| Title | : | Oona |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0062982249 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780062982247 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 32 |
| Publication | : | First published January 12, 2021 |
She and her best friend, Otto, love to search for treasure . . . but often find trouble instead.
Messy trouble.
Tricky trouble.
Even shark-related trouble.
That’s never stopped them before, though!
After all, no proper treasure hunt is without some adventure. But when the grandest treasure yet is stuck in a deep, dark rift, Oona’s not sure if she can dive right in. What might be waiting for her in those unknown waters?
Oona Reviews
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I adore Oona - Black mermaids for the win! Stunningly gorgeous illustrations - Raissa Figueroa is one to watch! The story itself was a bit curious - it's about perseverance & bravery & what treasures really have value, yet it didn't feel like the reason for needing courage to face the unknown or why she was seeking treasure and needed to keep at it were clear early in the story making the resolution of them a bit less rewarding.
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What a great book for growth mindset! Oona is an adorable mermaid with a cute otter pup pet and she has a problem that takes some perseverance to solve. Such a wonderful picture book, great for elementary classrooms. The illustrations are amazing and there are so many curricular possibilities with STEAM or just as a quick picture book read-aloud on growth mindset for gifted or upper grades. Readers may also enjoy "The Magical Yet" by Angela DiTerlizzi, "What Do You Do with a Problem?" by Kobi Yamada, or "Flight School" by Lita Judge. Enjoy! - Alexis S.
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Absolutely beautiful illustrations. The textures are just lovely. Water reflections are depth are just brilliantly shown. And the detail!
The story is a bit... awkwardly paced/told? The message is perfect! I was presently surprised at the ending! But the lead up could have been a bit better. -
Oona the mermaid was a born adventurer, embroiled in danger from the time she was no bigger than a scallop. Together with her best friend Otto the otter, she scoured the ocean for treasure, always happy to seek after the beautiful and the wondrous. Only one one treasure eluded her: the crown embedded in a reef, far below the surface of the sea. After many failed attempts to secure this much-coveted prize, Oona became discouraged, until a seaside day with her land friends gave her some inspiration, and she was at it again...
Pairing an engaging, well-told tale from author Kelly DiPucchio with beautiful artwork from illustrator Raissa Figueroa, Oona is an immensely appealing picture-book, sure to please young readers and listeners who enjoy magical tales, or who love mermaids. There were moments here where I chuckled - the statement that a mermaid without her spark was like a seagull without an appetite: both unnatural - and other moments where I stopped to admire the artwork. I particularly liked the scene where Oona and Otto were wearing the glasses they found, and I thought Otto himself was a charming sidekick. It probably helps that I love otters! As some other reviewers have noted, it was also nice to have a black mermaid, as I don't think I've encountered too many before, in the world of picture-books. I finished this one with a happy feeling, appreciating the final idea about what makes something a treasure - - and am very glad to know that a sequel,
Oona and the Shark, is forthcoming. Recommended to young mermaid fans, and to picture-book readers looking for stories about perseverance. -
This book is absolutely beautiful. I don't think it's DiPucchio's strongest writing, though. There was too much story that was neither in the words nor in the pictures. I had to fill in a lot of gaps, more than I'd want to deal with to ever use this as a read-aloud.
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Oona is a mermaid who is brave. She searches for treasures with her otter friend Otto. The treasure she seeks is stuck, and she tries again and again to free it from it's location in the murky sea rift.
I love the watercolor illustrations that accompany this story. When Oona is stuck, the colors dim. When Oona has an idea, the colors are vivid. The message is simple yet smart. -
Great illustration. Storyline lacked direction. Can't recommend this one.
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This is SOOOOO cute! I love the curly hair and how it got some seaweed tangled!!
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Lovely artwork, but a clunky and bland story. How I wish this had been wordless instead!
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Felt like the story wasn't very clear. But the illustrations are gorgeous. The kids loved the baby sea turtle.
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This is a delightful mermaid story that shows that money truly isn't everything.
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Gorgeous illustrations! Lackluster story, and not simply lackluster--illogical. The core of the story seeks, I think, to show us the undersea world of this black girl mermaid, which to its credit it achieves. However, if you longed, as I did, for any reasonable explanations as to why or how this character gets up to what she gets up to, don't count on it. Even armed with Doctor Who logic, this story simply does not hold water.
