Mermaids in the Moonlight, written and illustrated by Sharanya Manivannan and published by Red Panda, is a tale within tales—stories of mermaids from around the world, interwoven with a journey on a moonlit night.
It begins with Nilavoli and her Amma setting out to the Mattakalappu lagoon, drawn by the mysterious sounds believed to be those of mermaids. As their boat drifts deeper into the water, Amma shares stories of mermaids and mer-creatures from far and wide—Brazil, West Asia, Mali, Cornwall, and India. It is fascinating to discover how across cultures, stories persist of such beings—often female—who belong both to water and land. The central storyline takes an unexpected turn as Nilavoli and Amma’s journey begins to merge with the mermaid tales themselves.
The illustrations expand the text in surprising ways, offering depictions beyond the familiar. We meet a mermaid in a wheelchair, a mer-guy cooking for his companion, a plump mermaid, and even glimpses of the lagoon’s fraught history of conflict and disaster. These visual choices enrich the narrative and push the boundaries of what mermaid stories can be.
At the same time, both the narrative and the artwork feel densely packed. The stories within stories, layered with intricate illustrations and a wide-ranging colour palette, sometimes overwhelm the reader. The richness risks becoming clutter, leaving less room for imagination to wander. Given its potential to transport readers across times and cultures, the book might have benefited from more visual and narrative breathing space.
Especially for urban middle to high school readers, Mermaids in the Moonlight is a book of wonder and possibility—yet one that calls for stronger clarity and restraint to fully unlock its power.