Genre: Fairytale - This book is a good example of a fairytale because it is a story that has been passed down and made into several different versions or reworked by serveral different authors. It is a classic story with traditional literature and modern fantasy. The story has major conflict and then resolution which is a very odd ending. It also includes imaginary characters, which are mermaids. I would never read this version of the Little Mermaid to any age of children, it is disturbing, I might consider reading the Disney version.

Plot: The plot of this story is about a little mermaid who goes up to land and wants to stay there, so she goes to a witch and she gives her feet. The little mermaid goes up and tries to make this prince love her, in the end the prince falls in love with someone else and ends up killing herself where she becomes a daughter of the air. This plot was kind of disturbing, I have heard another version of the Little Mermaid and I really liked it, but not this one. It is weird and scary and just does not make sense, I would never read this to any children.

Art Media: Watercolor and pen

Hans Christian Anderson’s version of the Little Mermaid is darker than the Disney version. This in my opinion made it much more enjoyable. It is the classic tale of a mermaid who falls in love with a prince and makes sacrifices to win him. Unlike the Disney version, the little mermaid doesn’t win the prince and stay human. Instead she chooses not to kill him and save her life. She plunges into the sea where she becomes a daughter of the air. Her choices gave her the ability to gain a soul and after 300 years her soul would go to heaven. This was an absolutely beautiful book. ( )

This is a modern day story of the Little Mermaid who is fascinated with life above water and being human in order to have an eternal soul. She gives the sea witch her beautiful voice in order to meet the prince, marry, and gain her eternal soul. When this fails she is turned into foam but because of her unselfishness is giving a chance to gain her soul after all.

I like the way the author selects his words to describe the environment above and below the sea. It’s very close to the traditional story with a twist; her main goal is gaining her soul. It's a lovely and touching story about love and sacrifice as shown by the princess when she did not harm the prince because of her love for him and her ability to gain her soul from her unselfish sacrifice which is what she wanted.

I believe this story could be used during creative writing, having children explore traditional stories and give it their own twist. ( )

This is a traditional fairy tale about a mermaid, who meets a prince, and must give up her most beautiful talent to become human. The setting in this story is well established quickly at the beginning. The plot is simple, and direct. The illustrations in this book are very basic, yet colorful, and creative.
I remember watching The Little Mermaid on television, and I remember from a long time ago, I think the movie was called Mermaid, with Tom Hanks in it. I loved that movie!
A great extension idea would be to have students draw their vision of what the Mermaid would look like. Another would be to have students come up with costume ideas, and have them dress like Mermaids. ( )