Book Series · 10 Books

Emily Windsnap Books

In order from The Tail of Emily Windsnap to Emily Windsnap and the Crystal Caves.

Emily discovers she is a mermaid and navigates friendship, family secrets, underwater kingdoms, magic, and sea-creature adventures across ten middle-grade novels.

Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated

The Tail of Emily Windsnap
Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep
Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist
Emily Windsnap and the Siren's Secret
Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun
Reading order

How to Read the Emily Windsnap Books

Begin with The Tail of Emily Windsnap and follow the ten numbered novels. Recurring friends, family history, and Emily's relationships make book one the best introduction.

The World of Emily Windsnap books are separate 64-page illustrated early readers for ages 5–8. They introduce the same world with shorter text and do not require finishing the longer novels first.

Sources: Candlewick's Emily Windsnap collection.

For parents

What Parents Should Know

Fantasy peril includes sea monsters, capture, pirates, family separation, dangerous magic, and threats underwater. The tone stays reassuring and friendship-centered, though some books address pollution, captive animals, grief, or strained family relationships.

Where to start

Where Should My Child Start?

Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

The Tail of Emily Windsnap
Sale price
$674
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2003

The Tail of Emily Windsnap

By Liz Kessler, Sarah Gibb (Illustrator)

A girl discovers she's half mermaid and dives into a quest to find her father.

224 pages· 44,146 words· Est. 6 hour read
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap has always lived on a boat, but her mother keeps her away from the water. When Emily finally takes swimming lessons, she uncovers a shocking truth: she's half mermaid. This revelation leads her on a daring journey beneath the waves to find her mysterious father. In a world where mermaids study shipwrecks and Neptune reigns, Emily must navigate family secrets and forge new friendships. Will she reunite with her father, or will the ocean's perils prove too great? Dive into this enchanting tale of discovery and adventure.
In reading order

Emily Windsnap Series

10 books · Published 2003–2025

Shorter adventures for newer readers

The World of Emily Windsnap

4 books · Published 2022–2024

Four published 64-page illustrated stories for ages 5–8. A fifth publishes September 8, 2026 and is not counted yet.

#1
Emily's Big Discovery
#1 in Series
Sale price
$574

Emily's Big Discovery

Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2022

A young girl discovers she is a mermaid and embarks on underwater adventures with a new friend

#2
Shona Finds Her Voice
#2 in Series
Sale price
$574

Shona Finds Her Voice

Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2022

A young mermaid overcomes her fear of singing in front of others to participate in a talent show judged by King Neptune.

#4
Dolphin Rescue
#4 in Series
Sale price
$574

Dolphin Rescue

Chapter Book · Ages 5–8 · 2024

Mer-friends uncover a dark secret at Sea Park. Can they save the captured sea creatures?

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the Emily Windsnap series?

There are 10 books in the Emily Windsnap series. It began with The Tail of Emily Windsnap in 2003, and the newest book, Emily Windsnap and the Crystal Caves, was published in 2025.

What order should you read the Emily Windsnap books in?

Start with The Tail of Emily Windsnap and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #10.

What ages are the Emily Windsnap books best for?

The series is best for ages 8–12, based on the age ranges of the individual books.

Which Emily Windsnap book is the longest?

Emily Windsnap and the Falls of Forgotten Island (Book #7) is the longest book in the series at 58,852 words (320 pages).

Which Emily Windsnap book is the shortest?

Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep (Book #2) is the shortest at 42,684 words (240 pages).

The people

The Creatives Behind the Books

The people who bring Emily Windsnap to life.

01

Liz Kessler

Author
LK
02

Sarah Gibb

Illustrator
SG
03

Natacha Ledwidge

Illustrator
NL
04

Erin Farley

Illustrator
EF

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