Best Mermaid Books for 5 Year Olds (2026): 5 Picks Compared

A five year old who loves mermaids wants them on every page, so the best mermaid books for 5 year olds are picture books with big artwork and simple stories. We compared five picture books by listed reading age, grade level, page count and format, from a Goldilocks retelling to a 10-story collection, so you can match the book to the reader.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	I Am 5 and I Sparkle by AMA GA	9.7/10	Buy
2	The Mermaid by Brett	9.7/10	Buy
3	All About Mermaids by Quinn	9.7/10	Buy
4	I'm a Mermaid by Loehr	9.5/10	Buy
5	Barbie Mermaid Power LGB	9.5/10	Buy

1

I Am 5 and I Sparkle by AMA GA

AMA GA Press·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 10-story collection made for a 5-year-old, for girls who love unicorns, mermaids, fairies and princesses.

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Pros

• Made for a 5-year-old, 10 stories
• 87 pages, the longest pick here
• Published August 5, 2025, the newest pick

Cons

• The reading age of 5+ is marked as from customers
• Marketed to girls only
• Independently published, no grade level stated

2

The Mermaid by Brett

Jan Brett·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An under-the-sea retelling of Goldilocks with illustrated borders, for 3 to 6 year olds and their readers.

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Pros

• Reading age 3 to 6, marked as from customers, suits a 5 year old
• 32 pages with illustrated borders
• A familiar fairy tale in a new underwater setting

Cons

• The reading age is marked as from customers
• Grade level Preschool and up is broad
• Published in 2017, the oldest pick here

3

All About Mermaids by Quinn

Izzy Quinn·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A picture book of mermaid facts and artwork, for 4 to 7 year olds who ask questions about everything.

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Pros

• Reading age 4 to 7, marked as from customers
• 40 pages of facts and artwork
• Covers where mermaids live, eat and sleep, per the description

Cons

• The reading age is marked as from customers
• A fact book, not a story
• Presents mermaids as real, which some parents will want to note

4

I'm a Mermaid by Loehr

Mallory Loehr·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A playful Little Golden Book about a mermaid and her friends, for 2 to 5 year olds.

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Pros

• Little Golden Book format, sturdy for small hands
• 24 pages, a quick read
• Playful mermaid with mer-friends, sea horses and songs

Cons

• Reading age 2 to 5 skews young for a 5 year old
• No grade level is stated
• 24 pages is the shortest pick here

5

Barbie Mermaid Power LGB

Golden Books·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A Little Golden Book based on the Barbie: Mermaid Power special, for 2 to 5 year old Barbie fans.

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Pros

• Ties into the Barbie: Mermaid Power special
• 24 pages, a quick read
• Little Golden Book format, sturdy for small hands

Cons

• Reading age 2 to 5 skews young for a 5 year old
• Grade level listed as '1 -' is unclear
• Only for readers who like Barbie

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More picks to compare

• Mermaid Day by MurrayFor ages 4 to 6, grades Preschool to 3, a mermaid party story.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 18 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for a 5 year old, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. All five listings give a reading age, and three also give a grade level; three of the ages are marked by Amazon as from customers. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best mermaid books for 5 year olds

Match the age band to the reader

Three picks list ages that include 5: 3 to 6, 4 to 7 and 5+. The two Little Golden Books list 2 to 5, which skews young for a five year old but still works for a read-aloud. For more picture book options, browse every picture books list.

Story or facts

All About Mermaids is a fact book about where mermaids live and what they eat, while the others are stories. A five year old who asks questions about everything will like the fact book; one who wants a bedtime story will prefer The Mermaid or I Am 5 and I Sparkle. For other themed picks for the same age, see best pirate books for 5 year olds.

Before you buy

• Check the reading age against the reader; three of the five ages are marked as from customers.
• Note the format: 24-page Little Golden Books are shorter than the 87-page story collection.
• Confirm the edition: The Mermaid is listed as an illustrated edition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pick is best for a five year old specifically?

I Am 5 and I Sparkle. Its listing says it is tailored for girls age five and gives a reading age of 5+, marked as from customers.

Are these books stories or fact books?

Both. All About Mermaids is a fact book, while The Mermaid, I Am 5 and I Sparkle, I’m a Mermaid and Barbie Mermaid Power are stories.

Which pick has the most pages?

I Am 5 and I Sparkle at 87 pages, with 10 stories. The two Little Golden Books are 24 pages each.

Still deciding? Our top pickI Am 5 and I Sparkle by AMA GA

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Related lists

See every picture books list and all kids and teens lists.

More lists: browse pirate books for 5 year olds and every book list.