The Mermaid with No Tail

“The Thing that makes you different is your greatest gift.”

What an incredible message!! I loved this book. It’s based on the true story of para Olympian and most decorated athlete of all time, Jessica Long (born Tatiana Olegovna Kirillova). I love that Long chose to tell her story as most decorated athlete through the perspective of a beautifully decorated mermaid. This art style was so magical and compelling.

A wonderfully personal picture book memoir.

This was such a lovely read! The story, based off the author's own life story, is such an important one for children to hear as they grow up, no matter their ability or identity — "the thing that makes you different is your greatest gift." Paired with stunning illustrated visuals, the story is fun to read and so powerful.

This was a very cute children’s book!!! The illustrations are really good….My little boy loves it. It has a great message as well.

This is the story of a mermaid achieving her dreams with determination and hard work. But more importantly, it is based off of the life of the author! Tatiana the mermaid is a character many kids will look up to. And I will never get tired of books that have the powerful theme that being different is what makes you special!

This is a beautiful story. The illustrations are gorgeous and the text engaging. I think children and adults alike will really enjoy this heartwarming story.

A magical and heartwarming story! This book is a perfect lesson of not letting our differences get in the way of our dreams! It reminds us that being different is special and to not let it hold us back from the “impossible”. The illustrations in this story are absolutely beautiful! I loved that she goes to the shark Phelpsy (as in Michael Phelps) to help her train to win the swim meet! Such a precious feel good book! I love that the author is Jessica Long, who is an American Paralympic swimmer! This book is a must have.

Advanced-Readers-Copy #netgalley

The Mermaid with No Tail is such a heartwarming story. The Mermaid (Tatiana) wants to be a competitive swimmer but doesn't have fins. The other mermaids make fun of her and tell her it's impossible, but her adoptive turtle parents believe in her and tell her she'll find a way. Tatiana enlists the help of Phelpsy (Michael Phelps) a shark to train her and ends up winning the swim meet!

Written by Jessica Long, a Russian-American Paralympic swimmer who lost her legs below the knees at 18 months old due to a birth defect. She was adopted by her uber-supportive parents as a baby from a Russian orphanage.

A beautiful story of determination and overcoming a limb difference to follow your dreams. The illustrations are adorable, the word count is perfect for toddlers with short attention spans, and the story is important for kids to understand. Can't wait to purchase a physical copy to read with my son and help him learn that physical differences make people special.

This is a precious book. Everything about it is wonderful, from the colorful illustrations, to the insipiring message that what makes you different also makes you special. AND THE SHARKS NAME IS PHELPSY. I teared up throughout this entire story.

A beautiful, semi-autobiographical picture book! The message of not letting your differences get in the way of your dreams is poignant and proven by the author of this book. The forward and acknowledgement of Michael Phelps is a great connection as he is one of the most famous American swimmers. The illustrations are gorgeous as well. I noticed that in almost every depiction of the mermaid, that while she doesn't have tail fins, she does appear to have a tail of fish. I wonder if this is a nod to the fact that Jessica Long is known to use prosthetics outside the water and even if it is not, I still find the support of these fish to be beautiful.

The Mermaid with No Tail is an inspiring story about learning how to thrive with what you do have instead of focusing on what you don't have. I LOVE that this is inspired by the author's own story of being a Paralympian and adoptee. The illustrations were so cute and I loved the "Phelpsy" coach ;) Will definitely be recommending and buying a copy!

Thank you to Netgalley and True Publishing for an advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.

I loved this! The story and art are both beautifully done. I liked the line “focus on what you do have instead of worrying about what you don’t have”.

We need to have more fantasy books with disability representation.

