Shana Corey

One of the most wonderful thing about books clubs (aside from the opportunity to discuss books with other readers, of course!), is that they sometimes lead us to titles we might not otherwise have considered picking up. Such is certainly the case with Shana Corey's The Mermaid Queen, a picture-book biography of Annette Kellerman, an Australian woman who revolutionized the world of women's athletics and swimwear. "Mermaids? Women's fashion? Not for me!," I thought. But I couldn't have been show more more wrong! This is the history, as Corey notes, of a woman who wasn't afraid to be different, whose lifestyle itself was an act of defiance - a woman who "made waves." And that is definitely for me...

Forced to wear leg braces as a child, as the result of an unspecified illness, Annette was encouraged to swim by her father, who believed that the activity would improve her strength and health. Her devotion to the sport, in a time when few women were encouraged to participate in athletics, led both to fame and censure (even arrest!), as some found the activity "unwomanly." A dramatic swim up the Thames, an unsuccessful attempt to cross the English Channel, and the creation of an unusual new one-piece bathing suit - so much more comfortable than the complicated swimming clothing worn by women of the day - soon led to fame, and Annette Kellerman became a well-known proponent of women's health and fitness.

Credited with inventing synchronized swimming (she gave the first water ballet performance in New York, in 1907), and the modern woman's bathing suit, Kellerman was a celebrity in her day, although she is largely forgotten in ours. I enjoyed learning about her unconventional life, and found Edwin Fotheringham's accompanying illustrations - with their delightful use of color and motion - the perfect accompaniment to the story. How fortunate that The Mermaid Queen was chosen as one of our March selections for the Picture-Book Club to which I belong, as I might otherwise have missed a real treat! show less

Shana Corey, whose picture-book biographies - Mermaid Queen: The Spectacular True Story Of Annette Kellerman, Who Swam Her Way To Fame, Fortune & Swimsuit History!, You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer - tend to focus on women who were pioneers in some way, stays true to form in this latest offering, which examines the founding of the Girl Scouts in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low. Known as "Daisy" to her friends and family, Low rejected many of the notions of feminine girlhood that were show more prevalent when she was young, more interested in having adventures outdoors than in being prim and proper. Growing up to be just as adventurous as an adult, she eventually discovered the scouting movement, while living in England, and brought it back with her to America, founding the very first Girl Scout troupe in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia in 1912.

Informative and engaging, Here Come the Girl Scouts! doesn't just provide a glimpse of the founding of this important institution of girlhood, it demonstrates why it was needed in the first place. Quotations from the original Girl Scout manual, emphasizing the importance of getting out into the natural world, and challenging oneself physically, are included on many of the pages, and are contrasted with the Victorian notions of delicate girlhood. The moral component of the scouting movement is also discussed - the notion of being a sister to all girls, regardless of social status, for instance - and I was interested to see that there were diverse troupes from early on, although the Girl Scouts did not embrace integration until many decades later. The artwork is colorful and appealing, capturing the sense of fun and adventure in the story. Recommended to young readers interested in the history of the Girl Scouts, or who are looking for stories about path-breaking women. show less

My 8-year-old daughter asked me about Girl Scouts the other day, and as luck would have it, I stumbled upon this wonderful non-fiction picture book that highlights the drive and determination of Juliette Gordon Low and her journey to create this amazing organization. I was a girl scout when I was younger and the memories that I still hold with me from that time in my childhood will always put a smile on my face.
While I knew of this pioneer of a woman who created the Girl Scouts, I was never show more really familiar with her precise story. This being a children's non-fiction book, it does not depict in great detail the specifics of Ms. Low's business endeavors, but it does playfully and concisely provide young children with the knowledge of her spunk, drive, and perseverance. This was certainly enough to grasp and keep the attention of my daughter while we read the book.
The sketchbook-like drawings with minimal coloring throughout were very appealing to my daughter, a self-proclaimed artist. It created a visual depiction of the story without overshadowing the story itself. The book tended to highlight more of the extraordinary aspects of Ms. Low's adventurous life, like riding elephants in India, visiting the pyramids in Egypt, flying in a monoplane, and, my daughter's personal favorite, fishing in fancy dresses. While I cannot attest to the historical accuracy of events such as these, they certainly appealed to my young reader and opened her eyes to some amazing adventures a girl can explore.
Like many children's non-fiction books, this book contains a two-page spread after the story that goes into more specific details of Ms. Low's life, the historical time period in which she lived, the founding of the Girl Scouts, and the legacy that remains existent today. My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book together and I think it is safe to say that she may be even more interested in joining the Girl Scouts after learning of the adventurous girl who began this wonderful organization. show less

Mermaid Queen is such a fun, colorful story about the life and accomplishments of Annette Kellerman. As a child she dreamed of becoming a ballerina but could barely walk. In hopes of strengthening her legs, Annette’s father taught her how to swim. She went on to become a champion for women athletes and challenged the societal standards for women in the early twentieth century.
I absolutely loved this book. I had never heard of Annette Kellerman before and now I’m so glad I have. She show more pushed so many boundaries for women by advocating for them to swim and creating what would eventually be considered the first modern bathing suit. While society in the early twentieth century was still very restrictive for women, Annette Kellerman challenged the ideas of what was considered proper. She could be a positive role-model for empowering young girls today.
I also loved the illustrations. They were alluring and vibrant and accompanied the tone of the text brilliantly. I especially loved the page illustrating the evolution of the swimsuit.
This book shows how one woman’s courage allowed her to make waves not only in the water but in society as well. show less