The Little Mermaid by Carson-Dellosa Publishing

This gentle adaptation of the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale introduces young readers to the timeless story of a mermaid princess who dreams of becoming human. The narrative thoughtfully explores themes of longing, sacrifice, and transformation as the sea creature makes her fateful bargain to walk on land. Carson-Dellosa's version maintains the magical underwater kingdom setting while making the complex emotional journey accessible for preschool and early elementary audiences through clear, age-appropriate language that preserves the story's wonder.

The illustrations bring the oceanic world to life with soft colors and expressive characters that will capture children's imaginations during read-aloud sessions. This retelling serves as an excellent introduction to fairy tale structure for young listeners while providing opportunities to discuss deeper concepts like making difficult choices and understanding different perspectives. Parents seeking meaningful storytime material will find this version strikes the right balance between fantasy adventure and emotional resonance that will linger with children long after the final page.