Children of all ages have been captivated by mermaids and fascinated by the idea of a half-human, half-animal, living in a mystical world under the sea. Children love to imagine that they themselves could transform into another animal — these mermaid books for kids help them expand their imaginations.
We’ve compiled 15 mermaid books for kids, ranging from board books, picture books, and chapter books, all about mermaids and the fun adventures they have.
Mermaid Books for Kids
The Singing Mermaid
Written by Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Lydia Monks
Ages 2 – 6 years | Board Book
A lyrically rhyming story about a singing mermaid who is tricked by a circus owner away from her home. Although the story may sound sinister, it is a lighthearted tale of how the mermaid makes it back home with the help of her friend. A sweet, clever story with bright, fun illustrations.
Three Little Mermaids
Written and Illustrated by Mara Van Fleet
Ages 2 – 6 years | Interactive Board Book
This shimmering, interactive book is a bang for your buck when it comes to board books — there are sparkly fish, mermaid tails that move, and many touch-and-feel elements throughout. All of the animals are joining the mermaids for a tea party, and kids will learn about counting in addition to different sea creature names. Such a fun, sturdy board book!
Good Night Mermaids
Written by Adam Gamble and Mark Jasper and Illustrated by Suwin Chan
Ages 2 – 6 years | Board Book
Follow along as you travel the magical world of the sea wishing good night to mermaids with dolphins, playing dress up, blowing bubbles, and searching for sunken treasures. The illustrations are fun and colorful. In a similar fashion of the other Good Night Our World series, there isn’t a story to follow, just various scenes to bid good night. This book would be a great bedtime read for a small child.
Ten Little Mermaids
Written by Susie Linn and Illustrated by Lauren Ellis
Ages 2 – 5 years | Picture Book
The book begins with ten little mermaids, and with each turn of the page, one of them disappears. The rhyming is cute and it is a great book to teach children to count and use their deductive skills to see which mermaid is missing from the previous page. The illustrations are bright and colorful, perfect for children who love mermaids!
Mermaid School
Written by Joanne Stewart Wetzel and Illustrated by Julianna Swaney
Ages 3 – 7 years | Picture Book
It’s the first day of mermaid school, and like most kids on the first day, Molly is a little nervous. But she comes to find out there’s nothing to be nervous about and ends up having a great time with new friends. The rhyming is charming and the illustrations are just darling. We love that the mermaids are diverse and not just females at the school. This is one of our favorite mermaid books for kids, and introduces young children to school, with a nod to what school would be like undersea.
The Smart Little Mermaid
Written and Illustrated by J. Drumm
Ages 4 – 8 years | Picture Book
This story is similar to the original Hans Christian Anderson tale, that was revamped by Disney, but instead of giving up her voice for a prince, the little mermaid gives it up to save the ocean. It is an empowering, rhyming story of courage and determination. The artwork is a mixture of photography and illustrations of a modern-looking princess.
Pearl
Written and Illustrated by Molly Idle
Ages 3 – 8 years | Picture Book
Pearl is a mermaid that longs to care for her world under the sea and have an important job, like the other mermaids of the ocean. When she’s given the task to care for a single grain of sand, she feels defeated but learns that even the smallest task from the smallest mermaid, can make a big difference. The illustrations are simply stunning, and the story reads like a modern-day fable.
Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet
Written by Jane O’Connor and Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
Ages 3 – 8 years | Picture Book
Nancy and her best friend Bree are preparing for their undersea ballet and both covet the star mermaid position. But when someone else is chosen for the lead role, Nancy has to make a decision on whether to wallow or rise to the occasion and be a supportive friend. It is a great lesson on how to deal with jealousy and making decisions that make you and others happy in the end. In true Nancy fashion, the story is cute, the vocabulary is expansive, and the illustrations simply charming.
How to Catch a Mermaid
Written by Adam Wallace and Illustrated by Andy Elkerton
Ages 3 – 8 years | Picture Book
A little girl thought she saw a mermaid and forms a team to try to figure out a way to catch her. A cute, playful book on a group of kids who try to catch a mermaid, with bright illustrations and rhyming text. If you liked this book, you may enjoy the others in How to Catch book series.
Pinkalicious and Aqua, the Mini-Mermaid
Written and Illustrated by Victoria Kann
Ages 4 – 8 years | Picture Book
Pinkalicious goes to meet Aqua, a miniature mermaid, at the aquarium for a day at the beach. They identify fish they see in the aquarium and explore the shoreline for treasures. They get a little nervous, however, when they start to fins in the water, but only realize they are friendly dolphins. Like other Pinkalicious books, the story is imaginative and relatable, and this specific book includes a page of stickers in the back; highly prized by my two daughters.
The Mermaid by Jan Brett
Written and Illustrated by Jan Brett
Ages 4 – 8 years | Picture Book
A mermaid swims by an empty seashell house that looks intriguing and finds herself tasting the occupant’s meal, sitting in their chairs, and sleeping in a swinging clamshell. In classic Jan Brett style, this book replicates the Goldilocks and the Three Bears story, except under the sea. The illustrations are intricate and gorgeous, and the story is familiar but told in a different, clever way. Lovely!
Trouble at Trident Academy
Written by Debbie Dadey and Illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan
Ages 6 – 9 years | Chapter Book
It’s the first day of third grade in the world under the sea, and Shelly the mermaid is nervous attending a prestigious academy for the first time. Follow along as she navigates relationships among friends and those who aren’t so friendly. If you have a child who enjoys mermaid tales and enjoys reading chapter books, this is the first book in the Mermaid Tales Series, with over a dozen more in the series.
Stories of Mermaids
Written and Illustrated by Russell Punter
Ages 5 – 10 years | Picture Book
If you’re looking for a mermaid book for kids who are beginning to read, this one may be a great choice, as there are still illustrations on most pages and easy-to-read stories. There are three original stories in this book: a mermaid is on a brave journey to a sunken ship, another is on a Great Seahorse Race and has to solve a riddle to win, and the last one is about a mermaid who loves to dance and is turned into a human.
The Tail of Emily Windsnap
Written by Liz Kessler and Illustrated by Sarah Gibb
Ages 8 – 12 years | Chapter Book
Emily thought she was just a normal 12-year-old, but when she takes swimming lessons for the first time, she discovers she may not be so normal after all. when she realizes she may not be so average after all. She learns that her dad is half-mermaid, and a whole new world and adventure under the sea comes alive for her. This is the first book in the Tail of Emily Windsnap series, a very popular series among pre-teens.
Bayou Magic
Written by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Ages 10 – 14 years | Chapter Book
Maddy is spending the summer with her grandmother in the bayou and discovers all kinds of family secrets and magic in the wetlands, including magical fireflies and mermaids. She comes to love the small community, and when an oil spill threatens to destroy her home, she uses her magic to save it. It is a story of adventure and courage, but it does have some mature themes for young readers, including one of Maddy’s friend has an alcoholic father and the oil spill which causes disaster and death. Bayou Magic is the third book in the Louisiana Girls Trilogy books, a series on African American girls living in the Deep South. It isn’t necessary, however, to read the stories in order.
These are only just a few of the great mermaid books for kids. If you have a favorite book that you would like considered to be featured, please feel free to contact us!
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