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The Little Mermaid
Hans Christian Andersen's classic story is beautifully adapted for young readers. When the little mermaid gives up her voice in exchange for legs and a chance to meet her beloved human prince, she earns a real human soul.
Step 3 Readers are perfect for children who are ready to read to themselves. At forty-eight pages, Step 3 books are both longer and slightly more difficult than Step 2 books. This level includes some more challenging vocabulary and concepts, though the meaning is made clear through context and illustrations.
Step 3 Readers are perfect for children who are ready to read to themselves. At forty-eight pages, Step 3 books are both longer and slightly more difficult than Step 2 books. This level includes some more challenging vocabulary and concepts, though the meaning is made clear through context and illustrations.
48 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1991
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181 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 10, 2026
If you’re going to own only one illustrated copy of The Little Mermaid, let it be this one.
Though it is a retelling, Deborah Hautzig sticks to the original work. Here, “retelling” simply means that the prose is hers.
Also, the uptights hate it, so you know it’s going to be good. It’s funny—they claim that it’s “bad for kids,” as if this one adaptation is “bad,” when it’s literally as told by Hans Christian Andersen.
You’ll find that a lot of these complainers will also say that the book “glorifies suicide” because the mermaid dives into the ocean at the end. What they forget is that it’s mentioned multiple times in the book that if the mermaid fails to capture the prince’s love, she’d dissolve into seafoam. So, common sense should tell us that the reason why she dives into the ocean at the end is because she’s about to turn into fuckin’ seafoam, and longs to spend her final moments at her home: the sea. Even I understood that as a small child, come on now!
There’s also the dumb-ass complaint that “the story encourages murder,” when it certainly does not, lol. The mermaid’s sisters give up their hair to sea witch in exchange for an enchanted dagger. If the mermaid kills the prince with it and gets his blood to splatter on her, she’ll regain her tail and rejoin her family instead of turning into seafoam. So, our mermaid makes one final act of sacrifice in the name of love: she gets rid of the dagger, because she wants the prince to live out his days with his new bride.
Goddamn, sometimes I think people just choose to be obtuse because—surely—nobody can be this dense?
This was the first “big kid” book I read when I was small, and I think that it really set the standards for me, you know? I mean just look at this line:
”Tomorrow, I will be foam on the sea. I have lost everything I love."
For adults like us, a line like that may not feel as evocative. But, for a seven-year-old? That’s quality.
Also, the artworks? You must look them up!
They are 100% hand-drawn and hand-painted with watercolors.
Though it is a retelling, Deborah Hautzig sticks to the original work. Here, “retelling” simply means that the prose is hers.
Also, the uptights hate it, so you know it’s going to be good. It’s funny—they claim that it’s “bad for kids,” as if this one adaptation is “bad,” when it’s literally as told by Hans Christian Andersen.
You’ll find that a lot of these complainers will also say that the book “glorifies suicide” because the mermaid dives into the ocean at the end. What they forget is that it’s mentioned multiple times in the book that if the mermaid fails to capture the prince’s love, she’d dissolve into seafoam. So, common sense should tell us that the reason why she dives into the ocean at the end is because she’s about to turn into fuckin’ seafoam, and longs to spend her final moments at her home: the sea. Even I understood that as a small child, come on now!
There’s also the dumb-ass complaint that “the story encourages murder,” when it certainly does not, lol. The mermaid’s sisters give up their hair to sea witch in exchange for an enchanted dagger. If the mermaid kills the prince with it and gets his blood to splatter on her, she’ll regain her tail and rejoin her family instead of turning into seafoam. So, our mermaid makes one final act of sacrifice in the name of love: she gets rid of the dagger, because she wants the prince to live out his days with his new bride.
Goddamn, sometimes I think people just choose to be obtuse because—surely—nobody can be this dense?
This was the first “big kid” book I read when I was small, and I think that it really set the standards for me, you know? I mean just look at this line:
”Tomorrow, I will be foam on the sea. I have lost everything I love."
For adults like us, a line like that may not feel as evocative. But, for a seven-year-old? That’s quality.
Also, the artworks? You must look them up!
They are 100% hand-drawn and hand-painted with watercolors.
July 28, 2020
Fairly good adaptation for young readers with detailed, colorful illustrations. Didn’t like that the sea witch is the only person of color in the adaptation. I grow to hate the prince the more adaptations of The Little Mermaid I read.
August 6, 2012
I read it when I was a little girl!
I read it many more times!
And I cry for the little Mermaid!
At the time, I love her and I dream how I can protect her to find her Prince!
