Written and Illustrated by Mary Ann Fraser
Published by Walker Books 2008

Wanted: One sister to replace pesky younger brother

Tired of her little brother, Shelly hopes to find a new sister to play with. To her surprise, one day at the beach she finds Coral, a mermaid who wants to try out her sea legs. They love being sisters, and have so much in common that little brothers simply don't understand—like painting their nails (or flippers) and playing dress up. But Shelly soon realizes that having a sister, especially a mermaid sister, can be tricky, and sometimes little brothers aren't so bad after all.

REVIEWS

"Shelly’s little brother Gordy is “a pain in the patootie.” She’s always wished she had a sister instead, so she puts a message in a bottle and sends it out to sea. Coral, a mermaid, answers Shelly’s request. Mom and Dad agree to let Coral come stay, and the girls dance together, watch TV, play dress-up and paint their nails. However, having a sister is not without problems: Coral leaves scales on Shelly’s favorite shirt and sometimes plays with Gordy. Yuck! To make up after a fight, Shelly takes Coral to the beach where the mergirl learns that her own brother Sandy misses her. Coral goes home but returns with a solution to the Gordy problem: Sandy . Fraser offers a sweet sea-sister tale; her bright, energetic watercolors feature expressive characters and silly eye-catching oceanic details. Any young miss with a wish for a sis would be happy with this fish. A fine addition to storytimes on siblings or the sea." --Kirkus Reviews

Mermaid Sister

What could be better than having a sister to share everything with? Having a mermaid sister! Fed up with her annoying little brother and longing for a more amenable sibling, Shelly comes up with a plan. While on a trip to the beach, she writes a note advertising for a sister, slips it into a bottle, and tosses it into the ocean. Before long a mermaid swims up and accepts the position. Coral moves in with Shelly (which presents certain problems) and their time together is full of fun (playing dress up and painting toenails/fins) and even their first fight (followed by making up). All good things must end, though, and Coral eventually returns to the sea, but she has a plan for keeping in touch. Filled with peach and turquoise hues, the acrylic paintings sing of summer by the sea. The scenes are depicted with warmth and gentle humor and the text keeps the tone light. A somewhat frivolous read, this book may tickle fans of Fancy Nancy or sisters with problematic little brothers.–SLJ

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