throughout. And the illustrations are beautiful.

Highly recommend this book for teaching children about the importance of conservation given the terrible state that humanity has inflicted upon our planet in general and the oceans in particular, because it is done so beautifully that it does not read like preaching at all.

Zandi's song caught me and my kiddo off guard - I just assumed this cute book was about mermaids, but there are rich, deep meanings and a wonderful message to children. The illustrations in this story are eye-catching, vibrant and unique. I also like that the story focuses on a female of color who can change the world. A great read for young girls.