This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by David Jaggart for Readers' Favorite
A Mermaid in the Thames by Sara Louise Kelany centers on Loulou, an absent-minded junior mermaid from the secret world of Atlantishoo who gets sent on a sudden solo mission. She is supposed to defend a Thames seahorse nursery from pieces of broken boat wood, but an accidental blow from a discarded glass bottle leaves her drifting unconscious toward London. Human sisters, Dina and Suzy, rescue her from the water, fix her injured wrist, and help her catch a ride back up the river to finish the job. The girls tie their grandmother’s blue boat to the garden railing so they can safely net the smaller trash while Loulou dives for the logs. Watching these three characters learn to cooperate to save the river wildlife keeps the momentum going from start to finish. How will Loulou manage to complete this cleanup before her magical transport home arrives?
A Mermaid in the Thames by Sara Louise Kelany is a fast-moving children’s fantasy chapter book that sparkles with a gentle sense of wonder and curiosity. The pacing never slows down, switching rapidly from the ocean kingdom to the bustling city riverbanks. Seeing the world through the point-of-view of a mermaid who’s unsure of her own independence makes the main character very relatable to young readers. The challenge of cleaning up the river gives the characters a real sense of purpose, turning their efforts into a truly rewarding project. This incredible journey is brought to life by Maxine Fourie’s lovely monochrome sketches scattered across the chapters, matching the playful text perfectly. The clean line art gives a wonderful sense of personality to the characters and the underwater scenery. It’s a fantastic, lighthearted adventure I recommend for kids who want a fun blend of magic and teamwork.