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

I love this book and it's message about overcoming obstacles. This children's book follows the story of Tatiana, a mermaid who doesn't have a tale, who dreams of competing in the mermaid games. Everyone makes fun of her because she doesn't have a tale, but she is determined to compete. She travels far and wide to find a coach who will teach her how to use what she has to her advantage. A great book featuring a main character with a disability that's a great story for all kids.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A heartwarming story based on a true story. You may not be like others but that shouldn't discourage you from doing what you want to do. It is an important message for children to hear. No matter your ability or identity, you can do anything with determination. The illustrations were colorful and fun. I read this book with my granddaughter and she loved the story and the beautiful illustrations.
Thank you to the author, Sounds True Publishing and NetGalley. I was able to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
#themermaidwithnotail, #NetGalley, #mermaid, #swimming

Absolutely ADORABLE book! This would definitely help children realize that they can do anything they set their minds to.

This is one of the best books I've read in a while. I love the message and story. The author shares her own story in a way that is very inspirational to children (and grown ups). It's a great story to learn about and accept differences in ourselves and in others. I also thought the artwork was beautiful.

This picture book has a sweet story and beautiful, expressive illustrations. It is inspired by the author's experience as an adopted child and Paralympic swimming champion, and the fantasy characters and setting keep the book lighthearted and fun for kids. The text doesn't always flow ideally and the message is a little preachy, but this is much better than many comparable celebrity-written picture books, and the basis in the author's experience makes the story particularly meaningful.

This book is great for kids who like mermaid stories or are interested in sports, and parents and educators will enjoy using this book as a talking point about disabilities and overcoming obstacles to work towards your goals.

This is a great book for teaching how to adapt for disabilities. Tatiana learned to swim without her tail and use her arms.

My second grader loved this book and learned about not giving up. It was a good reading level for her.

The illustrations were done really well and had a good amount of detail and color. "The thing that makes you different is your greatest gift."

Thank you to Sounds True Publishing and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

Published: 09/26/23

Thank you NetGalley and Sounds True Publishing, Sounds True for accepting my request to read and review The Mermaid with No Tail.

The book is related to the author's life experience. Long was adopted, was born with birth defects that required below-the-knee amputations. Her parents encouraged her to always do her best, and that they believed in her.

She learned to swim and went on to the Paralympics winning gold. The book celebrates differences and hard work.

Giftable with several teaching opportunities available.

I am a mother to a mermaid obsessed little girl. Just tonight even we watched Disney's "The Little Mermaid" to satisfy her need for more mermaid magic and strength. So, when I saw a story about the Mermaid with no tail, I knew I had to request an ARC to read to my daughter, and so that we could review it.

The story is a true story based on Jessica Long (US Paralympic Champion) and her journey to being an admired and adored athlete despite her disability. In the she is named Tatiana (her given birth name) and talks about her adoption, the initial rejection as an athlete when wanting to join in the prestigious mermaid games and how others made fun of her. It talks about her parents believing in her, and finding a coach to be on her team and celebrate her differences (hi Michael Phelps "Phelpsy").

It makes it clear to anyone reading that if you want goals to be achieved then you have to work hard, practice, practice, practice, and adapt and overcome things that might initially get in your way... like a mermaid with no tail fins.

I read this to my 4 year old daughter tonight, and the best reviewer for a childs book is a child, so I asked her what her favourite thing about this book was. She responded "I liked that even though she didn't have a tail she still learned to swim strong". So, the message was clear even for a four year old. It gave us a nice way to have open dialogue about working hard and believing in yourself, and even if you think you cant, you can with the right people behind you and the right mindset.

Overall, a lovely well written story that is inspiring to 4 year olds and 30 year olds alike. I will happily buy this book for our bookshelf on its release!

The Mermaid with No Tail is an inspirational and beautifully illustrated book that teaches young readers to celebrate their differences and follow their dreams. Written by Jessica Long, a paralympic swimmer, this heartening story follows a mermaid named Tatiana who was missing her tail, but had a dream to compete in the underwater Mermaid Games. Despite the other mermaid racers telling her she wouldn't have a chance in competing, Tatiana was determined to prove them wrong. With the help of a shark named Phelpsy, Tatiana practices, competes and succeeds in becoming the champion of the Mermaid Games. This is a precious story that teaches readers a wonderful lesson. "The thing that makes you different is your greatest gift." I am looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of this book so I can share this amazing story with my elementary school students and other educators.

