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Mermaid Academy
Mermaid Academy #1: Isla and Bubble
Mermazing action-packed underwater adventures for young readers. Beautifully illustrated throughout and with a glittery cover! From the authors and illustrator of the bestselling Unicorn Academy series.
Hidden deep beneath the waves is Mermaid Academy, a magical school where mermaids are paired with their very own dolphin and must discover their unique mermaid magic, with plenty of adventure along the way!
Impulsive Isla isn't afraid of breaking a few rules to win the school treasure hunt and her dolphin, Bubble, is always up for a dare. But the seas surrounding the academy are swirling with magic, and soon Isla and Bubble find themselves in very deep water...
Mermaid Academy is the perfect series for 7+ readers who love magic and adventure.
Look out for more titles! Cora and Sparkle and Maya and Rainbow
Hidden deep beneath the waves is Mermaid Academy, a magical school where mermaids are paired with their very own dolphin and must discover their unique mermaid magic, with plenty of adventure along the way!
Impulsive Isla isn't afraid of breaking a few rules to win the school treasure hunt and her dolphin, Bubble, is always up for a dare. But the seas surrounding the academy are swirling with magic, and soon Isla and Bubble find themselves in very deep water...
Mermaid Academy is the perfect series for 7+ readers who love magic and adventure.
Look out for more titles! Cora and Sparkle and Maya and Rainbow
128 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2025
5 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Julie Sykes
228 books36 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Welcome to my website. Come on in and have a look around. You can find out about my books and also about me.
Name:
Julie Sykes
Birthday:
My birthday month is August
Place of birth:
Kingston upon Thames
Places I’ve lived:
My family moved to Australia just after I was born but returned to England in time for me to start school. I was educated in Surrey and lived there until I got married. I now live in the south of England with my husband and our three children. We used to live on a fish farm, which we shared with 300,000 rainbow trout. We share our current home with a few goldfish and a white wolf cunningly disguised as a dog.
Jobs:
I’ve worked in a kennels, shops, pubs and on a mushroom farm. My first full-time job was as a laboratory technician and after that a teacher. I’m now a full time writer.
First book published:
There were two - This and That and I Don’t Want To Go To Bed!
Favourite Things:
Family, friends, Spring (the season not the bouncy sort although bouncing is good, too), cappuccino, Danish pastries, Cornwall, the sea, books, animals, chocolate.
Worst Things:
Litter, vandals, cleaning the house, having NOTHING to read.
Hobbies:
Reading, walking, cooking, hanging out in cafés.
Welcome to my website. Come on in and have a look around. You can find out about my books and also about me.
Name:
Julie Sykes
Birthday:
My birthday month is August
Place of birth:
Kingston upon Thames
Places I’ve lived:
My family moved to Australia just after I was born but returned to England in time for me to start school. I was educated in Surrey and lived there until I got married. I now live in the south of England with my husband and our three children. We used to live on a fish farm, which we shared with 300,000 rainbow trout. We share our current home with a few goldfish and a white wolf cunningly disguised as a dog.
Jobs:
I’ve worked in a kennels, shops, pubs and on a mushroom farm. My first full-time job was as a laboratory technician and after that a teacher. I’m now a full time writer.
First book published:
There were two - This and That and I Don’t Want To Go To Bed!
Favourite Things:
Family, friends, Spring (the season not the bouncy sort although bouncing is good, too), cappuccino, Danish pastries, Cornwall, the sea, books, animals, chocolate.
Worst Things:
Litter, vandals, cleaning the house, having NOTHING to read.
Hobbies:
Reading, walking, cooking, hanging out in cafés.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 9, 2025
I loved this adorable story. Magical academy stories have been all the rage for years. Mix in mermaids and dolphins and you have the perfect chapter book combination for younger girls. Mermaids at the school each team up with a dolphin buddy and if they are very lucky, the two might form a life-long bond which magnifies their magic. When Isla and her new friend Bubbles join her dorm mates and their dolphins on a treasure hunt, they discover darkness and danger just outside the school grounds. This sweet book provides adventure, friendship and teamwork as well as magical creatures. I can't wait to read the next book.
