Dear Mermaid
on Goodreads (24)
What’s inside...
It is the summer holiday and Holly finds a mermaid's purse on the beach near her cottage. Thinking a mermaid must have lost it, Holly writes a letter to see if she'd like it back. Princess Kora replies, and they soon become holiday friends. Holly learns all about life under the sea, as well as getting some very special holiday presents!
Age
6-9
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think it would be like to receive a letter from a mermaid? How would you respond?
How do you think the mermaid feels living under the sea? What clues in the story tell you this?
Can you think of ways the girl and the mermaid are similar and different? Which of these traits do you relate to?
What is the most important thing the girl learns from her friendship with the mermaid?
If you could ask the mermaid one question, what would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine the underwater world and the adventures the mermaid might have, enhancing their creative thinking.
Discuss the feelings and emotions of both the mermaid and the human girl as the story progresses, fostering empathy and emotional intelligence.
Use descriptive scenes from the book to help your child describe their own imaginary world, promoting descriptive language skills.
Ask your child to draw or describe what they think a mermaid's home might look like, boosting their imaginative and artistic skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of Friendship
Explanation: In 'Dear Mermaid', the young protagonist Holly forms a unique bond with a mermaid, illustrating the value of friendship despite differences.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to value and nurture friendships with peers who may have different backgrounds or experiences.
Example Lesson: Courage to Explore
Explanation: Holly's adventurous spirit in reaching out and maintaining a correspondence with a mermaid showcases the courage to explore the unknown.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be curious and adventurous about the world around them, promoting an open-minded approach to new experiences.
Example Lesson: Importance of Communication
Explanation: The story revolves around Holly and the mermaid exchanging letters, highlighting the significance of communication in building and sustaining relationships.
Real-World Application: Children are reminded of the importance of regular communication, whether through writing or speaking, in keeping relationships strong and understanding others better.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: Through her interactions with the mermaid, Holly learns about life under the sea, fostering empathy and understanding for lives different from her own.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children appreciate and respect diversity in the lives of others, teaching them to be empathetic towards everyone's unique situations.