The Little Mermaid

What do our readers think of The Little Mermaid? (Generated from the text of reviews of the book)

Children enjoy the magical mermaid world, colourful illustrations and adventurous journey. Some children find the darker moments, frightening magic and sad ending upsetting compared with gentler versions of the tale.

What does the Pageticker team say about The Little Mermaid?

Hans Christian Andersen’s mermaid tale is much darker and more thoughtful than its sparkly reputation suggests. We love its rich underwater world and big questions about courage, identity and sacrifice; the Sea Witch, painful transformation and unhappy elements can be unsettling for younger, more sensitive children.

Genres

What is The Little Mermaid about?

A young mermaid princess, captivated by the human world, makes a daring pact with the Sea Witch to exchange her melodious voice for human legs. Venturing onto land, she seeks the affection of a handsome prince, but soon discovers the profound sacrifices and challenges that accompany her transformation.

Discussion ideas around The Little Mermaid

A daring dream: Why does the little mermaid want to visit the human world, and what does this tell us about her?

Choices and consequences: What does the mermaid give up to become human, and do you think her choice is worth the cost?

The Sea Witch’s bargain: What makes the bargain tempting, and what warning might it give us about accepting help from strangers?

Being yourself: How does losing her voice change the mermaid’s life, and why is a person’s voice important?

Different endings: How might the story feel different if the mermaid stayed in the sea or made a different choice?