The Mermaid with No Tail

Paralympic champion swimmer and gold medalist Jessica Long celebrates the importance of dreaming big and the power of being different in The Mermaid with No Tail. As a baby, Jessica was adopted from a Russian orphanage. Her legs were amputated below the knee when she was 18 months old. Despite this, Jessica has become a world-class swimmer and one of the most decorated athletes of all time.

Dive into this illustrated picture book based on Jessica’s story, where Tatiana, a mermaid with no tail, decides she wants to compete in the Mermaid Games. The other mermaids make fun of her for being different. But her adoptive turtle parents are supportive and encouraging, and her shark coach, Phelpsy, teaches her to swim using her arms instead. Tatiana trains hard, maintains a good attitude, and eventually wins the games. 

Young readers will fall in love with Tatiana, who enjoys watching the mermaids swim in the Mermaid Games. The other mermaids tell Tatiana that she can never compete in the Mermaid Games. When the other mermaids are mean to her, Tatiana thinks, “I wish my tail could grow back like starfish arms do when they break off.” However, with her parents’ support, Tatiana and her fish friends go in search of a coach and find Phelpsy, who tells her, “Think about what you do have instead of worrying about what you don’t have.” Readers will cheer for Tatiana as she races the other mermaids and smiles when Tatiana earns her first-place medal. 

The heartwarming story is paired with adorable illustrations that bring Tatiana’s ocean world alive. The mermaid’s bright colors are contrasted with the soft blues of the sea. The sea life is captivating and readers will fall in love with Tatiana’s fish friends and her coach, a shark who wears glasses and a whistle. Even though Tatiana is different than the other mermaids, her self-confidence as she swims is apparent. While most of the pictures focus on Tatiana, the other mermaids’ skin tones are varied.  

The Mermaid with No Tail is a must-read because it teaches that “the thing that makes you different is your greatest gift.” Instead of allowing her missing tail to slow her down, Tatiana’s determination allows her to win the Mermaid Games. Young readers will not only enjoy reading the story again and again, but they will also want to spend time looking at the fun illustrations. Tatiana’s story will inspire readers and help them appreciate how they are different than others. Mermaid-loving readers can learn more positive life lessons by reading Camille’s Mermaid Tale by Valerie Tripp and the Purrmaids Series by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None 

Language  

• None 

Supernatural 

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• None