Candy Gourlay (text), Francesca Chessa (illus.), Is it a Mermaid?, Walker Books Australia, 1 June 2018, 32pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9781910959121
This is the story of Benji and Bel and what they spot on their beach one morning. What is most surprising and most lovely about this book is that a typical feminine mermaid never appears, despite its appearance in the title. Instead, a determined dugong insists on her mermaidness, even in the face of Benji’s stubborn resistance. Bel, on the other hand, delights in the dugong’s game – bouncing and swimming along, and eventually getting Benji to come along for the ride too.
Gourlay has created a rather wonderful conundrum for readers here – who decides what you are? Younger readers may side with Benji first – the dugong is literally and obviously a dugong, but they are just as likely to bounce along with Bel in joining the play and imagination of the dugong’s inner-mermaidness.
Chessa’s illustrations are warm and bright – she has designed an island playground filled with smiling fish, colourful corals, crowded jungle and of course, brilliantly expressive main characters. Readers will particularly relate to the picture of Benji feeling ashamed, and then curling into the arc of the dugong’s tail for comfort.
Teachers and librarians could enjoy this book with a range of audiences, from a fun read-aloud to a younger group of children, to a more thoughtful discussion with about identity with an older one.
Reviewed by Madeleine Crofts
