Book Details:
Book Title: Mei's Mermaid Mission by Crystal Z. Lee
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 42 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Balestier Press
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2024.
Content Rating: G
Book Title: Mei's Mermaid Mission by Crystal Z. Lee
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 42 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Balestier Press
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2024.
Content Rating: G
Book Description:
The mission of the Mermaids International Rescue Alliance (MIRA) is to guard the ocean and protect the sea creatures. There are many mermaid members in MIRA from all over Asia, such as Princess Hwangok (Korea), Roro (Indonesia), Jiao (China), Ningyo (Japan), Songkhla (Thailand), Duyung (Malaysia), Sovann Macha (Cambodia), Sirena (the Philippines), and Mei (Taiwan). Mei's Mermaid Mission is an exquisitely illustrated picture book that follows Mei as she travels all over the Asia Pacific region to gather the team of heroic mermaids in order to stop the pirate from polluting. Can Mei and the MIRA mermaids stop the pirate in time? Over twenty sea animals and over twenty locations in Asia are introduced in this story, as well as Asian mermaid mythologies in the book's backmatter. Children and adults will delight in this cultural story emphasizing empathy, friendship, collaboration, and environmental protection.
The mission of the Mermaids International Rescue Alliance (MIRA) is to guard the ocean and protect the sea creatures. There are many mermaid members in MIRA from all over Asia, such as Princess Hwangok (Korea), Roro (Indonesia), Jiao (China), Ningyo (Japan), Songkhla (Thailand), Duyung (Malaysia), Sovann Macha (Cambodia), Sirena (the Philippines), and Mei (Taiwan). Mei's Mermaid Mission is an exquisitely illustrated picture book that follows Mei as she travels all over the Asia Pacific region to gather the team of heroic mermaids in order to stop the pirate from polluting. Can Mei and the MIRA mermaids stop the pirate in time? Over twenty sea animals and over twenty locations in Asia are introduced in this story, as well as Asian mermaid mythologies in the book's backmatter. Children and adults will delight in this cultural story emphasizing empathy, friendship, collaboration, and environmental protection.
Meet the Author:
Crystal Z. Lee grew up in a bilingual household in Taiwan and in California. She is an avid traveler and has visited over thirteen countries in Asia. Her favorite travel memories include hiking the forests of Borneo, boating in Phuket, cruising down the Yangtze River, chasing butterflies in Taiwan, attending literary festivals in Hong Kong, and visiting family in Singapore. Crystal is the author of children's books A Unicorn Named Rin and Kai the Dancing Butterfly. Her poetry was recently included in the UK anthology, Tabula Rasa. She is also the author of a novel, Love and Other Moods.
connect with the author: website ~ instagram ~ goodreads
Meet the Illustrator:
Allie Su was born and raised in a village in Yunlin county, Taiwan. She attended Nanhua University in Chiayi city, majoring in Visual Arts. Allie once lived in Korea for some time, volunteering in the area of animal protection. She loves kimchi, Korean saunas, Incheon's snowy winters, and taking boat rides to Yeouido. She believes in bringing joy to people through art. Allie has worked as a children's art teacher and a professional illustrator. She also illustrated a picture book about Taiwan, Kai the Dancing Butterfly.
Crystal Z. Lee grew up in a bilingual household in Taiwan and in California. She is an avid traveler and has visited over thirteen countries in Asia. Her favorite travel memories include hiking the forests of Borneo, boating in Phuket, cruising down the Yangtze River, chasing butterflies in Taiwan, attending literary festivals in Hong Kong, and visiting family in Singapore. Crystal is the author of children's books A Unicorn Named Rin and Kai the Dancing Butterfly. Her poetry was recently included in the UK anthology, Tabula Rasa. She is also the author of a novel, Love and Other Moods.
connect with the author: website ~ instagram ~ goodreads
Meet the Illustrator:
Allie Su was born and raised in a village in Yunlin county, Taiwan. She attended Nanhua University in Chiayi city, majoring in Visual Arts. Allie once lived in Korea for some time, volunteering in the area of animal protection. She loves kimchi, Korean saunas, Incheon's snowy winters, and taking boat rides to Yeouido. She believes in bringing joy to people through art. Allie has worked as a children's art teacher and a professional illustrator. She also illustrated a picture book about Taiwan, Kai the Dancing Butterfly.
Author Interview:
There is an environmental protection message in this book. What do you hope your readers can takeaway from Mei’s Mermaid Mission?
If humans do not curb our marine pollution, current estimates predict that by the year 2050, ocean plastic will outweigh all of the ocean’s fish. That means there will be more plastic than fish in our seas. We can all do our part in helping the animals and creatures we share this earth with. One of the simplest things is recycling, reducing plastic waste, and reading and learning about marine environment protection.
There are some specialty ships mentioned in your story. Can you share them with our readers?
Turtle ships were armored battleships used from the 15th-19th centuries in Korea. The ships resembled turtles with their fully covered plates.
Dragon boats have been around for more than two thousand years! They are traditional paddled long boats with decorative dragon heads and tails. Today they can be found all over Asia, such as in Taiwan, Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, China, Laos, the Philippines, etc.
Moon boats are traditional Bangladeshi fishing boats with a distinctive crescent moon shape.
We love the vibrant outfits on each mermaid in your book. What was the inspiration behind that?
Each mermaid’s outfit is inspired by either the mermaid mythology from their home country, or from the traditional wear originating from their native culture. For example, Mei the Taiwanese mermaid is wearing Indigenous Tao clothing, Ningyo the Japanese mermaid is illustrated to have a ninja vibe, and Sirena the Filipina mermaid is wearing an interpretation of the baro’t saya (the traditional dress of the Philippines).
There are many endangered animals mentioned in Mei’s Mermaid Mission. Which ones made an impression on you?
Blue whale: The heart of a blue whale is the largest of any animal in the world!
Hainan gibbon: Found only in China, Hainan Gibbons are known for their singing, and they sometimes even sing in duets!
Whale sharks: As the world’s largest fish, a whale shark is about the size of a bus. The Philippines boasts the third largest known aggregation of whale sharks in the world.
Taiwanese humpback dolphin: Found only off the coast of Taiwan, these humpback dolphins may sometimes appear pink!
You seem to have penchant for animals in your picture books. Is there a reason for that?
You’re right! My other picture books, Kai the Dancing Butterfly and A Unicorn Named Rin also include many animals. I believe that as stewards of the earth, humans have a responsibility towards other animals and creatures we share this planet with. I think children should be taught this great purpose from a young age.
What advice would you give to students who are aspiring writers?
Keep a journal; start as soon as you can form sentences. Read as much as you can. Be open to reading about unfamiliar cultures and places. And stay curious!
How can Mei’s Mermaid Mission be utilized as an educational resource?
One of my mottos in selecting children’s books is “read the world.” Mei’s Mermaid Mission is for any student interested in learning about environmental protection, endangered marine animals, Asian mermaid mythologies, and unique destinations in Asia. It’s a book that can be utilized for multicultural studies, for animal science, and ecological studies.
Enter the Giveaway:
How wonderful to have diverse mermaids!
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