亨利•马蒂斯（Henri Matisse）的大型欢乐剪纸作品《长尾小鹦鹉和美人鱼》是这本令人愉快的儿童读物的基础，这本读物讲述了美人鱼和长尾小鹦鹉之间不太可能发生的友谊。在这本迷人的书中，凡妮莎•海耶（VanessaHié）和维罗妮克•马塞诺（Veronique Massenot）以马蒂斯（Matisse）的愿景为基础，创造了一个世界，在个世界中，一条美人鱼被一场大风暴推出了大海。她被困在一棵树上，因为没有腿不知该如何返回家中，她遇到了一只长尾小鹦鹉，美人鱼的困境深深打动了他，他找到了一种方法来帮助她。凡妮莎•希埃（VanessaHié）华丽，色彩丰富的插图融合了马蒂斯（Matisse）原创杰作（本书末尾复制了这件杰作）中的形状和色。Massenot的简单而深刻的关于勇敢和友情的故事令人愉悦。文字和图片一起讲述了一个永恒的故事，同时向年轻人介绍了马蒂斯的艺术创作。

Henri Matisse s massive and joyous cutout work, The Parakeet and the Mermaid, is the basis for this delightful children s book about the unlikely friendship between a mermaid and a parakeet. Henri Matisse once said, What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity, devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter. It s no wonder his works are loved by children everywhere. In this charming book, Vanessa Hie and Veronique Massenot create a world based on Matisse s vision, in which a mermaid is thrust out of the sea by a massive storm. Stranded in a tree, not knowing how she can return to her home without legs, she meets a parakeet who is so moved by her plight he finds a way to help her. Vanessa Hie s gorgeous, deeply hued illustrations incorporate the shapes and colors found in Matisse s original masterpiece, which is reproduced at the end of the book. Massenot s simple but profound story of bravery and friendship is a delight to read. Together, the words and pictures tell a timeless story, while introducing young people to Matisse s artistry."