Thank you to Jessica Long, NetGalley and Sounds True Publishing for the ARC and opportunity to review this book!

The Mermaid with No Tail is perfect for my collection of books as a child therapist. First, the illustrations are beautiful. Second, it portrays disabilities perfectly. My only criticism is the larger words, but they can be used as teaching moments. Highly recommend.

This book was one of the cutest books we’ve read with disability representation. I loved the discussions we had about how someone who is disabled May look different, but they’re still the same on the inside. Truly loved it!

This book is very cute, and I think it's so important to see representation spread to the fantastical in addition to the realistic stories kids consume.

Thanks for this eARC!

This was such a sweet story of the grit and determination of a little mermaid without a tail, which mirrors the author’s experience with limb differences. My daughter was captivated by the sweet illustrations and compelling story of a champion in the making. This is a great starting place for discussions about both limb differences and the power of persistence. Loved it!

This is such a cute and brave story. While I do not agree with the line "you can do anything you want to". I do agree with you can try for what you want to achieve and that is the success whether you win or fail at it. This was a simple and sweet story sure to inspire. I felt the little info about the real life person was more so inspiring. I thought the story could have had a little more details and growing up or trying and failing some or more like "the little engine that could" but I still found it so encouraging and cute.

A fantastic book about determination and drive to succeed!

Tatiana is a mermaid with big dreams. She wants to compete in the Mermaid Games! After hearing one of the racers say that she'll never compete with no tail, she heads out to find the best coach on the reef to help her achieve her goal. Her new coach encourages her to use what she has, rather than think about what she doesn't. With a lot of practice and coaching, Tatiana is finally ready to compete in the games!

This book was amazing and stunning! If I had the ability to give it more than 5 stars I would! The Mermaid with No Tail will draw in readers of all ages and is a great book to recommend for those who like mermaids and sports.

Thanks NetGalley and Sounds True Publishing, Sounds True for the eARC!

Gorgeous book, gorgeous author, and gorgeous message!

This 21-page book is about one of the most decorated athletes of all time, swimmer Jessica Long, with 29 Paralympic Medals. She also happens to have had both legs amputated below the knee. The book's message is simple and SO POWERFUL: 1) Your difference is your greatest gift, and 2) think about what you have vs. what you don't.

With an impressive foreword by *Michael Phelps*, this book is short enough to be read to very young children, but with fantastic illustrations by Airin O'Callaghan that will appeal to many children through elementary years. DEFINITELY a gifting book!

Pub date 9/26/23 - best of luck to Jessica as an author!

Thank you, Sounds True Inc., and NetGalley, for providing an eARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

#inclusion #soundstrue #netgalley @jessicatatianalong @soundstrue @netgalley

My daughter has been interested in Mermaids for 4 years. Finding a mermaid book that was inclusive and centered on a hardworking young lady was such a gift!

This heartwarming children's story is based on a real lift American Paralympic swimmer (Jessica Long), who wrote the book! With a foreward by Michael Phelps, the tone was set for the story (as the adult reader to a young girl, I was emotional already).

The illustrations are beautiful and the story was simple, but sweet and can resonate with readers no matter what their age. It's OK to be different.

When this book comes out, (September) I will pick up a copy for my little mermaid.
I would recommend this book to children who enjoyed the Pout Pout Fish Book series, and those that love Mermaids, and the ocean!

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review!

I don’t have kids but have friends and family with them and am also a therapist. This is a delightfully heartwarming story that shows how we can overcome adversity and physical differences. The art is beautiful.

As a parent, one of the most important things I can do is expose my child to the world’s diversity in a safe and fun way. Exploring disabilities can be difficult due to the lack in representation. This book was a great example of how we should never discount a person’s dreams and passions - a lesson anybody could and should respect and share. I’m glad to share stories with my 18-month-old son like this. While some of the bigger words would be better suited for a slightly older child, I will surely pick up a physical copy and read this to him again and again.

