Mariana and the Merchild

The classic Latin-American folktale of the old woman who discovers and cares for a Mer-baby is reissued in a beautiful gift hardback edition

Mariana, a lonely old woman, lives in a hut by the sea-shore. The village children are afraid of her, though she wants to be their friend. One day a huge storm casts up a tiny Merbaby in a crab shell. Mariana loves and cares for the sea-child. She fears that its mother, a Sea Spirit, will think she has stolen it. But when the Sea Spirit comes, she thanks Mariana for saving her baby's life and asks her to look after the tiny girl until she learns to swim. Mariana's life changes: the village children love the mer-girl and discover that the old woman is their friend. Mariana knows that her beloved Merchild must return to live in the sea. When the day comes, however, she is no longer sad and lonely. The children comfort her, and the Merchild never forgets her. This poetic and lyrical re-telling of a Chilean folk-tale, first published in 2000, is now reissued in a larger hardback format which does full justice to Jackie Morris's evocative illustrations.

“Jackie Morris’s Klimt-like portrayals of the Sea Spirit demand endless revisits… and Caroline Pitcher’s words are as beautiful as the pictures.” Sunday Telegraph

“An atmospheric, lyrical story with finely wrought art that evokes ethereal fairy-tale illustration.” Publishers Weekly

"Conveyed in the emotionally rich telling are the rhythm of the waves, filial devotion, the loving care of children, and the knowledge of beasts. The beautiful illustrations are full of the laps and curves of the ocean, the brilliant colours of sea and sky, and the gorgeous reds and dusky browns of fabric, interiors, skin tones, and shells." Kirkus Reviews 

"Ideal for young readers fascinated by magic and enchantment.. Visually stunning and beautifully written… A perfect gift or immersive bedtime story for a younger child. Highly recommended."

"Caroline Pitcher’s poetic retelling of this Chilean folktale is wondrously done and will assuredly captivate listeners and readers. So too will Jackie Morris’s richly detailed watercolour paintings, some of which have an ethereal quality. Altogether a magical conjuring forth of a folk tale world that will linger long in the reader’s mind after the covers of the book are closed."

"Not ashamed to say I literally had a sharp intake of breath when I opened this... Just stunning."

Caroline Pitcher is the author of many books for younger and older children. She won the Kathleen Fidler Award for her first book, Diamond, and has been nominated for the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals and the English Association 4-11 Award. She lives in Derbyshire.

Jackie Morris is a bestselling writer and artist. Her almost uncanny ability to draw and paint living landscapes and wildlife began around the age of six when she watched her father draw a lapwing and wanted to learn the same magic. Born in Birmingham, she grew up in Evesham, but has lived for a long time in Wales, in “a small cottage held together by spiders’ webs”. As a writer and illustrator she has many books to her name; of which The Lost Words, in collaboration with Robert Macfarlane, is the best known. For Otter-Barry Books she has written, among others, the three much-loved Mrs Noah books, The Jackie Morris Book of Classic Nursery Rhymes and Something About a Bear.

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