Mairi's Mermaid by Michael Morpurgo

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Michael Morpurgo
Pages: 48

Summary(goodreads.com):
Robbie says swimming is easy. You just have to pretend you’re a mermaid. But that doesn’t help Mairi. She isn’t even sure that mermaids are real!



My Review: 
Learning how to swim is a milestone in every little merchild's life that requires patience...and sometimes a little help from merpeople! I loved the main concept of the book; every creature needs help now matter how big or small. By helping each other, Mairi and the mermaid solved their problems. The book also teaches patience and perseverance.

I loved the small details in the book. On every page, a fish makes a comment about what's going on. I also loved the cute illustrations and how tiny the merpeople were! I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Mermaid Tales #11: The Polar Bear Express by Debbie Dadey

Book Type: Novel
Author: Debbie Dadey
Pages: 128

Summary(goodreads.com):
A lost baby polar bear shares the spotlight with a popular boy band in this Mermaid Tales adventure.
Kiki Coral is thrilled beyond words when she meets a brand-new friend: a baby polar bear! The problem is, the little bear, whose name is Nestor, has floated away from home on a patch of ice and now he’s lost, hungry, and all alone!
Kiki, Shelly, and Echo want to send Nestor back to his home on the Manta Ray Express, but a one-way ticket costs a whopping four jewels! That’s a fortune! Not to mention, all anyone at school can talk about is the Rays, who are performing a concert in Poseidon. Kiki loves the cute boy band as much as the next mergirl, but what about Nestor? Isn’t saving him more important than a concert?
Can Kiki and her friends find a fun way to send their new furry friend home—and hang out with the Rays in the process? 


My Review:
I was really happy when Dadey decided to focus on major environmental issues in this latest mermaid tale, specifically focusing on polar bears, melting ice, and global warming. Not only does this book teach young children about the value of the environment, but how they can help! One way Kiki and her friends raise money is by creating a fundraiser event. 

The only character who always annoys me is Pearl. Would it kill her to not be a spoiled brat for once?? The ending of this book was so sweet that I almost cried :,)!
I loved this mermaid tale! (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie 

The Little Mermaid by Francesca Rossi

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Francesca Rossi
Pages: 64

Summary(goodreads.com):
When she falls in love with the prince she rescues during a storm, the Little Mermaid sells her voice to a witch for the chance to become human. But if her prince doesn't love her back, she could lose it all . . .

My Review:
The Little Mermaid  is a timeless classic mermaid story. While some authors use amazing illustrations and words with their rendition, others fall a little flat. I would say this book falls into the mix of good and bad. 

While the mermaids in this book are beautiful, the background colors fall a little flat. The ocean is full of life and color, and the illustrations do not portray this. Although the text is somewhat like the original Anderson version, the ending is vastly altered.

So is this the original The Little Mermaid? You be the judge!
I give this book (***) 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie 

Mermaid Tales #9: A Royal Tea by Debbie Dadey

Book Type: Novel
Author:Debbie Dadey
Pages: 112

Summary(goodreads.com):
When Shelly meets the Queen of the Western Oceans in this Mermaid Tales adventure, she encounters a royal dilemma! 
When a royal messenger announces that Queen Edwina is coming to tea, Shelly is as jittery as a jellyfish! After all, the Queen of the Western Oceans is her great aunt. And despite being a princess, Shelly has never met a queen before. How should she act? What should she wear? 
Then Pearl tells Shelly that the queen is going to take Shelly to live in Neptune's Castle: "It's where a real princess would live," Pearl tells her. Shelly is terrified of leaving her home, friends, and beloved grandfather behind. When the royal carriage arrives, she's trembling from the top of her head to the tip of her tail. What will Queen Edwina think of Princess Shelly? And will she really take Shelly away from the home she loves?

