Briony May Smith

A sweet story, charmingly illustrated. I can't resist unicorns, especially dapple-gray ones, and outdoorsy girls in wool. The story has a nice intergenerational relationship between granddaughter and grandmother. I love how the grandmother immediately understands her granddaughter and the needs of the unicorn: they eat flowers and drink moon-drenched water. Many British and Irish people seem to be in closer touch with the magic of the world than Americans. My favorite illustration is the one show more where Margaret is showing her unicorn a horse chestnut and proclaims the inside "felt like a little fair fur coat." The warm autumn shades and the curiosity of both girl and unicorn are lovely. show less

When Margaret and her parents move to a remote cottage in the mountains, in order to be close to her grandmother, the young girl isn't sure how she feels about this new place. Then one misty day, watching a cloud of seeming unicorns fly by, she discovers a baby unicorn in the grass, apparently left behind by the herd. Margaret and her family care for the unicorn for one year, and in that time the young girls comes to love her equine companion. When the herd returns, the unicorn returns to show more his mother, but he visits Margaret again when he is somewhat older, and there is a hint that there will always be a connection between the two...

Margaret's Unicorn is my first encounter with British author/illustrator Briony May Smith's work, but I certainly hope it will not be my last! I found it absolutely delightful, appreciating both the sensitively told, ultimately heartwarming tale, and the charming, expressive artwork. An online friend brought my attention to this one, last year, but I had to wait a while until my public library obtained a copy. How glad I am that they did! I loved the use of color and light here - the setting feels like the Scottish Highlands to me - and I thought Smith's changing depiction of the unicorn - speckled as a baby, and pure white when grown - was beautiful. I also greatly appreciated the fact that Margaret didn't get to "keep" the unicorn - that he is depicted as a wild and free magical being, one that might need help from time to time, but that must be allowed to rejoin his kind. I think this gives the story greater power, highlighting the fact that the animals we love do not really "belong" to us, but rather, are friends who are in our care for a time. Highly recommended, to all young unicorn lovers, and perhaps to older ones as well. show less

A little human girl named Molly, living in the fishing village of Merporth, and a young mermaid named Merrin, living in the harbor at the foot of the village, are best friends in this magical picture book from British author/illustrator Briony May Smith. Although not able to fully inhabit one another's worlds, they meet where the two join, having many adventures above and below the water. Then one night, when the power of the Mermaid Moon is supreme, Merrin is able to leave the ocean, and show more pay a floating visit to her land-bound friends. But after a wonderful, fun-filled time, Merrin and Molly become stuck in a tree, putting everything in danger. For if Merrin does not return to the sea before the reflection of the moon on the water disappears, her scales will dry out, and magic will disappear from the cove forever...

Having absolutely loved Briony May Smith's Margaret's Unicorn, an earlier picture book about a little girl and the magical creature she befriends, I was very excited to track down The Mermaid Moon. I was not at all disappointed, finding the story both heartwarming and enchanting, and enjoying the lovely, expressive artwork immensely! I really appreciate the way in which Smith tells stories about little girls and their magical adventures, setting her tales in contemporary environments, but also populating them with mythical creatures and beings that feel timeless (or out of time). Whereas the earlier book about Margaret presented a fantastical variant on the classic story of not being able to keep a wild creature (however beloved) as a companion, here we have a magical version of an inter-community friendship story. It's both reassuring and heartwarming that, despite the fact that they hail from different elements, Molly and Merrin find a way to come together. The accompanying mixed media artwork captures the beauty of both girls' worlds, but I think it is the underwater scenes that truly shine. The depictions of Merrin's mermaid cave are just gorgeous, and I particularly loved the play of light and shadow on the faces of the little mermaid and her mother. Recommended to young mermaid lovers, and to any picture book readers looking for magical stories with a contemporary "realistic" setting. show less

After a few too many close calls with vehicles on a country road, Philippa Pheasant decides to take action to help her fellow woodland creatures cross the road safely. As with all the books I've read by Briony May Smith, this is an adorable and charming book, and Smith's illustrations create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Unusually for a book featuring anthropomorphic animals, this book also includes humans. I like how the humans and animals can communicate with each other to some extent, show more and that the animals, while they do some human activities such as act as crossing guards and write letters to the mayor, still seem more like real animals than they do like small furry humans. I was expecting this book to be mainly about road safety (which, you know, is fine and an important subject, but not one that personally interested me that much since I learned how to cross the road several decades ago), but it is in fact much more about how one person (or pheasant) can identify a problem in their community, take action to change it, and gather the support of the rest of the community (which in this case includes both humans and animals working together). A wonderful story and message, and one that will hopefully inspire some young readers to work for change in their own communities. show less