It's gonna be... Mermay!
It's just better down where it's wetter.
Hey there, a dad here, and I have to admit that before I had my daughter, I don’t think I read a single story with a mermaid protag. I have hundreds of Aquaman comics, and I’ve always loved underwater stories, but mermaids? Meh. Then we started having kids, and now, almost seven years later, I can easily name a bunch of awesome mermaid books that I’d be happy to read anytime, anywhere. Funny how parenthood changes things.
As for Mermay, I’m not sure how it got started (I want to say it was a trend on Instagram years ago that’s had amazing staying power?), but it’s fun and whimsical and honestly, I need some whimsy in my life. With all the garbage that’s going on, maybe you do too. And there’s no shame in escaping to underwater worlds with the kids for little bit, right? Heck, it’s probably therapeutic at this point!
Now, while I was fishing for all my favorite mermaid books, I quickly realized that I didn’t have a single merboy book on the list. After doing some digging in my backlog, I managed to net a few (I had to get a little creative), but I really underestimated how many merfolk books feature mermaids as opposed to merboys. I blame the cultural leviathan that is Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
All that aside, let’s talk Mermay books! I’ve got ten terrific titles lined up for y’all and hopefully there are a few here that you’ve never read before! Oh, and follow the A Dad Reads IG and lemme know if I missed any of your favorites!
Oona
Oona is an adorable, magical story about a little mermaid and her otter trying to rescue a gleaming crown from a dangerous undersea rift. I love Oona’s design, y’all. Her afro being dotted with constellations of pearls and auroras of seaweed? It’s just beautiful, and so is the book.
Author: Kelly DiPucchio
Illustrator: Raissa Figueroa
Ages: 4+
Price: $6 Used, $16 New
P.S. Need more Oona? Check out Oona in the Arctic and Oona and the Shark!
The Little Mermaid
Looking to add a little Puerto Rican flair to your Little Mermaid? Look no further! We’ve been enjoying this book for years. It’s easy to read and on the eyes. I’m always happy to see Ortiz’s vibrant colors and delicate linework. Seriously, look at the hair and scales!
Author: Hannah Eliot
Illustrator: Nivea Ortiz
Ages: 2+
Price: $6 Used, $9 New
P.S. The Little Mermaid is part of the Once Upon a World series, which gives classic princess fairy tales multicultural twists. I’m a fan.
Is it a Mermaid?
Benji and Bel are playing on the beach one morning when they meet a delulu dugong who’s convinced it’s a mermaid. I mean, it does have a beautiful tail and a marvelous singing voice, but Benji won’t believe it. The question is, what’s more important: being right, or being kind?
Author: Candy Gourlay
Illustrator: Francesca Chessa
Ages: 4+
Price: $7 Used, $14 New
Can I Give You A Squish?
We found a merboy gang! His name is Kai, and he’s a touchy-feely merkid who loves to squish his friends with big hugs. But what happens when a puffer fish doesn’t want squishes? Kai learns about body boundaries and how to respect everyone’s personal bubbles, and your kids will, too.
Author: Emily Neilson
Ages: 4+
Price: $12 Used, $15 New
Shark Girl
In this book, a feral shark girl vows revenge against a greedy ship captain and joins his crew to cripple his operation with subterfuge and weaponized incompetence. I’m a huge fan of gremlin-y heroines, and Shark Girl is VERY gremlin-y. Humor and biting abound, with some environmentalism sprinkled on top.
Author: Kate Beaton
Ages: 4+
Price: $9 Used, $15 New
The Shark King
Nanaue is the son of a human mother and the Shark King, a dangerous ocean deity. Yet, despite all the mischievous little demigod’s powers, he still feels like a fish out of water on land and in the sea. Like coming-of-age comics featuring mythic characters? Read this one!
Author: R. Kikuo Johnson
Ages: 4+
Price: $6 Used, $8 New
The World of Emily Windsnap: Emily’s Big Discovery
The titular Emily lives on a houseboat but doesn’t know how to swim, which is a HUGE parenting red flag! Turns out, if she gets good and wet, she transforms into a mermaid! This one’s cute as heck and perfect for any kid who dreams of becoming a mermaid, too.
Author: Liz Kessler
Illustrator: Joanie Stone
Ages: 4+
Price: $5 Used, $12 New
P.S. These books are based on Kessler’s middle-grade Emily Windsnap series, which older readers might appreciate.
Greta Whiteshark Meets the Mermaids
I loved reading this book with my daughter. Greta’s a great little heroine who tries to fit in with her new, more demure mermaid neighbors by hiding everything that makes her a shark. It’s a super fun romp filled with adventure, school shenanigans, self-discovery, and lessons worth learning.
Author: Patrick Baggatta
Illustrator: Emily Mullock
Ages: 4+
Price: $11 New
The Princess in Black and the Mermaid Princess
This is one of my favorite Princess in Black books because, instead of defending her kingdom’s goats, The Princess in Black and her friends visit an undersea mermaid kingdom and fight krakens! With beautiful illustrations and a story about mermaids, being confident, and coming into your power, I wholeheartedly recommend.
Author: Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Ages: 4+
Price: $4 Used, $13 New
How to Catch a Mermaid
The How to Catch books, in which bright-eyed, adventurous kids chase colorful creatures, have put in work for us over the years. In this one, a tenacious trio of beachgoers attempts to capture a mermaid using treasure and traps. Fun rhymes and cute illustrations make this a solid anytime read.
Author: Adam Wallace
Illustrator: Andy Elkerton
Ages: 4+
Price: $5 Used, $10 New
Whimsy Wins
What do you think of our Mermay books, gang? Anything catch your eye? If I had to suggest just one, I would say grab Oona. It really is fantastic. Also, did I miss any of your favorites? We could always use more mermaid books over here, bonus points if they’re about merboys! Is merboy the appropriate terminology?
Anyway, that’s it for this week’s book list. I hope y’all have a whimsical, wonderful weekend. I’ll be mulching and… oh my God, it’s Mother’s Day on Sunday! I should have done mom books this week! Talk about a missed opportunity…
Regardless, be well, take care of each other, tell your mom you love her, and we will talk next week!
Sincerely,
Ben, a dad
