Meet these three charming princess sisters, Anaya, Shante, and Kianna. They invite us into their underwater world with their bright and bold personalities; Anaya-sweet and kind; Shante-brave and strong; and Kianna-smart and wise. And as we know with siblings, there can be a bit of rivalry that comes along with the love they share. Along the way, each princess asks the burning question, “Momma! Momma! Momma! Which one of us will be queen?” Their mother, the beautiful queen mermaid answers, “Whoever is to be queen must first and foremost be a good sister and protector.” And with that being said, the underwater adventures begin to unfold as they encounter obstacles, discover new friends, embrace their unique strengths and learn how to work together.

The essence of this story is inspired by African mermaid mythology, magic, and spirituality. Cameron- Gordon’s storytelling is remarkable as she weaves in sea adventures while embracing each princess’s unique strengths to evoke positive principles such as friendship, bravery, and environmental awareness into the imagination of young readers.

The artwork in this book brings me joy! The illustrations create a sense of visual excitement from cover to cover. Ortega brings the story to life with lively and colorful illustrations that beautifully capture the underwater mystical world and its charming characters. The gorgeous hues of each princess’s skin tone, complimentary attire and fins, chic hairstyles, and majestic marine life will ignite the imagination of young readers. The underwater world and its charming characters adorned with vibrant and electrifying colors enhance and complement the text so well that even reluctant readers will want to keep turning the pages. The illustrations help young readers visualize the mermaid princesses’ world, enhancing their engagement, and enjoyment of the story.

The Mermaid Princesses is a delightful story that provides many opportunities for parents, caregivers, and educators to have deeper conversations with younger readers about sibling love and rivalry, friendship, sea life, and cooperation. This story will inspire all readers to embrace their exceptional abilities and set out on their extraordinary path. At the end of the story, readers are gifted a full page of Fun Fin Facts to continue their learning of African culture and mermaids. I highly recommend this book for its imaginative storytelling and vibrant illustrations.