Oh, Pearl! - (Marvin and Pearl) by Alania Caridad Hinckson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"A charming, beautifully illustrated debut that will sink deep into the ocean of your heart."-- Bao Phi, author of A Different Pond

Pearl is gone! And Marvin, a round, shiny merchild, sets out to search the sea--and discovers friendship in the most unexpected places.

Marvin is a round, shiny merchild who's always felt a little different. Their best friend is a perfectly round pearl named Pearl. Together they make seaweed wigs, play hide-and-seek behind coral towers, share every meal, and fall asleep side by side when the ocean grows still.

But when Pearl rolls away one night, Marvin's search through the deep leads them to three new friends--Pinky the clownfish, Angie the anglerfish, and Inky the octopus--who each lend a helping fin (or tentacle). With their light, laughter, and courage, they help Marvin see that even in the darkest waters, friendship shines brightest of all.

Filled with humor, tenderness, and dazzling underwater scenes, Oh, Pearl! is an inclusive, body-positive picture book celebrating courage, belonging, and the magic of friendship--perfect for readers ages 4-8 who love The Rainbow Fish and The Invisible String.

Review Quotes

"A simple, heartwarming read-aloud story sure to become a comforting bedtime favorite... Hinckson's vibrant, whimsical full-page illustrations beautifully capture the story's emotional core."--Kirkus Reviews

"This charming story of a Merchild looking for their best friend, a pearl named Pearl, will surely sink deep into the ocean of your heart. Beautifully illustrated in paper collage, the visuals are as winning as the story, which encompasses themes of friendship, self-esteem, and trust. An exciting debut from a tremendous talent, and I can't wait to see what more Alania Caridad Hinckson has in store for us."--Bao Phi, author of A Different Pond, Caldecott Honor Book

About the Author

Alania Caridad Hinckson is an illustrator, designer, and writer from Jackson Heights, New York. They graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2024 with a degree in Illustration and have since exhibited work in the Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition and at Artscape, Baltimore's largest outdoor art event. Their debut picture book, Oh, Pearl!, is an expansion of their senior thesis and marks their entry into children's publishing. When not drawing, Alania can be found making lattes or performing concerts for their cat, Yuki. They currently live in New York.