JoAnne Stewart Wetzel

A little mermaid named Molly narrates this rhyming tale about her first day at Mermaid School, describing some of the other pupils she meets, the classes they attend, and the games they play during recess. When the end of the day approaches, Miss Marina organizes the children into a performance of "The Goodbye Song," and Molly heads home, eager to return the next day...

Offering a fantastical variation on a common theme in the world of picture-books - the first day of school - Mermaid School pairs an engaging story in rhyme with charming, gentle illustrations. The tone is positive and upbeat, emphasizing all of the wonderful things one can do at school, and the inclusion of a story-hour, in which the mer-children learn about those fictional land people, was a particularly nice touch. Recommended to young mermaid fans, and to picture-book readers looking for stories about the first day of school.… (mais)

For as long as she's been involved with the Oakfield Children's Theatre, Beth has dreamed of someday playing the role of Juliet. She knows she's not ready yet, but with a few more years of experience, she thinks she might have a chance. But she may not get a few more years of experience, because it's rumored that the theatre will have to close. Can Beth and her friends find a way to save the theatre -- or will her dream role remain only a dream?

This was a fun light read in a setting that I, as a theatre nerd, appreciated. I felt that Beth's Shakespeare knowledge was a bit beyond her years (it's a rare 12-year-old indeed who can grasp the complexities of Shakespeare's language without help), but that didn't take me out of the story. Young readers who enjoy books with a theatrical setting will eat this one up.… (mais)