Families who loved The Princess in Black and the Mermaid Princess by Shannon Hale often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is struggling with being 'too nice' or finding the courage to speak up when something feels wrong. While many children are taught to be polite and agreeable, this story highlights that being a leader sometimes requires being loud and firm, especially when protecting others. In this undersea adventure, the Princess in Black and her heroic friends meet a mermaid princess named Posy. They soon discover that a giant kraken is trying to eat Posy's cute sea goats. The land-dwelling heroes find themselves literally out of their element underwater, meaning the shy mermaid princess must be the one to save the day. It is a fantastic bridge for early readers that combines superhero action with a gentle, empowering lesson on self-advocacy and setting boundaries.
