• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2
• Reading age: 3 to 7

A mermaid and a pirate build a friendship through kindness, empathy, and shared adventure in this heartwarming picture book by New York Times bestselling author Tracey Baptiste, with bright, bold illustrations by Leisl Adams.

Glub glub…

Aargh...

Mermaid and Pirate cannot understand each other. They speak different languages and come from different worlds. But they’re quick to lend a hand, or a tail, when the sky grows stormy and waters get rough, and a friendship is born. Sometimes kindness and generosity speak louder than words.

TRACEY BAPTISTE lived in Trinidad until she was fifteen. A former elementary school teacher, she is a New York Times bestselling author of Minecraft: The Crash, The Jumbies, Rise of the Jumbies and The Jumbie God's Revenge, among other books.

Tracey Baptiste's profile page

Leisl Adams is a director, storyboard artist, and illustrator. Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, she graduated from the Classical Animation program at Sheridan College in 2002. Since then, she has worked in television and film, animating and storyboarding for clients like Amazon, Disney XD, Teletoon, and CBC, and directed Season 2 of American Girl’s WellieWishers for Mattel in 2018. She illustrated the graphic novel Pixies (Arcana Comics) and has done illustration work for Simon & Schuster, and Rubicon Publishing.

Leisl Adams' profile page

“Created with a pleasing palette, the illustrations have an appealing, cartoonlike simplicity…well worded and concise, the text tells the story of a friendship overcoming obstacles.” —Booklist

"Brimming with sweetness, the illustrations add a Disney aesthetic to this simple tale of the burgeoning bond between two very different friends...A winsome tale of unexpected friendship."—Kirkus Reviews