Merdaddy

A father and child frolic with various sea creatures in this easy-going book, which pictures its protagonists' relationship as one of play and protection. The pair, introduced as merdaddy and merbaby, and portrayed with painterly salmon skin tones, circle each other amid a saturated aquamarine landscape dotted with coral and tropical fish. As the two pal around, first-person narration from the merchild's perspective describes encounters with sharks and jellyfish, a game of hide-and-seek with otters, and a turtle-surfing excursion. Cut-paper elements add depth to Kirwan's scenes, which frequently picture the narrator gazing adoringly at their caregiver. "I want to stay in the water forever," exclaims Merbaby; when Merdad's response notes "that my fingers/ look like raisins/ and my teeth are chattering/ and maybe it's time to get out," the pair's underwater adventure comes differently into focus for a tender close. Ages 4--8. (Apr.)

Father and child thalassophiles bond in the ocean blue. Merdaddy adores the water and shares his joy for the ocean with his merbaby. Whether the two are having a seaweed picnic with the sardines or floating "with the jellyfish / all the way up, / like underwater balloons," Merdaddy, a burly, bearded creature with a fish's tail and an anchor tattoo on his arm, expresses his love for his child through various forms of imaginative play. After surfing the waves with turtles and rescuing people lost at sea, Merdaddy notes that his merbaby's "fingers / look like raisins" and "maybe it's time to get out." But Merbaby doesn't want to leave the water and cries underwater tears that float upward. The scene shifts to a bathroom decorated like the sea and to a human child in a bathtub full of aquatic toys that mirror the animals seen earlier in the story. Merdaddy and Merbaby are father and child taking part in the nighttime ritual of bathtime before bed. Families will recognize an important part of their daily routine as well as the sometimes elaborate paths parents and caregivers need to take to get this task done efficiently. Paper collage illustrations provide texture to a bright, energetic aquatic world and bring to life the loving, playful relationship between father and child. Merdaddy and Merbaby are depicted in pinkish-tan colors; the child is not gendered. Proof that playtime is fun time whether on land or under the sea. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.