Orpheline

Katelyn Aronson

Book - 2025

"I'' Cora," I say. "Don't be afraid. You aren't lost anymore. You're found." Combing the beach after a lashing storm, Cora is busy filling her bag with sea glass when she spies an amazing sight by the water's edge: a tiny mermaid nestled in an abalone shell. Mama's face turns pale when she sees her, but soon the half baby, half fish is squirming in the bathtub, giggling on wheelbarrow rides, exploring tide pools, and playing shadow games with Cora. All is blissful until Cora hears some strange whispering coming from the baby's shell necklace, a voice that calls "Orpheline, Orpheline . . ." Protest as she will, Cora knows that this precious baby belongs to the sea-and to s...omeone who misses her dearly. Poignant, atmospheric, and shimmering with mermaid magic, Orpheline will win the heart of every child who's longed to have their fantasies come true, if only for a little while." -- Publisher annotation.

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jE/Aronson
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Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room New Shelf jE/Aronson (NEW SHELF) Due Aug 13, 2025
Children's Room New Shelf jE/Aronson (NEW SHELF) Due Aug 17, 2025
Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press 2025.
Language
English
Main Author
Katelyn Aronson (author)
Other Authors
Dow Phumiruk (illustrator)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 28 cm
ISBN
9781536226515
Contents unavailable.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

While beachcombing, young Cora encounters a merchild stranded on the shore after a storm. In time, the foundling's name is revealed as Orpheline, a cognate oforphan, just as Cora echoescoral. The artfulness of these name choices is matched by Phumiruk's care in illustrating the characters in a realistic style that lends credulity to the blurring of lines between fantasy and reality. Though startled when Cora brings the merbaby home, Mama allows the child to look after Orpheline in cozy domestic scenes of bathtime, play, and bedtime. The story unfolds like Marjorie Newman and Patrick Benson'sMole and the Baby Bird (2002), evoking the adage "If you love someone, set them free." Coradoes love Orpheline, and though Orpheline comes to love Cora, she longs for her underwater home, with a magical shell around her neck connecting her to her mermaid mother's voice. Encouraged by Mama, Cora returns Orpheline to the beach after another storm, where a mermother-and-child reunion ensues. The touching conclusion affirms Cora and Orpheline's lasting connection, their bond represented and enabled by a magical seashell necklace of Cora's own. Orpheline has peachy skin, light brown hair, and a green fishtail; Cora is pale-skinned with dark hair. A tale to get lost in.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.