The Tiniest Mermaid
Author: Laura Garnham
Illustrated by: Patricia MacCarthy
Published by: Good Books 2006
Age: 3 and up
Theme: Fairy tale, friendship, dreams, healing.
Opening lines: Lily lived by the wide blue sea. On summer nights she would sit on the beach, gazing out over the waves, dreaming of magic and adventure.
Synopsis: One night Lily rescues a mermaid who has been hurt in a terrible storm. She takes the tiny mermaid home to care for her, and Lily and Delphi become the best of friends. Delphi shows Lily a magical world where mermaids play with sea horses and swim through coral palace. But as Delphi gets better she must leave Lily and return to the sea….
Laura Garnham works as a teacher and lives in France. The mermaid was named after her niece.
Patrica MacCarthy (Illust) lives in Sussex England and used beautiful colours including glitter.
Why I like this: A beautiful gentle story of compassion, understanding and friendship. Girls will relate to the bonding of two friends, and spark their imagination. Raised glitter is an added appeal to the soft powder-puff colours Patricia has used to bring life to this magical fairy tale. I love to dream and this would be perfect as a bedtime story also.
Findings/Resources: Patricia MacCarthy’s blog has beautiful galleries of her work, a must see….. http://www.patriciamaccarthy.co.uk/gallery6.htm
Want to learn how to draw…..? http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-draw-a-mermaid
Colouring pages… http://www.coloring.ws/mermaids1.htm
Making friendship bracelets… http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/friendship/mbracelets.htm
Create your own magical underwater world…. http://www.girlgames.com/magical-underwater-world.html
Writer and Dreamer at work 
Love your review — a magical story for little girls to dream about. Also love your new profile photo.
Thank you very much Pat. Glad you like the review and my new pic.
Oh! I know some little princesses who love mermaids and sparkles. This book sounds perfect! I’ll have to check it out!
Hi Rhythm. Cool, I am sure your little princesses will love this.
Sounds perfect for girls!
Just perfect, Catherine! 🙂
What a beautiful story, Diane…and your list of resources/activities is SPLENDID! I will check out the art gallery…and the friendship bracelet looks like fun.:)
Thank you very much, Vivian. I liked the friendship bracelet making… it’s all a go these days.
This sounds like a book my two daughters would love. Great review.
Thank you Rachel. I am sure your daughters would love this. Perfect for little girls.
My littlest one loves THE LITTLE MERMAID. I wonder if he would enjoy this one as well.
mmm… if he loves the Little Mermaid, then maybe he might like this. How old is he?
4 1/2. 🙂
Bet this is as sweet as it sounds!
lol.. very sweet. A perfect girls book.