Ready for middle grade
Start with The Tail of Emily Windsnap for the complete introduction.
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
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?
Needs shorter text and more pictures
Try Emily's Big Discovery in the younger early-reader line.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
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
#1
Sale price
$674
The Tail of Emily Windsnap
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2003
A girl discovers she's half mermaid and dives into a quest to find her father.
#2
Sale price
$674
Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2004
A girl awakens a legendary sea monster, threatening her perfect island home.
#3
Sale price
$674
Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2006
A young girl discovers a magical ring that leads her on a journey to break a curse and save her family.
#4
Sale price
$674
Emily Windsnap and the Siren's Secret
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2009
A young mermaid named Emily navigates her relationships and identity while trying to bring peace between humans and merpeople.
#5
Sale price
$674
Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2012
A young mermaid and her friend embark on a secret mission to uncover the truth about the king of the oceans.
#6
Sale price
$674
Emily Windsnap and the Ship of Lost Souls
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2015
A young girl discovers a mysterious ship and must navigate a magical world to rescue its passengers.
#7
Sale price
$674
Emily Windsnap and the Falls of Forgotten Island
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018
A vacation turns into a quest to fulfill a prophecy and prevent disaster on a hidden island.
#8
Sale price
$674
Emily Windsnap and the Pirate Prince
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019
A pirate king seizes a ship, and Emily must choose between her mermaid life and a daring rescue.
#9
Sale price
$674
Emily Windsnap and the Tides of Time
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2020
Time-traveling Emily must unite humans and merfolk to prevent a disastrous future.
#10
Sale price
$1697
Emily Windsnap and the Crystal Caves
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2025
A mysterious crystal bangle leads to a quest to unite powerful gods and avert disaster.
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
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
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.
#3
Sale price
$574
The Truth About Aaron
Picture Book · Ages 6–9 · 2023
A stolen pendant reveals a hidden family secret on a mysterious ship.
#4
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.
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Emily Windsnap to life.
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