My Cousin's Mermaid

June 1, 2023

K-Gr 4-A heartwarming and necessary story about building family connections across cultural divides. Natalia feels a mixture of nervousness and excitement about visiting her mother's native Poland for the first time in two years. She has always wanted a cousin at home to play with, but when she sees her Polish cousin Karolina, she has trouble connecting with her. Natalia struggles to understand the language, jokes, food, and games. But with the help of a mermaid, Natalia and Karolina will discover their shared love of stories and strengthen their bond as "cousin-sisters." Back matter includes synopses of traditional Polish folktales and an author's note sharing her personal connection to the story. The illustrations are bright and crisply detailed. Among the pages are so many perfect little sights to feast on in the unnamed Polish city, from cozy streets and apartments to lush parks and beautiful sculptures. VERDICT A worthy purchase for any children's collection, especially those serving immigrant populations, but all readers will relate to the struggle and joy of finding connection in an unfamiliar place.-Maria Bohan

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2023
Natalia and her mom are returning to Warsaw, Poland, to visit Natalia's aunt and cousin Karolina. Natalia feels uncertain, given her lack of confidence speaking Polish, and initially struggles to connect with Karolina. However, the two girls soon bond over a shared love of storytelling and mermaids as they stroll through the city. Karolina points out the statue of the Syrenka Warszawska, the Mermaid of Warsaw, who's said to protect the city's residents. Worried, Natalia asks if the mermaid will protect her, too ("I'm not really Polish," she says, presumably because she lives elsewhere), but Karolina's affirming response is a touching reminder that visits to a family's country of origin can be an important, empowering experience. Poklewska-Kozietto highlights the beauty of Warsaw's architecture and apartment living with incredible details such as beautiful wrought-iron balconies, houseplants, and fountains. The bright colors pop, especially when depicting a range of building types and varied textures. The characters are drawn with delightful rosy-circled cheeks; almost all are light-skinned, including Natalia and Karolina. Polish phrases are interspersed throughout with on-the-page phonetic pronunciations and English translations, making this an accessible text for non-Polish speakers. The backmatter includes useful and engaging information on Poland, its language, its landmarks, and its folklore. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A reassuring and warm tale of family connections. (author's and illustrator's notes) (Picture book. 4-8)

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