Pearl

by Molly Idle

Overview

Caldecott Honor author-illustrator Molly Idle dazzles with an original mermaid tale about how small, persistent actions can achieve great things.

Sometimes the tiniest light can shine the brightest! Like the other mermaids of the deep, Pearl longs to care for the endless beaches, coral reefs, and towering kelp forests of her vast ocean world. So when her mother asks her to tend to a mere grain of sand, Pearl is heartbroken. It takes all her patience and determination to discover how even the littlest mermaid can transform the world.

Caldecott Honor-winning author and artist Molly Idle has masterfully crafted a modern classic in this mesmerizing tale about the immense power of small actions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316465670
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	10/09/2018
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	1,038,041
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Molly Idle's work as an author-illustrator includes the Caldecott Honor Book Flora and the Flamingo, Flora and the Penguin, Flora and the Peacocks, Flora and the Chicks, Flora and the Ostrich, and Tea Rex, Camp Rex, Sea Rex, and Santa Rex, among other books. She lives with her family in Arizona, and invites you to visit her at idleillustration.com.

Editorial Reviews

08/20/2018
Idle (Flora and the Flamingo) creates an undersea realm of mermaids whose graceful swoops and swirls offer visual delight. Pearl longs to be like the other mermaids, each of whom is assigned something to watch over—vast forests of kelp, giant creatures of the deep. When her mother gives her a single grain of sand, she’s heartbroken. “Her heart grew heavy, and the weight of it pulled her down... down... down...” tumbling through the sea of blue until she sinks to the sea floor. But soon she discovers something special about her grain of sand: it glows and grows, and the story soars toward a light-filled, celestial conclusion. The text reads smoothly and naturally, like a retelling of an old fairy tale, and balletic spreads revel in the contrast between the intense pink of the mermaids and the soft aqua of the undersea world. The reminder not to scorn that which appears insignificant is always worth repeating, but here, it’s the enthralling underwater acrobatics that will bring readers back.Ages 4–8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

* "For her fable about patience and perseverance, Idle has created stunning watery spreads, full of curves reflecting the gently scalloped edges of the giant clam that is Pearl's home. ...Careful word choice and thoughtful phrasing make this a pleasure to read aloud. A gentle, glowing lesson that even the smallest efforts can lead to large, even environmental results."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

[*] "This contemporary fable is sure to captivate."—School Library Connection, starred review

"Glorious."—School Library Journal

"The story soars toward a light-filled, celestial conclusion."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

09/01/2018
PreS-Gr 1—There are many aspects of an ocean a mermaid might be assigned to watch over: coral reefs, sand beaches, or the living creatures beneath the surface. So young mermaid Pearl is disappointed and saddened to learn that she is to "look after" a single grain of sand. Though reluctant to accept such an insignificant charge, she complies when her mother tells her "The smallest of things can make a great difference." The child takes her responsibility seriously and as she watches, her grain of sand grows bigger and brighter. Beautiful Prismacolor pencil drawings in the blues, greens, and teals of the sea are soft and soothing; additional touches of white and brilliant pink fairly leap off the pages. The white text is placed in a variety of locations throughout the story but, unfortunately, fades and becomes difficult to read on several pages where positioned over a pale portion of the illustration. VERDICT Idle's appealing story is a quiet, charming pourquoi tale that will delight young readers and listeners. Perfect for bedtime or anytime sharing.—Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek Public Library WI

School Library Journal

★ 2018-06-24
A tiny mermaid who yearns for grown-up work patiently completes a task that transforms her world. For her fable about patience and perseverance, Idle has created stunning watery spreads full of curves reflecting the gently scalloped edges of the giant clam that is Pearl's home. Done with colored pencils in shades of pink and white for the mermaid and soft blues fading to green sea, these suggest an animator's dream. Her ocean has breaking waves, softly colored coral reefs, "towering forests of kelp," and a giant—but never threatening—octopus. The tiny grain of sand Pearl's mother gives her to care for seems insignificant in comparison, but with time, careful nurturing, and polishing, it grows and glows, finally taking its place in the night sky to light up her world. The lyrical text perfectly matches these stunning illustrations. As Pearl and her mother "[swim] up…and up…and up…" the figures rise and the color of the sea lightens. Disappointment at the seemingly trivial task she's assigned weighs her "down…down…down," and she slowly sinks back into darker depths. After many scenes showing the small mermaid in a larger sea, a close-up of her face as she discovers the sand's potential emphasizes her new understanding. Careful word choice and thoughtful phrasing make this a pleasure to read aloud.A gentle, glowing lesson that even the smallest efforts can lead to large, even environmental results. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews

The young voice of Kella Kennedy that begins this audiobook makes listeners take note. When a mermaid daughter is disdainful of the task her mother has entrusted to her, listeners hear childlike disgust and disappointment. That task is to care for a single grain of sand. When the young one begs to help with something more important, her mother admonishes her that even the smallest job can be significant. Squeezing the grain in anger leads the little mermaid to astonishing discoveries. Kim Mai Guest’s voice is in stark contrast to that of the young mermaid. Her tone is mature, and her words soothing and firm as she describes the transformation of the grain of sand. She shares excitement as the magnitude of the young mermaid’s responsibility becomes clear. A.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2019 - AudioFile

The young voice of Kella Kennedy that begins this audiobook makes listeners take note. When a mermaid daughter is disdainful of the task her mother has entrusted to her, listeners hear childlike disgust and disappointment. That task is to care for a single grain of sand. When the young one begs to help with something more important, her mother admonishes her that even the smallest job can be significant. Squeezing the grain in anger leads the little mermaid to astonishing discoveries. Kim Mai Guest’s voice is in stark contrast to that of the young mermaid. Her tone is mature, and her words soothing and firm as she describes the transformation of the grain of sand. She shares excitement as the magnitude of the young mermaid’s responsibility becomes clear. A.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2019 - AudioFile