Nen and the Lonely Fisherman - by Ian Eagleton (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Far out to sea and deep below the whispering waves lives a merman called Nen. Nen spends his days exploring his underwater kingdom, but something is missing: his heart is empty. So, Nen ventures to the forbidden world above and it is here that he meets Ernest, a lonely fisherman. But can two people from different worlds be together and what will happen when a terrifying storm gathers? A lyrical, beautiful celebration of love, acceptance and faith, with a gentle message about how we treat our oceans, and each other"--

Book Synopsis

An adventurous merman and kind fisherman find love and each other in this gorgeous update to the Little Mermaid story.

Winner of the Polari Prize, the UK's first and largest LGBTQ+ book award.

"A moving celebration of love." Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

"Together, [Nen and Ernest] discover that nothing-not even a raging storm-can conquer love." Foreword Reviews

Far out at sea and deep below whispering waves lives a merman searching for a partner.

In the forbidden world above, a kind fisherman wonders if something more is waiting for him beyond the horizon.

When they find each other under a star-filled sky, their love will change both of their worlds.

Celebrate queer joy and the uniting power of love with this award-winning, inclusive retelling of a classic fairy tale.

Review Quotes

Bright splashes of yellow jump out from a soothing seaside palette in this fantastical LGBTQ+ picture book. Though he loves the ocean, there is one thing Nen, a merman, cannot find even in its unfathomable depths: love. Every night, Nen sings his sorrow out over the sea; his song reaches a lonely fisherman, Ernest, who sets out in search of the singer. Together, they discover that nothing-not even a raging storm-can conquer love.-- "Foreward Reviews"

Young readers who appreciate fairy tales, love stories, or mermaids will be enchanted.
A moving celebration of love.-- "KIRKUS REVIEWS, STARRED REVIEW"

About the Author

Ian Eagleton is the director of The Reading Realm and a content creator and resource writer for various educational organizations, including The Literacy Shed and Authorfy. Ian has taught in elementary schools for thirteen years. He especially enjoys sharing picture books, poetry and creative writing activities with the children he teaches. You can follow Ian on Twitter at @MrEagletonIan

James Mayhew is an Award-winning author & illustrator with a love for music and storytelling. His books have received honors by The New York Times, the Carnegie Greenaway awards, the Polari Prize, and others, but the best reward for James is seeing a child with one of his stories. He also gives frequent concerts where he paints to music. His collaborators include the London Mozart Players, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. For more information visit jamesmayhew.co.uk