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3.5 stars, this was nice and cute - but I thought the art was gorgeous!
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The illustrations are really wonderful, but the story was all over the place. I'm not sure I fully followed all of the action, so it didn't hit at all. Even looking at the pictures, I don't quite get how everything was supposed to work together. There were too many odd threads and non-sequiturs. I'll definitely put it on displays and in a future mermaid book bundle, but I don't think I'd read it for story time.
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Oona is an adorable story of a little mermaid who often gets herself into trouble. She is a curious and adventurous and beats to her own drum.
Her and her best friend, Otto, spend their days going on treasure hunts and one day she sees the ultimate treasure, a beautiful crown. She tries so hard to get the crown but nothing works and she gives up. While being sad, a long shell washes up on shore and it is just what she needs to get that crown.
This story is a great example of determination and never giving up. Oona was discouraged but never gave up on her dream of the crown. The illustrations were very detailed and sweet. The author does a great job of keeping the book engaging and fun. The character Oona is beautiful and I think all children will enjoy this book. I found this book on the Goodreads fantasy list and I watched it on YouTube. -
The illustrations are better than the story.
Let me explain.
You have a Black mermaid (with absolutely GLORIOUS hair) and the cutest otter sidekick. I was obsessed. I want an otter. And together the two of them go on adventures---kind of think Ariel and Flounder from The Little Mermaid (just way more diverse). And it also promotes ingenuity and finding solutions!
But the text is meh. I wasn't wild about it; it was lackluster. So thumb through the book and marvel at Oona and Otto....and then you can leave it there. -
Delightful illustrations; story awkward in places. Cute "hidden jokes" on pages.
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Oona the mermaid and her best friend Otto the otter travel under the sea in search of treasures.
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I love the joyous illustrations of an African American mermaid with a huge flowing afro in this cute mermaid book. It's worth purchase for that alone - more Black mermaids, please! The story is cute enough, about a plucky young mermaid who collects shiny things and desperately wants a fallen tiara that's sunk down into the bottom of a scary ravine. There's a bit of creative problem solving involved. Hand this one to young mermaid fans, particularly fans of Jerry Pinkney's recent adaptation of The Little Mermaid (which also stars a Black mermaid).
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So cute! A young mermaid and her sea otter best friend are treasure hunters. They are used to taking risks and getting into trouble, but after a particularly challenging hunt for a beautiful crown, Oona wants to give up. But with a little bit of ingenuity and creativity she is finally able to get where she wants to go to get that treasure. The artwork is so beautiful and the characters are very charming.
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Oona is a mermaid who loves to retrieve items from the ocean. She and her otter friend, Otto, find lots of treasures, but an elusive tiara way deep down proves a deep challenge. She and Otto will try anything, but then a unique invention shows that sometimes an invention is greater than the treasure.
The beautiful pastel artwork is stellar, showcasing a #OwnVoices Illustrator. -
A beautifully illustrated picture book about a bold and adventurous little mermaid who likes to hunt for treasure with her pet, Otto, a young otter. She gets discouraged trying to dislodge a crown so she needs to do some problem solving. There really isn't much of a plot, but the setting is terrific and Oona and Otto are great characters. More Oona, please.
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This book is delightful! Oona and Otto are a perfect pair. Treasure hunting with them is quite the adventure. The illustrations are bold and saturated with deep purples and blues.
Story: 4****
Illustrations: 5*****
Overall: 5***** -
The artwork is fantastic, the story is...not great. I mean, it's fine, just fine, but the plot doesn't flow like the author seemed to be aiming for. Anyway, it might still make for a nice present, because again, the artwork is beautiful.
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La historia de una linda sirenita buscando tesoros con sus amigos. Linda, divertida y una arte muy colorido.
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I liked the story but I LOVE the illustrations! Oona the mermaid is maybe one of my favorite illustrated characters ever! Cute story about a little mermaid on a quest to retrieve a lost treasure from the deep, dark rift in the ocean. Turns out the real treasure is the actual quest, not the physical item. Lovely story.
