Parents' Guide to The Princess in Black and the Mermaid Princess

white gril princess in a diving hemet and wearing flippers is under the sea visiting a Black mermaid holding a pink shell

Common Sense Media Review

Regan McMahon By Regan McMahon , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 5+

Exciting underwater journey for princess and friends.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 5+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 2+

Based on 1 kid review

What's the Story?

THE PRINCESS IN BLACK AND THE MERMAID PRINCESS begins on the boat of Princess Seneezewort (aka the Princess in Blankets), with the Princess in Black looking for a adventure and the Goat Avenger worrying about finding sea monsters. They find both once they put on their diving gear and go under the sea, where they meet a mermaid named Princess Posy. She's sad because she knows she needs to protect her kingdom, but she she's having trouble speaking up and standing up to the kracken, a kind of undersea monster. She's afraid that wouldn't be nice -- she thinks princesses have to be nice all the time. Can the Princess in Black and her friends help her solve he monster problem?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say ( 1 ):

This undersea romp is loads of fun with wonderful world-building and amusing twists on the aboveground problems that our heroes are used to encountering. In The Princess in Black and the Mermaid Princess, there are not goats but sea goats (half-goat and half-mermaid), and the monster who wants to eat them is called a kracken. The mermaid princess' loyal steed is a narwhal called Krimpledance, who reminds the Princess in Black of her unicorn named Frimplepants. Everything is totally different but a lot like home. This is an especially fun adventure for series fans.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the undersea world in The Princess in Black and the Mermaid Princess. How are the setting and creatures different from those in the pasture where the friends usually fight monsters? How are they similar?

  • Why is Princess Posy sad? Why is it hard for her to speak up? Do you ever have difficulty speaking up?

  • What's your favorite picture in the book. Why?

Book Details

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white gril princess in a diving hemet and wearing flippers is under the sea visiting a Black mermaid holding a pink shell

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