I read it many more times!
And I cry for the little Mermaid!
At the time, I love her and I dream how I can protect her to find her Prince!
April 30, 2024
I think this was maybe the first book I've ever read.
August 25, 2014
This is a wonderful retelling of the true and entire story of The Little Mermaid is poignant because it also includes a scene where the prince professes his love for the little mermaid and gives the reader a little glimmer of hope that the prince might marry the little mermaid which made it all the more heartbreaking when the prince meets the princess from the other kingdom and falls for the faux-savior..... just it was written in the original tale. Aside from being beutifully retold by Deborah Hautzig, Darcy May's illustrations for the book was simply superb! The illustrations are gorgeous and a truly beautiful works of art.
August 13, 2010
One of my all time favorite stories is The Little Mermaid. It doesn't matter who write's the story, Anderson or the Disney version. This particular telling is one I read so many times growing up, I cannot even give you a guestimate at how many timies! It is one of the first books I read in childhood that helped develop my love of books and reading.
October 14, 2024
The next classic we finished was this early reader. Even though my son could read this on his own, I read it to both my children. My 5 year old thought we were still reading Oliver Twist and looks forward to watching it as a family, but we were all happy to snuggle up to this one and see what variations it had from Disney’s version. I was happy to say it followed the original Hans Christian Anderson tale with modifications for younger audiences. I had a good little discussion with my children on cause and effect of choices and consequences and let them choose between the endings they think they would have chosen for the morale dilemma at the end. We were all excited for the plot twist and finished it off with discussing souls. It was a good conversation starter, an entertaining read, and it wasn’t too long for us, for me to read it to them in one sitting.
I do feel we were all enriched by the experience of cuddling up for this story and there was some good debate on how different this different rendition would be. This was my children’s first exposure to the original storyline and my daughter (5), in particular, was drawn to the sea foam part while my son (9) was more focused on the pain that would be endured by walking. In every picture pretty much, he pointed out if she would be enduring the curse or escaping it. I know he was considering rereading it or contemplating something about it after we finished as well, because I saw him thumbing through it again when I returned from tucking his sister in. I did not get to find out what he was thinking, so maybe next time. It is a mark of a good book to make one linger like that.
Again, this comes with a disclaimer that it might not be suitable for all young audiences as it discusses murder at one point, as is apart of the original plot.
I do feel we were all enriched by the experience of cuddling up for this story and there was some good debate on how different this different rendition would be. This was my children’s first exposure to the original storyline and my daughter (5), in particular, was drawn to the sea foam part while my son (9) was more focused on the pain that would be endured by walking. In every picture pretty much, he pointed out if she would be enduring the curse or escaping it. I know he was considering rereading it or contemplating something about it after we finished as well, because I saw him thumbing through it again when I returned from tucking his sister in. I did not get to find out what he was thinking, so maybe next time. It is a mark of a good book to make one linger like that.
Again, this comes with a disclaimer that it might not be suitable for all young audiences as it discusses murder at one point, as is apart of the original plot.
March 20, 2019
Genre: Fairy Tale
Awards: None
Audience: 9-11 years old
A. The little mermaid is described to have a beautiful voice and she longs for the day she can go to the surface and admire the human world. She then becomes persistent to do anything it takes to get human legs. The prince is described as charming. Her father is the sea king. The sea witch is described to be an evil character.
B. I am very familiar with the original Disney classic version of The Little Mermaid, both the book and the movie. This version had some interesting twists and a few differences that I was not expecting.
C. I don't think I would use this book for a storytelling to a child or group because I feel like a few of the images wouldn't be too appropriate. There's an image where the mermaid has legs but nothing covering her and mainly the image of the mermaid about to stab the prince sleeping on his wedding night. I feel like this image may be a little vulgar or inappropriate for young children to see as well as the concept of her dying or her having to kill the prince. This book might be better for older children independently reading or for analyzing/comparing versions.
D. Explain the decision the little mermaid had to make at the end of the book.
Answer: She could either kill the prince, touch his blood and stay alive or don't kill the prince, die, and turn into seafoam.
Awards: None
Audience: 9-11 years old
A. The little mermaid is described to have a beautiful voice and she longs for the day she can go to the surface and admire the human world. She then becomes persistent to do anything it takes to get human legs. The prince is described as charming. Her father is the sea king. The sea witch is described to be an evil character.
B. I am very familiar with the original Disney classic version of The Little Mermaid, both the book and the movie. This version had some interesting twists and a few differences that I was not expecting.