A beautiful story of our differences and rising above our circumstances to obtain our goals and/or dreams. Beautifully colored illustrations. Overall a very meaningful story with hope and affection.

I really loved this story and the illustrations. The author's history makes it much better, and I hope to see this on library displays soon.

A great new rendition of a mermaid story!
Tatiana is a mermaid determined to win the championship, only she was born without her fluke fins. With the help of loving adoptive parents and a persistent teacher, Tatiana learns to swim faster than other mermaids with just the use of her arms.
A beautiful analogy of Jessica's own story.

This was a great read for Disability Pride month, and a book our library is sure to purchase this fall. Long adapts the story of her life and career effectively, though the story feels a bit oversimplified at times. Despite the simplicity of the narrative arc, the tale conveys the fact that difference and disability doesn't disqualify your dreams, all without falling into the "inspiration porn" trope. O'Callaghan's illustrations are a perfect fit for an aquatic story, and her use of color makes each page pop. This will definitely be a hit with our younger readers.

I love this book! As someone with a facial birthmark, who was also made fun of by her peers, I loved this book. What is different makes us special, which is the fantastic message of this book. I love that the main character is driven to succeed and was grateful they showed her struggle. I will recommend this to all the children I come in contact with at the library.

I read this with my 2 year old that LOVES mermaids. This book fit in perfect with us working on being kind lately. She was easily able to recognize the other mermaids were not being kind to Tatiana because she appears different than them. I love the message of the book, the illustrations and it kept my toddlers attention the entire story. #ARC #netgalley

This was an uplifting book about a young mermaid who, despite her disability, is determined to succeed in her goals. I liked the inclusion of Michael Phelps as a shark.

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley.

The Mermaid with No Tail is gorgeously illustrated and the little details that reflect Long's own life really make it come alive. The turtle parents and the shark coach were excellent touches. The prose flows smoothly and was easy for me to imagine gestures to use if I was reading it in a classroom, library, or to a young relative before bed.

This would be an excellent addition to anyone's personal illustrated book library.

'The Mermaid with No Tail' by Jessica Long is a cute story. Anyone who love mermaids or has a para-athlete in their orbit will enjoy the book. The illustrations are spectacular. The prose is fine.

My daughter and I loved this book. I lost count how many times she made me read it to her. It’s a great book for discussion on how everyone is different and special in their own ways. It was a very inspiring book for not only kids but adults too.

Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

Loved this book! Such a great message and gorgeous pictures! Added it to my daughters Christmas list.

i really love how this encaptured the spirit of kids and how exciting it was to read! i will for sure recommend this to any mermaid loving children in my life!

<b><I> The thing that makes you different is your greatest gift.</I></B>

Beautifully illustrated children's book that is based on the author's life and experiences as a Paralympian (she's won 29 Paralympic medals). Tatiana is adopted and wants to compete in the Mermaid Games, but is discouraged by the other mermaids. Her family encourages her to find a way to do what she desires and so she finds a coach. It's a story of determination and is likely to find a wide audience for that message. It's a beautiful story of following your dreams.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sound True for this ARC.

Quote I liked:

Think about what you do have instead of worrying about what you don't have.

This book is a great example of teaching children that regardless of their situation, they can overcome. I enjoyed that it doesn’t just preach a tolerance for differences, instead it advocates for actively celebrating our differences. The illustrations were beautiful as well and I think many age groups will respond positively to this picture book. This is certainly something parents can use to start a conversation about people living with physical differences.

The Mermaid with No Tail is a very cute children’s book. Tells the story that be different does not matter. And you can still win.

Sweet fictional retelling of Jessica’s own story of triumph amidst her physical disability. The story encouraged children to work hard despite adversity and touches on the damaging effects of bullying others. I thought the illustrations were adorable!

A great story about overcoming differences and becoming your best self. The preschool girl loved this story.

<i>I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.</i>
my child liked this book and loved the illustrations.
this is a great story that was easy to follow, had beautiful pictures, and had a beautiful message

This was a lovely read. Thank you for sharing it with me. This book has wonderful representation and is so necessary for all kids. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.