RÓNÁN AND THE MERMAID: A TALE OF OLD IRELAND, by Marianne McShane and Jordi Solano, Candlewick, May 19, 2020, Hardcover, $6.99 (ages 5-8)
The little-know tale of Liban, the Mermaid Saint comes to life in Rónán and the Mermaid: A Tale of Old Ireland, by Marianne McShane and Jordi Solano.
Long ago, on the eastern coast of Ireland, a monk from the Abbey of Bangor was collecting driftwood along the wave-tossed shore when he found a boy washed up amid a circle of seals. At first the boy, wrapped in a shawl of woven seagrass, could barely move or speak. But when he regained his strength, he recalled being brought ashore by a lady with long golden hair who sang him to safety and gave him a silver ring. The monks knew the legend of a mermaid who had wandered the coast for three hundred years. Could it possibly have been her? —Synopsis provided by Candlewick
This fascinating tale is inspired by a medieval story from the year 558. Rónán and the Mermaid is a refreshing mermaid yarn that doesn’t feature a prince or love story. It feels grounded and much less fantastical than you might think.
Marianne McShane is a strong storyteller whose text is a joy to read aloud. And Jordi Solano’s beautiful illustrations capture not only time but place.
