Los Ojos de la Nereida = The Eyes of the Sea Nymph

Gr 3-5-Cinta, a young Spanish girl, visits her father during her school break. He is a biologist doing fieldwork on a tiny island off the coast of Spain. Her first glimpse of the tiny island isn't very encouraging, but she catches a glimpse of a boy about her age. People on the island say that he was bewitched at birth by the local sea nymph. Cinta's father explains that the boy simply has a developmental delay that most likely happened at birth. Cinta befriends Martin as they explore the island together and engage in imaginary adventures. Even though their interactions start out one-sided, the boy gradually unfolds in reaction to his new playmate's eager friendship. As their vacation draws to an end, he begins to speak a few halting words. Highly recommended for all collections and bookstores for its lesson on acceptance of differences and emphasis on imaginative play. MOB