My Review:
There seems to be an endless amount of Mermaid Tales books and I can't keep up! I loved that this book focused on Shelly, since I identify with her. She's modest, and that's very important for kids to learn at a young age. I also loved that this book focused on the theme of true friendship. Echo and Kiki are real friends. They are there for her, whether she's a princess or needs help cleaning up her small apartment. Shelly's royal aunt is also very modest, and I love the gift she gave Shelly at the end! This was definitely one of my favorites.  *****( 5 stars).
-Sirenita The Selkie 

(12) Mermaid Tales: Treasure In Trident City by Debbie Dadey

Book Type: Novel
Author: Debbie Dadey
Pages: 128

Summary(goodreads.com):

When Rocky finds a seaweed scroll that describes an abandoned pirate ship bursting with jewels, the students are tripping over their tails with excitement. There's only one problem: the treasure is supposedly guarded by pirate ghosts! But a few silly ghosts aren't going to keep prima donna Pearl away from fame, fortune, and diamonds as big as a merman's fist.
The hunt is on! Pearl recruits fellow merkids Rocky and Wanda to help her track down the treasure by swimming all the way past Whale Mountain. But when they discover the pirate ship, they hear eerie moans and groans coming from within. What's making those sounds? Could the pirate ghosts be real? And can the merkids get the jewels before becoming someone or something's lunch?

My Review:
I was a little surprised that Debbie Dadey decided to write a book about the mean girl of the series. However, I actually enjoyed this mermaid tale! I really love how so many interesting sea creatures were mentioned, such as bootlace worms and black dragonfish. I also found the plot to be more exciting compared to the other books in the series.
I only wish that Pearl would change her bad and bratty attitude! She's very annoying, and I wish she would change. I loved that this book teaches the value of life over possessions, and teamwork.
I give this book (****) 4 stars. 

(10) Mermaid Tales: Dream Of The Blue Turtle by Debbie Dadey

Book Type: Novel
Author: Debbie Dadey
Pages: 128

Summary(goodreads.com):
Kiki Coral can see the future;can she save a friend from his dangerous fate?

Kiki Coral has an amazing gift: she can see the future. She doesn't have visions very often, but they are always surprising! When Kiki sees a vision of her classmate Rocky Ridge coming face-to-frightening-face with a gigantic leatherback turtle, she is frightened to the tip of her shiny purple tail. Can Kiki save Rocky from his dangerous fate? What if no one in Trident Academy believes her scary prediction?




My Review:
 This is the 7th book in the Mermaid Tales series, and I am starting to get quite bored with these books. First, I wanted to know more about when Kiki first got her visions.  How old was she? What was her first vision? I did love some of the themes and concepts in this book. I loved how it teaches children about trusting their friends, and how to work on a team, I also love that the leatherback  turtle's endangered status was mentioned.

Later on in the story, Pearl forces Kiki to work on their project using plastic bags. How would they know what this is, if they are confused about items in the people museum? The mergirls always question what human items are since they never see them every day.

This wasn't a very exciting mermaid tale, and Marvin the sea turtle, which was the most anticipated sea creature, only appeared for 2 pages!
I give this book (**) 2 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

(9) the Selkie Girl by Janis Mackay

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Janis Mackay
Pages: 32

Summary(goodreads.com):
Fergus lives with his father by the sea, but is lonely. He wants a friend more than anything. One day Fergus finds treasure on the beach: a beautiful fur blanket hidden in the rocks. But Fergus doesn't know that his treasure belongs to someone else - a selkie girl has lost her seal skin and can't go home to the sea without it. Will Fergus give his new friend what she needs, and risk being lonely again?

My Review:
Yay! I was so happy when I found that my local library had a new selkie children's book to explore :) After the last couple of selkie books that I've read, I was expecting another let down. However, this story was beautiful! The text is not juvenile, so adults and mer-children can enjoy it together. The illustrations were breath taking, especially of the selkie women. They really captured the alluring magic of selkies.

This book teaches young children the true value of friendship and promises, but also the lesson that if you love someone or something, set it free.
I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Tara and Her Talking Kitten Meet A Mermaid by Diana Cooper

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Diana Cooper
Pages: 80

Summary(goodreads.com):
When a flood overwhelms her village, Tara enlists the help of her old friends the fairies and the Unicorn to help save a boy from drowning. Learning from this event, Tara undertakes a special mission to clean up the oceans. By organizing her school and with the help of politicians, Tara successfully builds a campaign to raise public awareness about environmental concerns. The fourth adventure in a magical series, this imaginative story creates clear discussion points allowing parents and teachers to talk to children about actions and consequences while offering ideas on ways to interact with and protect the earth.

