The Mermaid's Shoes - Tapa dura

"Ping-Li takes up the challenge and frees himself, at the same time delivering a lesson in resourcefulness and creativity. The story is full of appeal for young children, who often feel the need to appease the wrath of powerful parents." --"Booklist"
""Ping-Li takes up the challenge and frees himself, at the same time delivering a lesson in resourcefulness and creativity. The story is full of appeal for young children, who often feel the need to appease the wrath of powerful parents."" --"Booklist"
"Ping-Li's Kite "was included in the 2003 Best Children's Books of the Year by the Bank Street College of Education.
About Ping Li and His Kite:
""The colorfully detailed illustrations are alluring.""
-Horn Book Guide

Mia loves her beach vacation, and when she finds some diving flippers in the sand, she believes they are mermaid shoes. These shoes become her new accessory and, when paired with a mermaid skirt, make her a real mermaid. But once home, with the sea far away, Mia can t find just the right place to be a mermaid in her city. She tries the zoo and the museum, but it s not until she comes to the fountain that she feels she has arrived at the perfect place. This delightful import from the Netherlands will strike a chord with all mermaids-in-training. The soft watercolor illustrations neatly contrast the city scenes and the beach scenes, with Mia s real and imagined fish friends following behind her. The final spread shows several mermaids from presumably all over the world and connects readers to the author-illustrator s website. Pair this book with Mermaid Dreams, by Mark Sperring (2006), for plenty of simple, quiet mermaid fun. - Tiffany Erickson, Booklist"

On the last day of vacation, Mia finds something special on the beach--a mermaid's shoes!

When she puts them on her feet, she knows she has found her true identity. She's really a mermaid! She makes her own mermaid's tail and goes on a quest to find a place to fulfill her destiny. Is it the local aquarium? Maybe the river that runs through the town? In the end, this mermaid finds the perfect place to perch.