“A Whale of a Good Time,” Theresa LaBrecque (Mermaid Publishing Grotto, ISBN 978-0-9794820-1-4, 46 pages, $20)

Brewster resident Theresa LaBrecque grew up in Maine and New Hampshire, but she found gold in Cape Cod’s waters. An artist of mermaids in clay and paint, LaBrecque has expanded into storytelling. Her first book, “Tea Time with Mermaids,” appeared in June 2007; her new book continues that theme. LaBrecque’s intriguing and colorful illustrations draw in the reader; it takes time to see all the detail they include. But accompanying them are delightful short poems that express lyrically the spirit of the visual artwork.