View source for Milly and the Mermaids by Maudie Smith and Antonia Woodward

{{infobox2
|title=Milly and the Mermaids
|author=Maudie Smith and Antonia Woodward
|reviewer=Sam Tyler
|genre=For Sharing
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=9781444006933
|pages=32
|publisher=Orion Children's Books
|date=July 2014
|aznuk=1444006932
|aznus=1444006932
|cover=1444006932
|website=http://www.maudiesmith.co.uk/index.html
|summary=Milly really really wants to see a Mermaid on her trip to the seaside and she will do anything to lure one out of hiding.  ‘Milly and the Mermaids’ by Maudie Smith and Antonia Woodward is a wonderfully charming and warm children's book that will be perfect to share with young and fascinated minds.
}}
Mermaids are a great way to stretch young imaginations.  Imagine living in an underwater world, swimming with the fishes in a pleasant way (rather than in a Mafioso way).  This is exactly the type of excitement that Milly longs for in ‘Milly and the Mermaids’ by Maudie Smith and Antonia Woodward.  When her parents take her on a trip to the seaside, all she can think of is finding a Mermaid, but do they really exist?

With its colourful imagery and charming illustrations ‘Milly’ is a fantastic sharing story for children aged 3 to 6 who love mermaids.  It would be very easy to look at the cover and think this was a straightforward tale about a trip to the seaside that ends in a swim in the sea with a mythical creature.  It is actually about wishing for something and not automatically getting what you want (but always be prepared for surprises).

The book begins with Milly trying her best to uncover a mermaid.  She tries all different tactics, but none of them seem to work.  A personal favourite is using sand to make her mum look like a mermaid; this is aped brilliantly later in the book to opposite effect.  The slow build up and anticipation of the earlier part of the books makes the payoff far better as the book concludes.

Smith’s story is very charming, but would possibly not be as strong without Woodward’s delightful illustration.  She has a soft approach to her drawing that invites you in.  Doing this will reveal many secrets in the background; can you spot a fishy secret on some of the pages?  One other thing that Woodward’s drawing highlighted to me was that I am getting old; you know this when the illustrated father in children’s books looks younger than you!

With the mermaid theme, female characters and soft illustrations this is a book that will appeal more to girls than boys.  However, the themes of wishing to meet a fantastical creature are universal and there are lots of fun things to find in the pictures so that all children will enjoy the book.

If this book appeals then you might also like [[The Little Mermaid by Laura Barella]] and [[Underwater Magic (The Secret Mermaid) by Sue Mongredien]].  You might also enjoy [[The Dressing-Up Dad by Maudie Smith and Paul Howard]].

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[[Category:Maudie Smith]]
[[Category:Antonia Woodward]]