A historical parade, a ceremony to welcome the summer, fruit thrown to the sea and men in beards and beads dancing in the street: clearly, the stuff of a picture book. Welcome to the Coney Island Mermaid Parade, a no-longer-so-debauched-but-every-bit-as-decadent festival where one little mermaid in training's dream comes true. 
In front of us are Brooklyn's East River Mermaids. They bring their own music. I get chills down my spine each time they spin and twirl and dance and whirl.
Greenberg's art is childlike, expressive, and incredibly colorful. Mermaids on Parade truly captures the carnival-like atmosphere, artistic ingenuity, and endless diversity of New York City's boho crowd. Tourists with cameras capture contortionists with spangled tights who dance to music by flute players in tutus while rose-bedecked pirates kick up their heels and green-haired girls hula hoop. It's a crazy ride, anchored by the decidedly urban background of Coney Island. You'll find something new every time you join this little mermaid for a glorious day at the parade--and perhaps be inspired to join her!
*Melanie Hope Greenberg's website offers her workshops, book info, and illustrations
*Mermaids on Parade is her blog about the creative process behind picture book making. Quote: "It takes a community to create a picture book!" (Bonus: She loves libraries too, and knows a thing or two about New York City magic.)
*The 2009 Coney Island Mermaid Parade is on June 20th--save the date!
*Weeki Wachee is Florida's only City of Live Mermaids. Roadside America reports.
*Space Mermaid is jewelry for...space mermaids. With a lot of dosh. It's clay charms and silver-dipped shells and coral and zebras and rainbows, but with a simple, ethereal aesthetic. Glow in the Dark Stars interviewed its creator, Stephanie Carbone.
*Kim Antieu is head priestess of The Church of Old Mermaids, a novel and sanctuary for artsy types.
Myla Alvarez, novice, walks into the Sonoran desert near Tucson, Arizona and begins telling stories about the Old Mermaids who were washed ashore onto the New Desert when the Old Sea dried up. In this mystical new world, they lived, created, and walked in beauty...
*Mermaid's Song, by Alida Van Gores, is the Seanan McGuire-approved quintessential mermaid novel. I'm currently tracking down a copy for myself!
*Acension: The Water Trilogy Book 1 is another title I'm hunting for. This may have just started a mermaid kick!
3 comments:
The Water Trilogy is interesting at least partially because it's a lovely Atlantis/Arthur riff. But the insistence on calling them 'mermyds' can get grating.
It can get irritating when an author uses a neologism when there's a perfectly good word already in use, but...okay, I'll be honest, the cover is pretty and my first Disney movie was The Little Mermaid...
Hi Rie,
I just found your wonderful review of my book. Thanks so very much.
Parasols Up, Melanie Hope Greenberg
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