The Rock Maiden by Natasha Yim

The Rock Maiden by Natasha Yim Illustrated by: Pirkko Vainio ISBN-13: 9781937786656 Hardcover: 36 pages Publisher: Wisdom Tales Released: March 1, 2017

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When her fisherman husband fails to come home after a storm at sea, the beautiful maiden Ling Yee is heartbroken. Every morning, she puts her baby on her back and clambers to the top of a cliff looking for any signs of his return. But day after day, she is disappointed. The villagers try to convince her to give up her vigil. "No," she would say, "He will come home soon." Tin Hau, the Goddess of the Heavens, takes pity on her grief and turns Ling Yee and her child into stone so that they would mourn no more. The fisherman eventually finds his way home--only to discover that his wife has been transformed into the Rock Maiden.

Will the family forever be kept apart? Find out in this re-envisioning of an old Hong Kong legend by award-winning author Natasha Yim, featuring stunning illustrations by renowned Finnish artist Pirkko Vainio.


My Review:
The Rock Maiden is an old Hong Kong legend, modified for ages 4 & up. The text tells a compelling, sweet story about the love and loyalty of a husband and wife. The legend was modified to provide us with a happy ending. The illustrations have the look of watercolors and are lovely. They illustrate the text but also fill out the story by showing details about village life. This makes it feel like a true tale. I enjoyed studying these illustrations. Overall, I'd recommend this juvenile fiction book.


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Excerpt: View a full page spread from book.