April 22, 2023
Isla is starting her first day at mermaid academy to learn to protect their underwater world with help of a dolphin best friend. When her, her dorm friends and all their dolphin friends explore school grounds to complete the treasure hunt they find that the seahorses are missing and must find and save them.
This was so adorable, it was a very enjoyable read and had so many different elements to it, from the school magic, to the dolphin and mermaid bonding, new friendships, a scary adventure, a mystery just beginning and so much more.
I really liked that we had such different personalities for each of the girls and each of the dolphins, it really added to the story as each one acted and thought so differently, it made it so that you could connect with each character, they all offered something unique to the story. I really liked the mix that we got from them all.
I loved that this story opened up for so much more to come in the series, we know of some interesting magical objects, places that we haven’t seen yet and a darker mystery that will be explored. I really loved the inclusion and hint at what will be coming further in the series as it hooks you in wanting to read more.
The bond that the girls and their dolphins formed was so beautiful, it was such a sweet addition to the story. Each girl or each dolphin getting to choose who they become friends with and building up their unbreakable bond for life, I really adored that feature in the story.
The illustrations were so cute and pretty, I loved seeing the way the girls all looked so unique, the way the teachers all looked. They were really great illustrations to look at and matched the book perfectly.
If you love mermaids, fun adventures, stories of friendship and bravery then I highly suggest that you read this book, it’s so much fun, easy to read and so magical. You will be hooked right away into this sweet magical world and will explore with Isla and her friends.
This was so adorable, it was a very enjoyable read and had so many different elements to it, from the school magic, to the dolphin and mermaid bonding, new friendships, a scary adventure, a mystery just beginning and so much more.
I really liked that we had such different personalities for each of the girls and each of the dolphins, it really added to the story as each one acted and thought so differently, it made it so that you could connect with each character, they all offered something unique to the story. I really liked the mix that we got from them all.
I loved that this story opened up for so much more to come in the series, we know of some interesting magical objects, places that we haven’t seen yet and a darker mystery that will be explored. I really loved the inclusion and hint at what will be coming further in the series as it hooks you in wanting to read more.
The bond that the girls and their dolphins formed was so beautiful, it was such a sweet addition to the story. Each girl or each dolphin getting to choose who they become friends with and building up their unbreakable bond for life, I really adored that feature in the story.
The illustrations were so cute and pretty, I loved seeing the way the girls all looked so unique, the way the teachers all looked. They were really great illustrations to look at and matched the book perfectly.
If you love mermaids, fun adventures, stories of friendship and bravery then I highly suggest that you read this book, it’s so much fun, easy to read and so magical. You will be hooked right away into this sweet magical world and will explore with Isla and her friends.
November 14, 2023
Mermaid Academy is the latest creation from Julie Sykes who writes the Unicorn Academy series. This time Julie is joined by Linda Chapman to pen the stories and as with the Unicorn Academy Lucy Truman delights with the black and white illustrations.
Both series have been designed for the 7-9 year age audience for interest and reading skills. At age 7 this is often where many children are switched off from reading as they don’t find the books that help them bridge the gap between picture books and chapter books. This series is ideal to support and encourage reading.
Mermaid Academy Isla and Bubble give short chapters, a good size of font with great spacing between the lines of text. These features all help emerging independent readers. There’s also a good amount of beautiful illustration around every half a dozen pages or so.
In this book, the first in the series, Isla arrives at Mermaid Academy knowing no one. She’s eager to make friends, a little shy, yet a whole lot of impulsive! The story of Isla and Bubble is of new friendships and overcoming fears. Isla’s impulsivity gets everyone into peril, especially her new friends the dolphins, but through working together they’ll overcome any obstacles.
My daughter adored this book and is eager to read the rest in the series. If you have an ocean loving child or one who cares deeply about animals this story will be perfect for them.
Both series have been designed for the 7-9 year age audience for interest and reading skills. At age 7 this is often where many children are switched off from reading as they don’t find the books that help them bridge the gap between picture books and chapter books. This series is ideal to support and encourage reading.
