Emily's big discovery

Whimsical illustrations reminiscent of traditional hand-painted art are front and center in this charming beginning reader about Emily, who discovers she is a mermaid. Her mother has always warned her that swimming in the ocean is dangerous, but she's more worried about what might happen to Emily's legs when she enters the water--when Emily sneaks out for a nighttime swim in the ocean, her legs turn into a beautiful tail. She even meets a new friend below the waves. This gentle, pleasant episodic story will please kids with lively imaginations, and Emily's loneliness before she discovers her innate gifts will resonate with plenty of young readers. With wide-spaced text and inviting artwork, this is a perfect bedtime or partner read for little ones learning to tackle short chapter books on their own.

Gr 1--3--Young Emily Windsnap's life is full of irony, risk taking, and self-discovery. She and her overprotective mother live near the ocean in a houseboat, but Emily, who is white, has never learned to swim. When her school offers swimming classes she readily participates, thinking that if she could learn how to swim in the safety of an indoor pool her mother may be more supportive of her venturing into the ocean. During Emily's first swimming lesson she experiences the sensation of her legs locking together. That night she sneaks out to swim in the ocean and discovers she is a mermaid! While honing her new skills, she encounters a mermaid named Shona, and the two quickly become friends. The first book of Kessler's original "Emily Windsnap" series is intended for middle school students, with Emily turning 13. This new title in the series depicts Emily at a much younger age, which creates a completely different time line; this sequence could become confusing to readers who choose to follow Emily's adventures as their reading skills advance. This early chapter book contains a table of contents, five short chapters, and enchanting illustrations that tell the story on their own. VERDICT This title's popularity will likely be limited to fans of mermaid tales (no pun intended) and early readers who enjoy fairy-tales and fantasy.--Lynne Stover