Old Mariana longs for friendship, but she is feared by the village children and fearful of the hungry sea-wolves that hide in the sea-caves near her hut. Then one day Mariana finds a Merchild inside a crab shell. At once she loves the child more than life itself—although she knows that one day, when the sea is calm again, the Merchild's mother will come to take her daughter back . . .

Caroline Pitcher's moving and poetic retelling of this traditional South American folk tale is vividly illustrated by Jackie Morris.

From the dust jacket