Mermaid Academy Isla and Bubble give short chapters, a good size of font with great spacing between the lines of text. These features all help emerging independent readers. There’s also a good amount of beautiful illustration around every half a dozen pages or so.
In this book, the first in the series, Isla arrives at Mermaid Academy knowing no one. She’s eager to make friends, a little shy, yet a whole lot of impulsive! The story of Isla and Bubble is of new friendships and overcoming fears. Isla’s impulsivity gets everyone into peril, especially her new friends the dolphins, but through working together they’ll overcome any obstacles.
My daughter adored this book and is eager to read the rest in the series. If you have an ocean loving child or one who cares deeply about animals this story will be perfect for them.
September 27, 2024
The book begins with Isla arriving at mermaid accademy and she makes friends with Isobel and Cora .They go to the assembly where they get to meet the dolphins that they will partner up with.Isla sees a dolphin that she is interested in to be her partner.She meets the other people in her dorm:Maya,Amber and Cora from before.They go together to find the things they need to find for the treasure hunt.They find everything except for the wool of the woolly seahorse.They go to the sphinx to see if they can find where the woolly seahorses have gone as they are missing.They nearly get into trouble as they go to the dining room not clean.The next day they work together to find a woolly seahorse and they find that they need help.The friends get trapped while trying to help the woolly seahorses.Isla finds her magic which is bubble magic and she is able to rescue her ,her friends and the woolly seahorses.She also bonds with bubble the dolphin she wanted to be partners with!🤪
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2025
Thank you Net Galley and Random House Children’s for a copy of Mermaid Academy #1: Isla & Bubble in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great introductory Fantasy book for young girls (and boys!). As a fellow Mermaid obsessed preteen, I am so excited for my daughter to read these books, I know she will adore them. I love the illustrations throughout the book. I love the examples of courage Isla shows to her friends, and her encouraging personality. This demonstrates teamwork and friendship in a way I love to see in reading material, as a parent.
This is a great introductory Fantasy book for young girls (and boys!). As a fellow Mermaid obsessed preteen, I am so excited for my daughter to read these books, I know she will adore them. I love the illustrations throughout the book. I love the examples of courage Isla shows to her friends, and her encouraging personality. This demonstrates teamwork and friendship in a way I love to see in reading material, as a parent.
April 9, 2025
This was such a cute book! This is about Isla, a young mermaid who goes to Mermaid Academy. Mermaid Academy is a school where you bond with a dolphin to protect the ocean. While at Mermaid Academy, Isla makes new friends and has lots of fun, but when Isla and her friends notice something from their scavenger hunt is missing and everything goes wrong. Read this book to find out what happens! This is such a cute book for ages 6+. Definitely give this a read.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s books for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s books for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
July 4, 2025
Loved reading this with my daughter.
August 14, 2025
Cute and adventurous. Read it as a bedtime book with my 6 year old who loved this and is excited for the next book.
June 23, 2023
Mermaid Academy is a magical school hidden deep beneath the waves and every mermaid who attends is paired with their very own dolphin - just imagine! Whilst they are busy discovering what their magic is there is plenty of time for fun, friendship and adventure too.
In ‘Isla and Bubble’ we discover that impulsive Isla is not against breaking a few school rules to win the treasure hunt and Bubble, her dolphin, loves a dare but the pair are about to find themselves in some very deep water…
In ‘Isla and Bubble’ we discover that impulsive Isla is not against breaking a few school rules to win the treasure hunt and Bubble, her dolphin, loves a dare but the pair are about to find themselves in some very deep water…
February 6, 2025
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love that early chapter books are being written at such a speed these days. This is a really nice little addition to what's already available. Kids are going to love this series. I am hopeful that in future books we'll hear more about the boys at the school and the dolphins that they pair with. In the meantime-this book is definitely not just for girls.
I love that early chapter books are being written at such a speed these days. This is a really nice little addition to what's already available. Kids are going to love this series. I am hopeful that in future books we'll hear more about the boys at the school and the dolphins that they pair with. In the meantime-this book is definitely not just for girls.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews