“Go!” Shelly snapped. To her surprise, every merkid turned around and floated away, except for Kiki, Pearl, and Echo.

“Wow!” Pearl said with a giggle. “That was awesome.”

“I didn’t know you could speak mollusk,” Kiki said. “Will you teach me?”

Shelly nodded. “Grandfather just taught me.” Shelly knew Kiki liked learning languages too.

“You are all-powerful,” Pearl said. “You could command them to do anything!”

Shelly shook her head. “No, I just did what needed to be done. We should try to be on friendly terms with all the creatures of the seas.” She took off the crown and handed it back to Pearl.

“Did you get your own tiara?” Pearl asked. “I can’t wait to see it.”

“No, Pearl,” Shelly said. “That was just another made-up story. I won’t be getting a crown until I’m older. I’m grateful I could help today, but my grandfather is right. I’m going to wait before I take on the responsibilities of a princess.”

“You don’t really mean that, do you?” Pearl snapped.

Shelly smiled at Echo and Kiki. “I just want to be a normal mergirl and hang out with my real friends.”

Shelly held out her arms. Echo and Kiki gave her a big hug.

Pearl rolled her eyes. “Oh my Neptune! You are sillier than a sea squirt!”

Shelly knew better. Maybe one day she’d be ready to be Princess Shelly, but today . . . today she just wanted to be Shelly Siren, regular mermaid.

Class Sculptures

Octopus, by Shelly Siren

Nautilus, by Echo Reef

Vampire Squid, by Rocky Ridge

Sea Slug, by Kiki Coral

Clam, by Pearl Swamp

The Mermaid Tales Song

REFRAIN:

Let the water roar

Deep down we’re swimming along

Twirling, swirling, singing the mermaid song.

VERSE 1:

Shelly flips her tail

Racing, diving, chasing a whale

Twirling, swirling, singing the mermaid song.

VERSE 2:

Pearl likes to shine

Oh my Neptune, she looks so fine

Twirling, swirling, singing the mermaid song.

VERSE 3:

Shining Echo flips her tail

Backward and forward without fail

Twirling, swirling, singing the mermaid song.

VERSE 4:

Amazing Kiki

Far from home and floating so free

Twirling, swirling, singing the mermaid song.

Author’s Note

WHAT GIRL HAS NOT wanted to be a princess? Actually, I still do want to be a princess! But everyone is different and likes different things. I think that’s great. Wouldn’t it be a boring world if we were all exactly the same? Yikes! We’d be like a huge school of herring!

Hope you’ll keep reading the next few pages to find out some true facts about the ocean creatures mentioned in this story. And remember, you are amazing just the way you are!

Your fellow mermaid fan,

Debbie Dadey

Glossary

BIOLUMINESCENT PLANKTON: Dinoflagel-lates are tiny organisms that flash a bright light when disturbed.

BLACK DRAGONFISH: The female dragonfish is four times as big as the male.