Monday, June 24, 2019

Review: Serena's Tales by Taylor Lukens


SERENA'S TALES
by Taylor Lukens
Illustrated by Madison Hope and
Hokulani Buffington
Mascot Books
 40 pages





Serena is the mermaid princess of an underwater palace called Dylana, where she is loved by all the mer-people and sea creatures within the kingdom. One day, while exploring the bottom of the mystical ocean, Serena finds a dazzling, but mysterious crystal of two mer-people who look like they are in love! Join Serena on her adventure to learn more about the figures in this unexpected treasure. Taylor currently lives in North Pole, AK with her family and she would love to share her book at an event in your store!


MY TIDBITS

A beautiful world of underwater friends and a special mermaid's adventure make this into a fun read.

Serena is the daughter of the Mer-King and Mer-Queen, and enjoys living a life showing others how to be kind and nice. When her best friend, a little seahorse, asks her to go seashell hunting, Serena can't refuse. At one of their favorite spots, they discover a surprising treasure. Not sure what it is, they take it to the mer-jewelers and learn an interesting tale.

Warmth and goodness radiate from this book from the very first page. It's made immediately clear that Serena, her family and her world are a wonderful place with loads of fantasy. Every character shines friendliness and kindness, which makes this an ideal story for even sensitive listeners and readers. The adventure is fun without growing overly tense, and it ends with more friendship and understanding. The message is made clear at the end but doesn't come across as preachy.

The illustrations are colorful and well done. There are small details to draw in and the illustrations flow well with the story. It's a wonderful tale to use as a bedtime read, a story time, or even for more sure readers to hit on their own.




And here she is...

Taylor Lukens is a wife, mother, and college graduate who loves mermaids and reading. An avid book lover, she decided to write Serena’s Tales to combine her passions. Though she has lived in five states, she has called North Pole, Alaska home for the last decade. When she’s not writing or working towards more schooling, she is spending time with her family, which includes her husband and children. But she is a kid at heart, so she also may be daydreaming about mermaids!


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