Enchanting tales of sea nymphs from twelve cultures, including Chinese, Iranian, African, and Native American, are eloquently retold by a master storyteller and illustrated in the distinctive style of each culture. Reprint.

*Includes "The Little Mermaid," now a major motion picture from Disney starring Halle Bailey and directed by Rob Marshall* Dive into centuries of mermaid lore with these captivating tales from around the world. A Penguin Classic Among the oldest and most popular mythical beings, mermaids and other merfolk have captured the imagination since long before Ariel sold her voice to a sea witch in the beloved Disney film adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid." As far back as the eighth century B.C., sailors in Homer's Odyssey stuffed wax in their ears to resist the Sirens, who lured men to their watery deaths with song. More than two thousand years later, the gullible New York public lined up to witness a mummified "mermaid" specimen that the enterprising showman P. T. Barnum swore was real. The Penguin Book of Mermaids is a treasury of such tales about merfolk and water spirits from different cultures, ranging from Scottish selkies to Hindu water-serpents to Chilean sea fairies. A third of the selections are published here in English for the first time, and all are accompanied by commentary that explores their undercurrents, showing us how public perceptions of this popular mythical hybrid--at once a human and a fish--illuminate issues of gender, spirituality, ecology, and sexuality. For more than seventy-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 2,000 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Plunge into the Deep Beneath the sea, off the shore of Scotland, there waits a beautiful princess cursed to live her life as a seal, except for one night each year. In Japan there lives a sea maiden who can change shape at will to become any underwater creature. And in Switzerland, in the Lake of Zug, there is a mermaid who falls so deeply in love with a human man that she will do anything to keep him beneath the water with her. Discover an underwater kingdom where these, and many other mermaids from around the world, are waiting to meet you. But be careful--not all mermaids can be trusted...

Dive into this fully-illustrated enchanting collection of mermaid stories! Mermaid legends have existed for centuries, and are popular in hundreds of cultures. Fairytalez has gathered tales of mermaids from around the world, with classics such as The Little Mermaid, The Girl-Fish, The Golden Mermaid, and much more. With tales of mermaids from France, Germany, China and many other locations, it's a treasury of mermaid lore. The book has 15 stories by Hans Christen Andersen, Andrew Lang, and other storytellers and more than 40 illustrations. Illustrators include Jennie Harbour, Helen Stratton, and Henry J. Ford. List of stories, including author/editor and origin:- The Little Mermaid, Hans Christian Andersen, Denmark- The Golden Mermaid, Andrew Lang, Germany- The Good Ferryman and the Water Nymphs, Maude Ashurt Biggs, Poland- The Mermaid Wife, Maude Ashurt Biggs, Scotland- The Girl-Fish, Andrew Lang, Spain- The Mermaid and the Boy, Andrew Lang, Sami- Ne Hwas, the Mermaid, Charles G. Leland, Native American- The Mermaid, Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald, Estonia- The Girl and the Fish, George Webbe Dasent, Norse- The Mermaid's Child, Abbie Farwell Brown, North America- The Mermaid of Knockdolion, George Douglas, Scotland- Lutey and the Mermaid, Mabel Quiller Couch, Cornwall- Melusina, Sabine Baring-Gould, France- The Princess of the Tung-t'ing Lake, Herbet A. Giles, China- The Story of Tremsin, the Bird Zhar and Natasia, the Lovely Maid of the Sea, Robert Nisbet Bain, Slavic Region

A young girl learns she’s half mermaid and plunges into a scheme to reunite with her father in this entrancing, satisfying tale that beckons readers far below the waves. For as long as she can remember, twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap has lived on a boat. And, oddly enough, for just as long, her mother has seemed anxious to keep Emily away from the water. But when Mom finally agrees to let her take swimming lessons, Emily makes a startling discovery — about her own identity, the mysterious father she’s never met, and the thrilling possibilities and perils shimmering deep below the water’s surface. With a sure sense of suspense and richly imaginative details, first-time author Liz Kessler lures us into a glorious undersea world where mermaids study shipwrecks at school and Neptune rules with an iron trident — an enchanting fantasy about family secrets, loyal friendship, and the convention-defying power of love.

Let this collection of seafaring folktales sweep you away with gorgeous illustrations and captivating stories. A secret path leads across the water to a dragon's kingdom. A mermaid avenges the death of a human girl. A monstrous squid guards the most beautiful pearl in the world. This collection of traditional folktales captures the mysterious and magical power of the ocean. As you sail uncharted waters from Norway to New Zealand and Ghana to Korea, you'll encounter underwater palaces, brave seafarers, and monsters of the deep. Each story is paired with luminous contemporary art. With creamy paper, a ribbon marker, and a cover adorned with shimmering foil, this handsome hardcover is truly a book to treasure. POPULAR SERIES: The Tales series gives new life to traditional stories. Celebrating the richness of folklore around the world, and featuring the work of beloved contemporary illustrators, these books are beloved by adults and teens alike. GORGEOUS SPECIAL EDITION: A mesmerizing full-page illustration brings each story alive, while creamy paper, a ribbon marker, and a foil-stamped cover offer a deluxe reading experience. This keepsake edition is perfect for gifting and display. CELEBRATING DIVERSITY: Featuring stories from around the world, this collection honors the dazzling diversity of different folk traditions—as well as the common threads that weave them all together. PERFECT FOR OCEAN LOVERS: From whales to giant squids, and from selkies to mermaids, there's something here for anyone who feels the magic of the sea. Perfect for: • Fans of fairy tales and folklore • Ocean lovers • Swimmers, divers, fishers, and beach combers • Illustration and art lovers • Adults and teens • Collectors of illustrated classics • Fans of the illustrator Maggie Chiang

Stories and poems about Ariel's world, in the days before she meets Prince Eric.