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The World of Emily Windsnap #1
Emily’s Big Discovery
Introducing an exciting new line of readers that brings half-mermaid Emily Windsnap—star of the New York Times best-selling series—to a younger audience.
Even though she lives in a houseboat, Emily Windsnap doesn’t know how to swim. Her mother has always cautioned her to stay out of the water. But it’s hard to make friends at the beach when everyone else is having fun in the waves! So when swimming lessons start at school, Emily is excited to finally have the chance to learn. Standing beside the pool, she feels the water calling her, but when she jumps in, she gets a strange, kind of scary sensation . . . like her legs are stuck together. Eager to figure out what’s happening, Emily later dives into the sea. She gets that weird feeling again, but this time she looks down to see that her legs are gone—replaced by a shiny, beautiful tail!
Welcome to Emily’s Big Discovery, the first in a sparkling, charmingly illustrated series of readers. With a mermaid tail and an entire ocean awaiting her, Emily is eager to meet new friends and swim off on big adventures in this inviting new series for the younger set, based on the best-selling middle-grade series by Liz Kessler.
Even though she lives in a houseboat, Emily Windsnap doesn’t know how to swim. Her mother has always cautioned her to stay out of the water. But it’s hard to make friends at the beach when everyone else is having fun in the waves! So when swimming lessons start at school, Emily is excited to finally have the chance to learn. Standing beside the pool, she feels the water calling her, but when she jumps in, she gets a strange, kind of scary sensation . . . like her legs are stuck together. Eager to figure out what’s happening, Emily later dives into the sea. She gets that weird feeling again, but this time she looks down to see that her legs are gone—replaced by a shiny, beautiful tail!
Welcome to Emily’s Big Discovery, the first in a sparkling, charmingly illustrated series of readers. With a mermaid tail and an entire ocean awaiting her, Emily is eager to meet new friends and swim off on big adventures in this inviting new series for the younger set, based on the best-selling middle-grade series by Liz Kessler.
64 pages, Paperback
Published April 12, 2022
7 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Liz Kessler
71 books946 followersLiz Kessler is the author of three novels about Philippa Fisher as well as the NEW YORK TIMES best-selling Emily Windsnap series. She lives in Manchester, England.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 6, 2022
Young mermaid enthusiasts - a new Emily Windsnap series for you!
November 15, 2024
My 6 yo loved this story, but I was bothered by a) promoting a child going into water alone, without the ability to swim, and expressly without permission of adults, and b) weird past tense words (dived instead of dove, sneaked instead of snuck, spinned instead of spun - maybe grammatically correct? But odd sounding)
June 2, 2023
My 4yo enjoyed this book, although now he’s worried he might turn into a mermaid in the ocean. Word of caution for parents: Emily sneaks out to swim in the ocean and almost drowns. Just be careful your kids are not encouraged to try this themselves if they can’t swim.
January 19, 2023
The first in an exciting new series of watery adventures that brings Emily Windsnap, the half-mermaid, to a younger audience. Wait are you waiting for, dive in!
Although she lives on a houseboat, Emily Windsnap has never learnt how to swim. She is desperate to glide through the ocean like the other kids but her mother has always warned against the idea. School swimming lessons mean her dream might finally come true but when she gets into the water something very strange happens and it feels like her legs are stuck together. The instructor is sure that it is just cramp but Emily isn’t so sure and a night-time swim in the ocean will lead to a very big discovery…
Will be adored by young mermaid enthusiasts, this tale of a new tail makes for an endearing early chapter book for emerging and newly independent readers. Full of magic and wonder and with swishy illustrations, Emily and new best friend Shona carry readers away on a delightful ocean adventure where the impossible is possible. Told over several short chapters, this perfectly ticks the boxes of super readable and highly accessible. As an added bonus, twelve swishy stickers are included.
Children will easily relate to Emily’s frustrations with her mother who has decided that her daughter should not be allowed to swim in the ocean, and the feelings of loneliness that have manifested as a result. Although Emily’s decision to sneak out into the ocean in the middle of the night without her mother knowing is very questionable it does have a happy outcome as Emily not only gets to have a charming underwater adventure but she makes a special friend and is able to embrace her mermaid life.
With her new discovery, new adventures surely await for Emily and I am eager to know where she and her swishy tail will be off to next.
With huge thanks to Walker for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.
Recommended for 5+.
Although she lives on a houseboat, Emily Windsnap has never learnt how to swim. She is desperate to glide through the ocean like the other kids but her mother has always warned against the idea. School swimming lessons mean her dream might finally come true but when she gets into the water something very strange happens and it feels like her legs are stuck together. The instructor is sure that it is just cramp but Emily isn’t so sure and a night-time swim in the ocean will lead to a very big discovery…
Will be adored by young mermaid enthusiasts, this tale of a new tail makes for an endearing early chapter book for emerging and newly independent readers. Full of magic and wonder and with swishy illustrations, Emily and new best friend Shona carry readers away on a delightful ocean adventure where the impossible is possible. Told over several short chapters, this perfectly ticks the boxes of super readable and highly accessible. As an added bonus, twelve swishy stickers are included.
Children will easily relate to Emily’s frustrations with her mother who has decided that her daughter should not be allowed to swim in the ocean, and the feelings of loneliness that have manifested as a result. Although Emily’s decision to sneak out into the ocean in the middle of the night without her mother knowing is very questionable it does have a happy outcome as Emily not only gets to have a charming underwater adventure but she makes a special friend and is able to embrace her mermaid life.
With her new discovery, new adventures surely await for Emily and I am eager to know where she and her swishy tail will be off to next.
With huge thanks to Walker for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.
Recommended for 5+.
May 12, 2022
The book is about a girl named Emily who really wants to swim in the ocean but her mom said it's too dangerous. Thena couple of weeks later her chance finally came. When Emily went into the pool she felt calm and nice. But then Emily felt her feet stop kicking and she yelled for help! The man came and dove into the pool and the man said it was just cramps. At night Emily couldn't sleep. She was still thinking about what happened at school, but when she thought of the water, she wanted to go to the ocean and swim. When she got deeper, she felt it happen again. Then, she saw she had a tail. She swam and saw how beautiful the ocean was, but then she felt something. It might eb a shark, she thought. When the shark touched her she screamed. Then she met another mermaid. The mermaid gave her pebbles for friendship.
I like this story because it's pretty good and has great pictures. But I don't really like how the mom doesn't let her swim, so it's sad.
Review by Rubi, 3rd grade
I like this story because it's pretty good and has great pictures. But I don't really like how the mom doesn't let her swim, so it's sad.
Review by Rubi, 3rd grade
October 9, 2022
Ages 5-8 Young mermaid enthusiasts will be very attracted to this new series. The enticing color illustrations of mermaids swooshing in the water excite the imagination with magical possibilities. Like "The Princess in Black" (Shannon Hale & Dean Hale) who has a dual existence, Emily discovers that she can live both on land and lead a secret life in the sea as a mermaid. The future adventures and magical possibilities are endless. The high interest content and low reading level are well suited for the target audience (ages 5-8). While Emily is fair skinned, her new mermaid friend has brown skin and the children playing in the water are multicultural. The stage is set for more “swishy” adventures to come.
May 3, 2022
A new tail for Emily Windsnap has sprouted! Her ability to swim to the deepest depths of the ocean, being free in a world that is for the most part alien to us, is what dreams are made of! The book is about bravery, self-discovery and friendship. The illustrations of Emily and her new found friend, surrounded by all the ocean’s bubbles are so charming. The story moves along well and is perfect for the young reader to dive into! This is a great kick off to a whole new set of oceanic adventures for Emily to swish her way into. BTW: Everyone needs to learn to swim! It’s a life saving ability.
July 30, 2022
Despite living on a boat, Emily's mother doesn't let her go in the water ever. Emily gets her chance when her school offers swim lessons, and she feels called to the water. Once she's in, her legs feel stuck together, and she has to be saved by the instructor. That night, she sneaks into the ocean, and her legs become a tail! Perfect for fans of The Princess in Black and mermaids in general. We shelve it in our early readers, but this could also be a first chapter book. I love the full-color illustrations too!
May 8, 2022
Liz Kessler's longer stories about Emily Windsnap, part mermaid, include "big" adventures and now Liz and Joanie Stone have started an early reader series with that same adventurous spirit. This time, Emily wants so much to swim in the ocean yet her mother thinks it's too dangerous. What she discovers when she sneaks out to try is a "Big Discovery" as the title shares. It's a fun beginning with added Emily stickers at the back!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!
November 29, 2022
The first book in this Emily Windsnap series introduces readers to an easier version of the little mermaid’s adventures. In the beginning Emily is just a young girl who cannot swim. When she finally gets the chance to enter the water, she is surprised not only by her abilities but her tail. While enjoying her new skills she meets someone like her. Together they explore and become friends. This colorful charming story also makes a great read aloud.
February 1, 2023
I just read a book about a little girl, Emily Windsnap, who lives in Brightport, that makes a big discovery about herself. It's a fun book to read, with 6 chapters. The illustrations are colorful and on every page.
Emily meets a new friend, Shona, and they have lots of fun together swimming. Wait until you see what happens!
Emily meets a new friend, Shona, and they have lots of fun together swimming. Wait until you see what happens!
October 30, 2023
At my library, we always have parents in search of intermediate chapter books with full-color illustrations and I think this is a good one to hand off. It's definitely for emerging readers -- the text and story are both very simplified. But Emily Windsnap is a great character and younger audiences will connect with her right away.
November 1, 2022
A fun early reader that introduces a younger group to the world of Emily Windsnap. My 6 year old daughter enjoyed this book and asked for me to get her the second one. The illustrations and simplified text brought the story to life for her.
June 30, 2024
It’s cute. It’s similar to the movie ‘Scales’ in which a girl turns into a mermaid. Both this picture book/graphic novel “Emily’s Big Discovery” and the movie “Scales” have.
Also, a young girl (about 4-6 years old) who’s reading or starting to read would probably enjoy it.
Also, a young girl (about 4-6 years old) who’s reading or starting to read would probably enjoy it.
November 21, 2022
Ελληνικός τίτλος: Ο κόσμος της Έμιλυ Γ. -Η μεγάλη ανακάλυψη της Έμιλυ / Εκδ. Ψυχογιός
November 29, 2022
Lovely little story
January 24, 2024
I like this book because at the end another mermaid and Emily became friends. And also they got friendship pebbles.
July 20, 2024
My daughter is loving these books! She's 4 and this was her first "chapter" book and by far the longest book we've read together. ❤️
April 9, 2025
A perfect early reader chapter book! My 5 & 3 year olds were riveted & we read it all in one sitting. :) Cute illustrations & fun story!
Want to read
April 17, 2025E
May 13, 2025
It's very dangerous to encourage little children to sneak out and go into the ocean, while their mom is sleeping.
July 22, 2025
Cute, simple story. It's a step above a picture book and below a chapter book, so it's easy for my 5yo to read by herself. She liked the story and wants to check out others.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews