Mariana and the Merchild by Caroline Pitcher

When lonely Mariana finds a Merbaby on the sea shore, hidden inside a crab shell, she loves her more than she's ever loved anything. She takes the baby home and as she grows, the Merchild brings joy to Mariana's life. But Mariana knows that one day, when the sea is calm again, the Merchild's mother, the Sea Spirit, will come to take her daughter back again.

Caroline Pitcher is the award-winning author of many children's books for all ages, including Lord of the Forest, with Jackie Morris. She lives in Derbyshire.

Jackie Morris is a bestselling writer and artist. Born in Birmingham, she grew up in Evesham, but has lived for a long time in Wales, in "a small cottage held together by spiders' webs". As a writer and illustrator she has many books to her name; of which The Lost Words, in collaboration with Robert Macfarlane, is the best known. For Otter-Barry Books she has written, among others, the three much-loved Mrs Noah books, The Jackie Morris Book of Classic Nursery Rhymes and Something About a Bear.

"Jackie Morris's Klimt-like portrayals of the Sea Spirit demand endless revisits... and Caroline Pitcher's words are as beautiful as the pictures." Sunday Telegraph

"An atmospheric, lyrical story with finely wrought art that evokes ethereal fairy-tale illustration." Publishers Weekly

"Conveyed in the emotionally rich telling are the rhythm of the waves, filial devotion, the loving care of children, and the knowledge of beasts. The beautiful illustrations are full of the laps and curves of the ocean, the brilliant colours of sea and sky, and the gorgeous reds and dusky browns of fabric, interiors, skin tones, and shells." Kirkus Reviews