9 Books All About Mermaids
Under the sea magic! When I was little and playing in the pool during the summer, I remember pretending to be a mermaid! Not unlike many children, I bet. There’s something so magical about being underwater, flipping your fins, but don’t get started belting Disney songs this morning.
Although I pretended to be a mermaid when I was little, this post was inspired by my 4-year-old niece. She is absolutely enamored with mermaids, unicorns, princesses – anything a little magical that involves a lot of bling! We’ve had numerous conversations about the mermaids that probably live at the bottom of the lake at my parents’ house. We’ve searched for the fairies that obviously make their home in the pine tree grove on the property. She has an amazing imagination and I love encouraging her to use it!
With this book list comes a lot of diversity that you might not expect! I was equally surprised and delighted to find such a wonderful collection of stories. Some are for the pure fun of magic, while others are all about imagination, and even some are about being yourself and individuality. Whatever you’re looking for in a great picture book, I’m sure you’ll find it with these 9 books all about mermaids!
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9 Books All About Mermaids
How to Catch a Mermaid by Andy Elkerton, illustrated by Adam Wallace
How do you catch a mermaid?
You must be very clever.
With mirrors, crowns, and pearls galore,
this quest can’t last forever!
Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes — and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself? Mesmerizing and full of heart, Jessica Love’s author-illustrator debut is a jubilant picture of self-love and a radiant celebration of individuality.
The Little Mermaid by Jerry Pinkney
Melody, the littlest sea princess, is not content just to sing in the choir of mermaids like her sisters. She is an explorer who wonders about what lies above the water’s surface . . . especially the young girl she has spied from a distance. To meet her requires a terrible sacrifice: she trades her beautiful voice for a potion that gives her legs, so that she may live on land instead. It seems like a dream come true at first. But when trouble stirs beneath the ocean, Melody faces another impossible choice — stay with her friend, or reclaim her true identity and save her family.
Mabel: A Mermaid Fable by Rowboat Watkins
A silly read-aloud tale for kids about being yourself! Mabel isn’t like the other mermaids. Lucky isn’t like the other octopuses. But when they find each other, they discover that true friendship isn’t about how you look, and that sometimes what we are searching for is right under our noses.
The Mermaid by Jan Brett
When Kiniro, a young mermaid, comes upon a gorgeous house made of seashells and coral, she is so curious that she goes inside. She’s thrilled to find a just-right breakfast, pretty little chair, and, best of all, a comfy bed that rocks in the current. But when the Octopus family returns home, they are not happy to find that someone has been eating their food and breaking their things. Baby has the biggest shock when she finds the mermaid asleep in her bed! Luckily, shock turns to happiness when Kiniro gives her a thoughtful gift before escaping from the twenty-four arms coming her way.
Mermaid Dreams by Kate Pugsley
One sunny Saturday, Maya and her parents visit the beach. Maya loves the beach: the warm sand feels wonderful between her toes. But it would be more fun if she had a friend. Too shy to say hello, Maya watches the kids play nearby, and slowly her eyes droop closed . . .
When Maya awakens she has been transported to a magical underwater world. Maya admires the sea creatures flitting around her, and she discovers that she too has a beautiful tail. Maya is a mermaid! But who is calling out a greeting from behind that coral? Whose bright eyes are peering at her from the sea grass? Whose laughter does she hear? Could it be a new friend? Or just another sea creature?
Mermaid School by Joanne Stewart Wetzel, illustrated by Julianna Swaney
It’s Molly’s first day at mermaid school, and there’s so much to learn! Follow the mermaids as they count clamshells, recite the A B Seas, and make new friends. They even enjoy story time about children who walk on land! At the end of the day, it’s time to sing the goodbye song and head home. With sweet, rhyming language and a peek into a fantastical undersea world, Mermaid School touches on all the major moments children will experience on their first day. And don’t miss the mermaid school handbook in the back of this book for more mermaid fun!
Oona by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa
Oona and her best friend Otto love to search for treasure…and often find trouble instead. Messy trouble. Tricky trouble. Even shark-related trouble. That’s never stopped them before, though!
After all, no proper treasure hunt is without some adventure. But when the grandest treasure yet is stuck in a deep, dark rift, Oona’s not sure if she can dive right in. What might be waiting for her in those unknown waters?
Pearl by Molly Idle
Sometimes the tiniest light can shine the brightest! Like the other mermaids of the deep, Pearl longs to care for the endless beaches, coral reefs, and towering kelp forests of her vast ocean world. So when her mother asks her to tend to a mere grain of sand, Pearl is heartbroken. It takes all her patience and determination to discover how even the littlest mermaid can transform the world.
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One Comment
Janet Lucy
Is there room for one more?
“Mermaid Dreams: A Little Girl’s Undersea Journey with the Ocean Goddess Yemaya” by Janet Lucy, illustrated by Colleen McCarthy-Evans; Book of the Year Award 2020 (Creative Child Magazine)
https://sevenseaspress.org/book/mermaid-dreams/
Maya dreams of being a mermaid. She dances to Caribbean music in her favorite skirt her mama made of seven tiers of turquoise net. She dives for shiny coins in the pool at the park and can float on her back forever. But Maya also has nightmares and ocean fears. One night, mama tells her the legend of her namesake, Yemaya, the Goddess of the Ocean. Yemaya comes to Maya in a dream, taking her on an undersea journey. Mermaid Dreams illuminates the universal dreams and fears of children and adults alike, offering new ways to find courage and comfort, inner power and peace. Mermaid Dreams expands the mosaic of mermaid imagery so that more children can recognize themselves in this magical archetype. A Discussion Guide, Activities, and other Sources & Resources are included. A beautiful bedtime book for ages 4 ~ 8.