Written and illustrated by Connie Scherr

Fiction, 54 pages, square format 8.5" x 8.5"
Softcover, full color
Published in association with Keokee Co. Publishing, Inc.

Beautifully illustrated in watercolors by one of Sandpoint's acclaimed artists, this is a sweet story about friendship, caring, and the bond and love of family.

When a young boy and his little sister spend part of the summer at their grandparents’ home on Lake Cocolalla in Idaho, the boy is introduced to his grandfather’s fishing skills – as well as the art of being patient.

The boy also meets Morella, a lonely mermaid who longs for her family back off the coast of Seattle. A friendship develops between the two, and they launch an unusual plan to reunite Morella with her family.

Author and illustrator Connie Scherr was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up in southern California, where she began her study of art. With her husband and small son, she moved to northern Idaho in 1977. Connie studied watercolor under Al Knoke, Katherine Haynes and took workshops with Zolton Zabo, as well as at the University of Idaho Workshop on Wheels. She paints in both watercolor and oils.

About "The Mermaid of Lake Cocolalla," Connie writes: "My little book is a story I have told our grandkids and parts of it I have told our kids, things were added over the years. Usually, the kids try to guess if the characters are our son and daughter or if it's one of them. We did live at Cocolalla when we first moved to Idaho 45 years ago. We fished, swam and ice skated on Cocolalla Lake and always tried to catch old Mossy Back, one of the main characters in the book. We still chant 'Come on Ole Mossy Back' when we go fishing as we did then, trying to vibe a big fish in!"

*Not available for retailer discount