My Review:
I loved this book! It was really creative and original. This seems to be a series, but you don't have to read the other books, since some of the background info is explained. I really like how this book introduced children to elemental magic, such as auras and light, and even archangels. Ash-ting the cat is my favorite character. He is so fickle, and reminds me of my own cat! I also like that the author went into different ways that the oceans are ruined by humans, but explained it in a way that was easy for kids to understand. The only negatives I have are that the language is a bit simplified and juvenile, so adults might not enjoy reading this. Also, the story seems to end abruptly, and I wanted more of a clearer ending. I give this book (***) 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Little Mermaid by Ronne Randall

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Ronne Randall
Pages: 32

Summary(goodreads.com):
This Parragon fairy tale classic picture book features revised text ideal for beginning readers along with vibrant new illustrations. Children will love to follow along with their favorite characters!

My Review:
I was disappointed with the illustrations, as well as the plot of this book. I wanted more life and maturity for such a beautiful story, and made the Little Mermaid look 5 instead of 15.
The adaptation of the story was okay, but a lot of the major details from the original were left out, so it made the story boring and predictable. I don't recommend reading this adaptation. I give this book (**) 2 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Alonzo and Molly the Mermaid (Adventures of Alonzo the Chicken) by Debbie Kelly

Book Type: Children's Literature, Introduction to Chapters
Author: Debbie Kelly
Pages: 56

Summary(goodreads.com):
When Molly the Mermaid is kidnapped by the Pesky Pirates things don't look too clever. But then they hadn't reckoned on Alonzo, the world's first chicken superhero! With the help of Sid the Squid, Delores the Dolphin and the other sea creatures, our clucking hero swims in to save the day. This cracking, first book in the 'The Adventures of Alonzo the Chicken' series, Alonzo and Molly the Mermaid is a barmy, maritime adventure for early readers. Debbie Kelly has written a fun and swashbuckling book which accompanied by Monika Filipina Trzpil's delightful illustrations will delight young readers. With mermaids, pirates and a superhero chicken this is great fun for boys and girls alike.

My Review:
When I first found this book on my library's online catalog, I was a bit skeptical. A chicken? And a mermaid? I had to find out for myself! What I loved most about this book was the creativity, and how different it was from other children's books. Alonzo the chicken is definitely a character who stands out to me amongst other books I've read. I also loved the illustrations; they were so quirky and cute!
The only negative I have about this book is that it's meant for children learning how to read chapters, so adult readers might find the writing style a bit juvenile. This is also a series, so the book ends on a good cliffhanger! I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Mermaid Tales #5: The Lost Princess by Debbie Dadey

Book Type: Novel
Author: Debbie Dadey
Pages: 128

Summary(goodreads.com):
Not one of the merkids in Shelly Siren’s third grade class can believe the shell-shattering news: Shelly is a princess! A real princess! It’s been a deep, dark secret in Trident City, but now everyone knows—and Shelly doesn’t know how to act. Should she start wearing a glittery crown? Or move to a grand undersea palace? Will her friends have to call her Princess Shelly? She knows it’s an exciting turn of events, but Shelly’s not sure she can truly fit the royal part. Can she find a way to be a princess and stay herself?

My Review:
I really enjoyed this book! What I loved most about it was Shelly's character and how she is such a good role model. She has all the qualities of a true princess such as kindness, modesty, friendliness and helpfulness as well. This story also reminded me of the classic tale, The Prince and The Pauper. I also really liked that this was a coming-of-age story, and Shelly is learning to grow up and make her own decisions regarding her ancestry. In one instance, Shelly uses her new authority for good instead of being a bully.
Lastly, this book also teaches that real friend will love you no matter what.
This is one of my favorite Mermaid Tales in the series and I give it (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

(25) The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids by Ammi-Joan Paquette

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Ammi-Joan Paquette
Pages: 32

Summary(goodreads.com):
On hot summer days, the beaches are packed with all kinds of people swimming, splashing, or lying in the sun. But there are other days—magical ones—when the beach is empty. Whoosh! The wind tosses up the sand in curling eddies. Kazoom! The waves cymbal-crash against the shore. Yes!
Days like these are just right for finding mermaids.
Have you ever walked on the beach and looked for shells or or clams? There are creatures, more like you and me, who are even more interesting to look for. Most people don’t see them, but they might just not know how to look for signs. That sand dollar—why, that could be a mermaid-size surfboard. Those twisted reeds—a bed for a lovely afternoon mermaid nap. And if you peer closely into the water, you might see a mermaid market.
This is a lovely activity for a fun day at the beach and a way to encourage paying close attention to all the interesting things that can be found on the beach or in the water.

