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Merbaby
When he and his brother Josh find a merbaby caught in their fishing net, Tarron, rejecting his brother's plan to sell the baby and make a profit, discovers that there are greater treasures than gold.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2001
1 person is currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Teresa Bateman
38 books54 followersTeresa Bateman was born in Moscow, Idaho, but moved to Washington State when she was three-years-old and that's where she has lived most of her life.
An avid writer and reader, Teresa has been making up stories and poems since she was in grade school. "To me it was as natural as breathing," says Teresa.
In school Teresa would drive her teachers crazy by 'creatively' completing assignments. She always met the letter of their assignment, if not the spirit. She worked hard to inject some humor into her work, knowing that the teachers would be reading hundreds of papers and wanting hers to stand out. It worked.
Teresa took English classes for fun in college and when she applied for a Washington State Teaching credential, the state looked at her transcripts and added an endorsement to teach English through the 12th grade!
Teresa cites her teacher Donnell Hunter at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, as having a big influence on her and her writing. He published a class magazine to which the class submitted their work under pen names. Their grades depended on how many stories were included in the magazine. Teresa submitted under about 15 different pen names--just to be annoying! But she knew her work was being judged on its merits alone. Mr. Hunter encouraged her journal writing and instilled in Teresa good writing habits that she continues to this day.
Teresa served an 18-month mission for her church in Argentina, and taught school for a year in Honduras. She also taught school briefly in St. Mary's, Alaska -- a little bush village with a population of 500 in the winter and 50 in the summer. She has been a librarian in the Federal Way School District in Washington for over 30 years.
Teresa writes every single day. She also works full-time, so that means some days she doesn't write much, but she always writes. When at home, Teresa's special spot for writing has a good view of the lilac bushes outside. A picture of a winding path through gentle rolling hills and meadows hangs on the wall. She tells herself, when stuck for an idea, that the story lies at the end of that path.
Teresa lives in Tacoma, Washington.
An avid writer and reader, Teresa has been making up stories and poems since she was in grade school. "To me it was as natural as breathing," says Teresa.
In school Teresa would drive her teachers crazy by 'creatively' completing assignments. She always met the letter of their assignment, if not the spirit. She worked hard to inject some humor into her work, knowing that the teachers would be reading hundreds of papers and wanting hers to stand out. It worked.
Teresa took English classes for fun in college and when she applied for a Washington State Teaching credential, the state looked at her transcripts and added an endorsement to teach English through the 12th grade!
Teresa cites her teacher Donnell Hunter at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, as having a big influence on her and her writing. He published a class magazine to which the class submitted their work under pen names. Their grades depended on how many stories were included in the magazine. Teresa submitted under about 15 different pen names--just to be annoying! But she knew her work was being judged on its merits alone. Mr. Hunter encouraged her journal writing and instilled in Teresa good writing habits that she continues to this day.
Teresa served an 18-month mission for her church in Argentina, and taught school for a year in Honduras. She also taught school briefly in St. Mary's, Alaska -- a little bush village with a population of 500 in the winter and 50 in the summer. She has been a librarian in the Federal Way School District in Washington for over 30 years.
Teresa writes every single day. She also works full-time, so that means some days she doesn't write much, but she always writes. When at home, Teresa's special spot for writing has a good view of the lilac bushes outside. A picture of a winding path through gentle rolling hills and meadows hangs on the wall. She tells herself, when stuck for an idea, that the story lies at the end of that path.
Teresa lives in Tacoma, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 24, 2019
Beautiful illustrations.
February 18, 2017
So adorable. The little merbaby was so cute! :D
May 12, 2015
everyone couldn't buy his own happiness at the expense of another's. Siren≠Mermaid？
February 7, 2017
Very sweet with a moral to the story. Also, the artwork is so beautiful!
July 6, 2020
This morality tale is told with ample text, unlike the short picture books published today. Each page is realistically illustrated in watercolor with a hand-drawn aesthetic. Two brothers find a merbaby in their fishing net one day. One wants to sell it for profit; while the other is faced with a moral dilemma, whether to make the fortune or return the merchild to her merfolk.
August 24, 2020
A sweet story with lovely illustrations. Though a bit longer than most picture books we read aloud, the tale was interesting enough to hold my child's attention the whole way through. A touching ending.
April 10, 2021
A beautiful tale of choosing what is right over what is easy. Author Teresa Bateman dedicated this lovely fable to her brother, Tony “the first of us to sail beyond the horizon.” I can imagine how very moved he would have been with Tarron’s story of kindness and the unexpected rewards he received.
September 12, 2022
The illustrations were lovely, though I think a candle in a jacket pocket to be impossible an action to occur.
September 17, 2022
A very sweet story.
July 31, 2009
*Picture Book* This is a very cute story about a man that had always dreamed about owning his own boating business, but when faced with the chance of fulfilling that dream at the expense of a merbaby decides to do what's right. This leads him to face that he may be killed when returning the baby to her home. In the end he is rewarded for his good deed, and his dream is fulfilled. I loved the moral of this story, that you should do what's right. The illustrations are also very beautiful.
December 12, 2010
Great illustrations and amazing descriptive words would create colorful ideas in any child's heads. Idea that the cycle of life keeps changing and renewing, and evolving is as beautiful as the illustrations.
Beautiful Caldecott-quality illustrations. The cover drew me to the book. A Pirates of Carribean theme with great moral, and the green color scheme Brewster used to watercolor, drew my eyes to the pages.
Beautiful Caldecott-quality illustrations. The cover drew me to the book. A Pirates of Carribean theme with great moral, and the green color scheme Brewster used to watercolor, drew my eyes to the pages.
November 13, 2008
This lovely picture book is not only filled with merfolk, but has a story of doing the right thing for the right reasons. But the very best feature of this book is the super-charming totally huggley illustration of the merbaby in the washtub. ; )
July 20, 2009
This was a great story. I loved the picture that the words painted along with the pictures that were shown. It was very ethereal. A felt story rather than an intellectual one. my kids loved it. It was a fantastical book and a fun read.
August 15, 2011
This book has beautiful pictures. I think that children probably need to be older so as to understand the full message and beautiful-ness of the book itself. But, I think it is one that children and adults of all ages can enjoy.
March 11, 2013
Two brothers ply the sea in hopes of making their fortune. What they find forces them to consider what price they are willing to pay for fortune.
Patience Brewster's Illustrations show her imagination and finesse as she portrays a a world of water and enhance this good old fashioned storytelling.
Patience Brewster's Illustrations show her imagination and finesse as she portrays a a world of water and enhance this good old fashioned storytelling.
May 23, 2008
The story was OK (do the right thing and you'll usually get rewarded), but the pictures were wonderful.
August 13, 2008
Very sweet story, outstanding art.
October 13, 2009
Not very fun to read, but a good story plot and beautiful illustrations.
February 11, 2016
A little heavy handed, some higher level vocabulary and not a particularly fun read. Gorgeously illustrated though. Might make a good quiet bedtime story to share with beginning readers.
September 28, 2013
Lovely illustrations
October 7, 2016
I like the mermaid's tail in the pic book.
April 11, 2017
"Still, through all the years, the treasure he always held closest to his heart was the memory of the merbaby's smile." Tarron wanted to be accepted and free from working for someone else,but to do so he needed money to buy his own boat and be his own man. He and his brother are fishermen, looking to find fortune when they come across a mermaid. While she manages to vanish, a merbaby was caught in a net filled with fish. Tarron and his brother knew that this would be the source of their fortune. While Tarron felt a sense of excitement that he would finally be free and have his money, he also had guilt for keeping the child away from her mother. So he decides to sneak off and return the baby to her mother, a mermaid. As a token of appreciation, the mer-people offer Tarron fortunes that they found in the water. While he did not return the child for an award, they felt that it was well deserved.
I feel that this can be a moral lesson for children that doing the right thing is more rewarding than doing something that just benefits oneself. I also like the fact that they made this a mermaid story because I feel that people have this fascination with the creatures and it makes it fun! The illustrations in this book are very beautiful and detailed as well that can definitely keep a reader intrigued.
While I enjoy the moral essence in this story and the beautiful illustrations I gave it about a 3 star rating. In my opinion I thought the story was a little slow and the names of the characters were a little complicated.
I feel that this can be a moral lesson for children that doing the right thing is more rewarding than doing something that just benefits oneself. I also like the fact that they made this a mermaid story because I feel that people have this fascination with the creatures and it makes it fun! The illustrations in this book are very beautiful and detailed as well that can definitely keep a reader intrigued.
While I enjoy the moral essence in this story and the beautiful illustrations I gave it about a 3 star rating. In my opinion I thought the story was a little slow and the names of the characters were a little complicated.
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September 28, 2018For slightly older readers (given the amount of text, and some of the level of vocabulary and narrative complexity). The illustrations are a bit dark/muted, in keeping with the tone of the story. They're quite well-done, though. And the story has a sweet ending.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews