Mabel: A Mermaid Fable

"What was weird about Mabel was that she had no mustache at all." Everyone else in her family does: her father wears an impressive drooping affair, her mother and sisters sport delicate curls, "even her baby brother had a tiny baby mustache." Mabel tries to avoid attention, hanging "seaweed falsies" awkwardly off her features, and "hiding in holes/ along the ocean floor." When she meets a new friend with a difference--an octopus named Lucky--things improve. "What can you do with eight legs that you can't do with seven?" Mabel asks. "Count to eight," Lucky says. "I can teach you to count to eight!" Mabel says confidently, a seashell covering her snoot. While the fable's trajectory seems clear from the outset, deft characterization and detailed worldbuilding by Watkins (Most Marshmallows) transcend the formulaic. Coupled with her open-hearted consideration, Mabel's sideways glances of embarrassment and dismay offer a winning vulnerability. "Nudibranch!" is the bullying cry of Mabel's peers, and Watkins's artful renditions of these beautiful sea slugs, undersea corals, and other marine life provide visual fireworks that amplify the story's compassionate message. Ages 3-5. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (Mar.)

PreS-Gr 2—Mabel the Mermaid feels self-conscious because she does not have a mustache like the rest of her family members. She attempts disguises but still feels embarrassed. Other sea creatures make fun of Mabel, so she spends her days hiding in holes along the bottom of the sea. One day, she meets an octopus who is also hiding (he has seven legs instead of eight). Mabel thinks he is perfect the way he is, and a friendship quickly develops. The two learn that friendship is not based on appearances and that they are beautiful just the way they are. Their newfound friendship boosts their confidence, and they face the world boldly, together—a strong message of positivity. The full-page illustrations, created with mixed media, are colorful and vibrant, illuminating the beauty of the ocean floor and its inhabitants. VERDICT This is a refreshing story of difference, acceptance, friendship, and self-confidence. A recommended purchase.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE