The first three chapters provide background information on mermaids and mermen: Where did they come from? Did they ever exist? What mermaid sightings have been recorded? What frauds and tricks have been used to create fakes? Five folktales from around the world provide a sampling of mer maid and mermen lore. The book closes with a list of sources and additional information. Appealing illustrations in hand-colored linocuts and collage enhance the text. 2002 Australian Children’s Book Council Notable Book. chs

Originally published by Onmibus Books/ Scholastic Australia, in 2001.

"For as long as anyone can remember, mermaids have swum through our stories and splashed through our dreams. . . . " Where did these mythical creatures come from? What if they were real?
"Mermaids Most Amazing" provides a comprehensive introduction to these beloved creatures, rendered in beautifully evocative, folk art-style collages and illustrations. You'll meet the fish-tailed goddesses of ancient Polynesia; crafty water sprites of the Pacific Northwest; fake mermaids from British carnivals of the 1800s; and the dugong, whose human-like features and behavior have been mistaken for mermaids by sailors throughout the ages.
Including several legends perfect for reading aloud, as well as maps of the mermaid world, "Mermaids Most Amazing" is a must-read for mermaid fans of all ages. Who knows what strange (and real) creatures you just might find?