My Review:
Unforunately, there is not much to say about this book. It's not really a mermaid discovery book. Its more of a book that encourages children to study their surroundings. The images were just odd as well. There are pictures of children at the beach, with little drawn mermaids photoshopped into the pictures. The mermaids look more like fairies than mermaids, in my opinion. Overall, this book is just lacking something more... mermaidy. There's nothing really interesting in here, even for a children's book. I give this book (**) 2 stars
-Sirenita The Selkie

(22) Princess Fishtail by Frances Minters

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Frances Minters
Pages: 32

Summary(goodreads.com):
Princess Fishtail really digs her life beneath the water-living in a crystal palace, jumping rope with dolphins, and chatting with tuna on her cell phone. But one day when she rescues a handsome surfer, the mer-princess realizes she's been hooked-by love. The princess decides to spend the rest of her life on land with her true love, but one day she gets homesick for her old pals under the sea. Will a rotten old troll stand in true love's way, or can a mermaid princess, a surfer, and some sewing lessons show the way to living happily ever after? 

My Review
When I first picked up this book,  I didn't know what to expect, especially with the crazy and whimsical drawings on the cover. However, I really liked this book, and it was funny too! This book is actually a very modern and young version of the classic story, The Little Mermaid, and it's upbeat as well. It was also funny that the main character is so high maintenance, and very spoiled! I loved how the story was written. It was a clever and lyrical poem, and as soon as the book started I was impressed with Minters' style of writing. I also loved how the sea creatures throughout the illustrations make cheeky little remarks about what's going on :)

Although the illustrations are a bit childlike and whimsical, the story was really cute, and I loved the ending, which teaches children to be happy and grateful for what you have, and to make the best out of a bad situation. I really liked this book, and I believe adults will enjoy it as well. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

(21) Three Little Mermaids by Mara Van Fleet

Book Type: Children's Book/ Toddler Books
Author: Mara Van Fleet
Pages: 16

Summary(goodreads.com):
Have a tea party undersea and practice counting with Three Little Mermaids, this sparkling touch and feel and pull tab novelty book by bestselling creator Mara Van Fleet!

My Review:
Even though this book is short, this is a very cute mermaid book! This book is specifically aimed at toddlers and young children learning how to count, and also has textured parts for toddlers to touch! I secretly loved the furry seals, and thought it was adorable. Since this book is made for children learning numbers, counting and how to read, it does have simple words and sentences, but I did like it because the story was in a poem form. I also loved the cute illustrations that were bright and vibrant and caught the reader's attention. This book is a great learning resource for young toddlers, and a good bedtime story! I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

(20) Mermaid Dreams by Mark Sperring

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Mark Sperring
Pages: 32

Summary(goodreads.com):
Meriam liked lots of things, but she didn't like getting ready for bed..." As her mother scrubs behind her ears and combs the seashells out of her tangled hair, little beach babe Meriam describes a most extraordinary day: diving for pearls, swimming with dolphins, even frolicking with octopuses. Is Meriam making it all up?

No, because Meriam is every young girl's dream--a real-life mermaid who never, ever has to clean between her toes!


My Review:
After picking this book up from the library and examining the cover, I wasn't really sure what to expect . However, this book was pretty cute for a bedtime story, or even something to read after coming home from the beach! This is definitely a story for picky kids! The first line of the book is "Meriam liked lots of things, but she didn't like getting ready for bed," (Sperring 1).  I also loved that the text was whimsical and fun, but wasn't juvenile with simple sentences or words. Although the illustrations were a bit cartooney and weird, I liked them! They really add a dash of whimsy to this book. Overall, it was cute but nothing super exciting. I give this book (***) 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

(13) Mermaids in the Backyard by Catherine Hapka

Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Catherine Hapka
Pages: 112

Summary(goodreads.com):
Lindy doesn't want to move to the bug house. That's what she calls her family's new beachfront house on stilts. She misses her best friend and her life back in Chicago. But her feelings change during a storm when Lindy hears a cry for help
 . . . from a mermaid! Are there really mermaids in Lindy's backyard? And if so, what can one clumsy girl do to help them?


