by David Weisner & Donna Napoli
Clarion Books released Fish Girl in 2017, and the book went on to become a three-time Caldecott Medalist. Visit a boardwalk aquarium and you might just get a glimpse of the mermaid hiding behind the kelp.
She’s unable to speak or leave, but seems content to live with her master, Poseidon. That is, until she learns he’s a simple fisherman that has been lying to her since birth. Goaded by the help of a young human outsider, Fish Girl learns she has legs on dry land and step-by-step, plots an escape with her giant octopus friend. The story is simple and follows just a couple of characters, and the panels are masterfully contemplated, breaking the tension in all the right places. The watercolor palettes help define a unique vision. We root for the fish girl as we follow her on her path to becoming a human. We may not like, but eventually come to understand the contentious and confused fisherman. It’s a book worth reading the next time you come up for air.