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Reviewed by Karen Tolentino for Readers' Favorite
In Billy Baldwin’s The Boy, The Mermaid, And The Storm, a boy sets sail each morning and tells his mother he’ll be home for dinner, until one day he can’t, not until he conquers something. One day the boy sets sail, unaware that a storm is coming. Strong winds and waves toss him into the deep water. Next thing he knows, a mermaid saves him and takes him to a quiet island. Worried because of his mother, the boy insists on going home. But going home means going into the storm once more. He is certain the storm is waiting, bound to drag him down again. Left with no choice, the boy must be brave enough to move forward when stopping would be easier. This book is a tender, suspenseful adventure about finding the courage to keep going.
The black-and-white illustration style by Liesl Bell is a bold, yet brilliant creative decision. The calm moments are given quiet, lighter shades and open-space illustrations. Meanwhile, emotionally charged scenes like the storm coming, crashing waves, and the menacing dragon hidden in the fog use dense, heavy pencil strokes and swirling lines. The pictures are drawn with depth, mirroring the boy’s innermost feelings. Billy Baldwin’s words are clear and rhythmic. He adds a phrase worth remembering whenever a child, or even an adult, faces a challenging time in life. It's like a keepsake after readers finish reading. The Boy, The Mermaid, And The Storm is a story that can bring families together during difficulties.
