THE FELLAS, THE MERMAID, AND ME!
by Micah Kolding
A mermaid’s friends find a way to include her in a soccer game in this picture book.
Six friends of various races love to hang out together in a clubhouse and play tabletop or video games: James, the story’s narrator; Eric; Duran; Santiago; Bran; and Kris, the only girl, who also happens to be a mermaid. After the clubhouse ceiling falls down, the cohorts turn to outdoor games, but Kris can’t manage them; in football, for example, “when tackled, she slips twenty yards.” When a rival crew shows up and challenges them to soccer, James insists that Kris won’t just cheer from the sidelines: “She’s in, and she’ll play, and we’ll win!” Hanging from the goal’s top pole, Kris uses her powerful tail to block almost every ball, handing her team a decisive victory. Kolding tells his story in rollicking verse that scans and rhymes well, with some amusing nonsense, such as the game of “Flurmasmic Pageezans.” In addition, the book teaches a subtle but effective lesson about inclusivity and friendship. The characters might be older than the intended audience, with James planning to take Kris to a dance, but readers are unlikely to mind. The uncredited digital illustrations have kinetic verve that matches the text’s energy.
A delightfully funny and warmhearted friendship tale.