C. I don't think I would use this book for a storytelling to a child or group because I feel like a few of the images wouldn't be too appropriate. There's an image where the mermaid has legs but nothing covering her and mainly the image of the mermaid about to stab the prince sleeping on his wedding night. I feel like this image may be a little vulgar or inappropriate for young children to see as well as the concept of her dying or her having to kill the prince. This book might be better for older children independently reading or for analyzing/comparing versions.
D. Explain the decision the little mermaid had to make at the end of the book.
Answer: She could either kill the prince, touch his blood and stay alive or don't kill the prince, die, and turn into seafoam.
April 9, 2018
This is a stunning retelling of a classic fairytale. It is traditional literature because of its use of the original fairytale. The illustrations are captivating, and what I think the unique feature is that it is the original Hans Christian Anderson tale instead of the Disney version, but it is geared for younger readers. I would use this in a 2nd or 3rd grade classroom based on the longer length of the book.
December 14, 2018
Disney's version is pretty different.
March 20, 2019
I read it as a girl, frequently taking it from my sister's shelf to enjoy on my own. Nothing was sacred between us as kids when it came to books.
July 15, 2010
(Traditional tale selection)
A nice younger reader version of the original tale.
Using simple text and familiar illustrations, this book is great for a beginning reader wanting to read the original tale. It is faithful to the Andersen version, without being too graphic (for example the sea witch magically take the mermaids voice away - similar to the Disney version - instead of cutting her tongue out like in the original). It also takes out any of the religious connotations of the original. The difference in the ending and absence of a happy ending could generate some great classroom discussions on the nature of fairytales.
Note: This review refers to the Step 3 edition of "The Little Mermaid." There is a Step 4 edition available also, not sure how different it is.
A nice younger reader version of the original tale.
Using simple text and familiar illustrations, this book is great for a beginning reader wanting to read the original tale. It is faithful to the Andersen version, without being too graphic (for example the sea witch magically take the mermaids voice away - similar to the Disney version - instead of cutting her tongue out like in the original). It also takes out any of the religious connotations of the original. The difference in the ending and absence of a happy ending could generate some great classroom discussions on the nature of fairytales.
Note: This review refers to the Step 3 edition of "The Little Mermaid." There is a Step 4 edition available also, not sure how different it is.
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April 14, 2015In the story The Little Mermaid a young mermaid falls in love at first sight with a human after she saves him from a ship wreck. This human happens to be a prince who is seeking a bride, but the little mermaid feels that she cannot join his world while she is still a mermaid. After making a deal with a sea witch, the little mermaid attempts to court the prince, convince him she is the one who saved him and doing this all without the use of her beautiful voice. Sadly, her time runs out and the little mermaid was unable to court the prince. This is a good story to teach students a lesson in patience and honestly. Another good thing to incorporate is to inquire with students about things they longed for but was significantly out of their grasp.
September 10, 2008
The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney story, and this is a wonderful twist to that. It is not the same story but just as good. I have searched many years trying to find this book again and I still have yet to obtain it. I absolutely love this mermaid tale and I can still remember quite a bit of the story, especially the end.
January 23, 2010
I enjoyed this version of the story a lot better than Disney's. It's a little different most notably the ending. I guess this version's ending wasn't suitable for children or may have caused controversy due to the whole issue as to whether or not mermaids had "souls". Either way, if I could find it now, I'd keep it forever.
February 4, 2017
This is a book I have read many times over from the time I got this book when I was a child. It makes me smile and it makes me sad and gives my hope ay the end. So much for such a small book.
Initially I read this for the PopSugar book challenge but as I read this book that I loved so much I wondered if I had turned my love life to resemble her tail in some form.
Initially I read this for the PopSugar book challenge but as I read this book that I loved so much I wondered if I had turned my love life to resemble her tail in some form.
October 21, 2010
This classic tale, and movie is one that most children enjoy. My only concern with this version is the images. Some are a bit more than I would feel comfortable sharing with children. I think with upper grades, a study could be done on the different renditions for this story using the images.
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June 18, 2009JEAR3-Hau
May 4, 2011
This is a simplified version of the fairy tale, with some of the more horrible Hans Christian Andersen stuff taken out, but it's not nearly as bad as Disney and the illustrations are gorgeous.
June 9, 2011
Read this in Kindergarten, so cute.
December 8, 2011
A retelling for children's reading done in an actual lyrical and authentic (to Andersen) way. I really enjoy the illustrations as well.
December 20, 2011
so sad
April 2, 2013
Was probably my favorite book when I was like 10 years old!!!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews