Mermaid Days: The Sunken Ship by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Kat Uno

This mermaid-themed Acorn title came out in spring of 2022 and I purchased it automatically, only getting around to reading it now. I figured it wouldn't be the usual sparkling-mermaid fare, with author Kyle Lukoff creating it, and I was right.

Acorn books are more challenging leveled readers, often in a comic book format, and they range from F to K on the F&P leveling system, although Scholastic says they are all a 1st grade level for Scholastic, whatever that means.

The simple story begins with meeting Vera, a mermaid with a purple fish tale and scaled shirt, thick black hair in braids, and light brown skin. She gives a basic tour of Tidal Grove, including glimpses of other children and adults who have different ocean creatures as their bottom halves. Mr. Burbles, the librarian, has the top half of a white man and the bottom half of a frog and is kinda weird. Other mer-creatures include squid and octopus. Vera investigates a cave and meets a new neighbor, Beaker, who has lighter skin and eight orange octopus arms. The first chapter ends with a few facts about ocean creatures. In the second chapter, the story builds on the facts (Octopus arms have individual neurons, like brains) Beaker has a problem - their legs get into arguments! After several failed attempts, Vera gets Beaker's legs to cooperate. The third chapter, featuring Beaker alone, includes a number of different mer-creatures using their different abilities to help Beaker and their friends get out of the sunken ship of the title.

The art is simple digital cartoons and, in addition to the Asian appearance of the main characters, Vera and Beaker, there's a Black jellyfish in pink and a white child with the bottom half of a cuttle fish (named Cuttle). Vera is referenced as "her" in the drawing instructions in the back and at one point uses "them" for Beaker. Otherwise, no pronouns are used in referring to the kids.

Verdict: For beginning readers who like mermaids but not the more sparkly/feminine stereotypes, as well as kids interested in ocean facts, this is a fun new series. It's also a great addition to the more gentle style of early readers like Poppleton, which a lot of my families prefer. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781338794595; Published May 2022 by Scholastic; Copies purchased for the library and for Library on the Go