My Review:
I would first like to state that this book is great for mer-children learning to read chapters. It features short chapters and large text, with the occasional black-and-white picture, but the book was not written in a juvenile way, so adults can enjoy it as well. What I loved about this book was the mermaids Coral and Sealily. They reminded me both of Ariel and her sisters, as well as the way me and my little cousins used to play and tease each other as children. This book almost reminds me of the stories I wrote as a young mergirl, and this put a smile on my face as I continued to read on. I also loved the little yellow seahorse, Finneus. he reminds me of a cat, and has a bit of independence for a little creature! One of the most funniest moments was when he spits water in Sealily's face for trying to make him do tricks, which actually made me laugh :) 
One character really annoyed me, a little boy named Matthew. He is such a brat and aggravated me just reading about him!  He reminds me of all the little bratty kids that run around beaches, looking to disrupt and bother ocean life, or the kids that take wild animals home as pets. Ugh! 
Most of all, this book deals with the uncomfortable issue of moving to another house in a completely new place while adjusting to a new lifestyle as well. I believe young mers who are moving soon should take a look at this book. I believe it will offer some comfort and show them how to be optimistic in troubling times. I loved this whimsical short book, and I would recommend it as a summer read! I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Lady In The Water by M. Night Shyamalan(11)

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: M. Night Shyamalan
Pages: 64

Summary(amazon.com):
Reveals the narf, a rare sea nymph who lives beneath a swimming pool until she is seen by a person who, after that experience, will someday do something important for the world.

My Review:
"Lady In The Water: A Bedtime Story" is the book based on the 2006 film with the same title. I had seen "Lady In The Water" many times before, but the first time I watched it, I was confused with the plot. However, this book really sums up what the base of the story is without giving away any of the plot from the movie. This book is really charming, and I believe that children and adults alike can enjoy this. I must warn parents now that the movie is rated PG-13, due to some scary parts in the book. This is truly M. Night Shyamalan's best work, in my opinion. I give this book (*****) 5 stars.
PS: check out my movie review here
-Sirenita The Selkie

Hansy's Mermaid by Trinka Hakes Noble(9)

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Trinka Hakes Noble
Pages: 31

Summary(amazon.com):
A storm brings a mermaid to a Dutch family that puts her to work for them; but the young son Hansy longs to help her return to her home in the sea.

My Review:
Throughout my years of exploring the depths and hidden treasures of mermaid literature, I have never come across a Dutch mermaid tale! It was pretty interesting to finally pick up something different. I thought overall the storyline was cute and had easy text that wasn't overly juvenile, so adult readers would enjoy it as well. I think the only criticisms I would have is that the story is a bit simple, and forgettable. The illustrations were also very plain, and for a mermaid book, especially one created for children, you would expect the pictures to be vibrant and beautiful, but sadly, they are not. I give this book (**-***) between 2 and 3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

Dear Mermaid by Alan Durant (4)

Book Type: Children's Book
Author: Alan Durant
Pages: 32

Summary(amazon.com):
On her first day of vacation, Holly finds a mermaid’s purse on the beach. She wants to give it back, but has a few questions for the mermaid first. Imagine how thrilled Holly is the next day to find the purse again, with a letter inside — and a request to help find a mysterious gold key!

My Review:
As I had expected, this book was just way too much glitter and girliness for my taste. The mermaid is very coloful and bright and she reminds me of a fairy instead of a mermaid. However, I did think it was very cute that there were letters for children to pull out and enjoy! Unfortunately, when I picked up my copy from the library, the letters were all mixed up so it was a little confusing to understand what was going on. Overall, this book was cute, but a little too juvenile for adult readers to enjoy. I give this book (**-***) 2-3 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie

The Mermaid Of Cafur by Evelyn Foster

 Book Type: Children's Literature
Author: Evelyn Foster
Pages: 32

Summary(amazon.com):
Far away to the west there is a magical underwater kingdom called Cafur, deep beneath the dark, emerald sea. The queen of Cafur is Arianne, a cruel mermaid, who likes to steal children. When she captures Ewan, his sister sets out to rescue him.

My Review:
I really enjoyed reading this book as well as  diving into the sea and exploring Cafur in these pages. The colors are what first captivated me, since they mimic the aqua green of the sea so well. This storyline actually reminds me a bit of Hansel and Gretel, in which the evil witch (queen mermaid in this case) steals children, which is what Queen Arianne does in this book, and then uses them to do her bidding. I think even if this book did not have full illustrations,  the reader would have a clear picture in their mind. Foster really creates a captivating and imaginative plot! In my personal opinion, the illustrations are a bit too whimsical for me, but as you can see, they are quite beautiful and would definitely capture the mind of either a child or adult. I really recommend reading this if you like classic fairy tales, or if your child wants a cute bedtime story! I give this book (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie