The story of the Little Merman

by Ethel Reader, Bob Johnson (Illustrator), Frank C. Papé (Illustrator)

Relates the varying adventures of the Little Merman in his underwater home and on land.

159 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Abi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Little Merman swam to the shore, and, creeping up the strand, lay on the yellow sands at her feet.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

Summary
A young Sea-Prince befriends a mortal princess and learns to long for the human experience. (Sound familiar?) The thing is, mermen (and all immortal creatures) are without souls, and one needs a soul to live fully. The legs are surprisingly easier to come by. These he obtains after some trial and error so that he may compete for the princess's hand in marriage. While searching for a way to get his soul, he must fight dragons, make friends, and learn how to stay true to himself in the face of crippling adversity. Unlike the realm of the sea, the human realm is often merciless, and yet admirable all the same.

"The Mer-People are harmless, gentle, and kind. They live here under the sea in peace and safety till it is time for them to turn into coral and pearls and shells. They live their lives and they do no harm to anyone, but also they do no good. With mortals it is different."

The story is written with a young audience in mind (very comedic), yet there are some mature themes that could appeal to an older audience as well. It's enchanting, charming, and whimsical. But it also comments on concepts like sacrifice, identity, and death. The highs were high and the lows were low. In the beginning, I smiled at the Sea Prince's innocent blunders. By the climax, I was near weeping at his struggles. Can you ask anything more of a story?

I'll include a quick disclaimer that the text is a little bit dated. Despite that, I was happy to realize that the princess saves the day in this one, through her wit and determination no less.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

Favorite moments:

The prince and princess's early interactions were soooo sweet!

"I think I am getting used to your tail," said the Princess. "You may come a little nearer if you like."
[...]
"I don't like it quite yet," said the Princess honestly. "I hope you don't mind my saying so. It is so slithery."
"If you lived in the sea," answered the Little Merman, "you would not think it slithery. See what beautiful shells I have brought you."
[...]
After that, they sat together on the strand, and he told her tales of the sea and she told him tales of the shore.
I mean stories. Not slithery tails.

"Is it difficult to slay a dragon?" asked the Little Merman.
"I have never tried," answered the Princess, "but I think it is very difficult, except for the right person. There is always a right person. The pity is, so many people have to be eaten up before you come to him."

When the Sea Prince goes to the human market is search of legs and a soul, mistaking a pair of stockings for legs and shoe soles for the type of soul he's looking for. Having been given two felt soles ("One will be enough", but for *some reason* they're sold in pairs), he says:

"I wonder [...] what one does with them?"
"Puts them in your shoes, to be sure," said the dame [...]
"Oh, I think I understand," cried the Little Merman. "You put them on your feet, and that is why you can't have souls without legs!"

And then later, presenting his parcel to the princess, he is informed that these are not the items he was hoping for. Saddened, he laments. In an effort to comfort him, the princess assures him:

"I do love you all the same, and as to your tail, I'm getting quite fond of it--I really am."
But the Little Merman rocked himself to and fro and would not be comforted.
"You cannot live in the sea," he said, "and I cannot live on the land. What shall we do?"
"We can live on the strand together," she said, "between the land and the sea. Only don't think about it anymore, and let us be happy together."

When the prince takes up his phosphorescent lamp out to sea at night and the princess lights matches from her castle window so they may see each other even when they are apart.

When the prince sings a song for the princess, lamenting her departure:

A cold fear whispers that ever more
Twill be thus for you and me,--
That you stretch your hands from the far-off shore,
I cry to you from the sea.

The Tutor and his obsession with books, even during times of crisis.

The Tutor was sitting on the ladder as usual, and the tears were running down his nose into the book. He looked up as the Princess came in [...]
"That's right," said the Tutor, "it's the only way. Get an interesting book and forget all about it."
"Yours looks rather damp," commented the Princess.
"Well, it takes a little time to forget."

The Sea Prince's down moment. Though it pained me, it was so heart-wrenching that I can't help but love it.

He was beginning to wonder again why it took so long to be killed.

The casual humor.

"Does it take long to be burnt?" asked the Little Merman.
"A good deal longer than is comfortable."

The Sea Prince's moment of humble heroism.

"I am going to slay this dragon. [...] A friend told me once that there is always a right person. It was none of the other nine, so it might be I, mightn't it?"

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

I went into this with absolutely no expectations other than to oblige my inner child who yearns for the magic of bedtime fairytales of the sort I used to read while sleeping over at my grandmother's. Back then, I had a small bedroom in the topmost level of the house. The ceiling sloped downward (I could never sit completely upright in the bed, even as a child) and beside my bed was a nightstand piled high with books taken from my grandmother's own collection. My favorite was The Random House Book of Fairytales printed in 1985; it had been passed down to me through my father's side of the family. Crouched against the sloped ceiling with only the light of the small TV (which had a built-in VHS player) to see by, I'd read until sleep prevented me. An adult now, I have it on my bookshelf and return to its large print and pink-and-blue illustrations fondly and frequently.

But I needed a new fairytale. I saw one of the illustrations from this book (in a tumblr post of all things) and immediately went to Internet Archive to find it. I'm glad I went into this without any expectations; I think my experience was better for it. And though the illustrations unfortunately number few, they are so beautiful!

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

Overall:
I'm so in love with this cute little fairytale. I could go on and on and on about it! Romance, adventure, and a rollercoaster of emotion. Perfect for both children and adults. I think I'm going to buy a physical copy for myself and one for my baby sister, too.

And down under the sea a glowing red flower had blossomed, and the Sea-People rejoiced.