Did you know that the earliest record of merfolk is ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus referencing the Syriac fertility goddess Atargatis in his Bibliotheca Historica (Universal History)?

Did you know that it wasn’t until Medieval times that the sirens became the notable half-human (usually women) and half-fish we know today? Previously the ancient Greeks described them as half birds.

Mermaids and beings like them appear in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. I can imagine the biodiversity of each mermaid, merman, or merperson, to match the terrain and their needs. 

Of course, the most famous mermaid appears in Hans Christian Andersen’s literary fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" (1836). We are now seeing a newfound interest in them due to new versions of that story, as well as fun activities like the Coney Island Mermaid Parade and other merfolk gatherings. Personally, I adored Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid. (Halle Bailey - who is also in a musical duo with her sister Chloe - was phenomenal as Ariel.) I also have a fondness for Disney’s animated 1989 version, with the title character voiced by Jodi Benson. Halle Bailey is Ariel in one universe as Jodi Benson is another. Both are equally valid and wonderful.

As a folklorist and reader, I am always fascinated by how certain stories, figures, and places become lost and then found again.

There is a mistaken belief that merfolk are only found in Western Europe. In fact, their stories are found all over, including their counterparts like the skinclad selkies. Without further ado, here are books that feature the merfolk and their kin who should be included:

• A Mermaid's Tale: A Personal Search for Love and Lore by Amanda Adams
• Soraya and the Mermaid by Salima Alikhan, illustrated by Atieh Sohrabi; Estelle's Journey, illustrated by Jennifer Naalchigar
• The Penguin Book of Mermaids edited by Cristina Bacchilega and Marie Alohalani Brown

• The Pisces: A Novel by Melissa Broder
• In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
• Undine by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué, retold by Gertrude C. Schwebell, illustrated by Eros Keith
• The Seas by Samantha Hunt, introduction by Maggie Nelson
• Julián Is A Mermaid by Jessica Love

• The Moon and the Sun by Vonda N. McIntyre
• Mermaid Tales From Around The World, retold by Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by Troy Howel
• The Girl from the Sea: A Graphic Novel by Molly Knox Ostertag, color by Maarta Laiho (This is an honorary mention, since one of the main characters is a selkie, not a mermaid. However, there are stories where merfolk and other water beings could shapeshift. Plus, I love the graphic and this was a personal request from a colleague!)
• Sukey and the Mermaid by Robert D. San Souci, illustrated by Brian Pinkney

• Merpeople: A Human History by Vaughn Scribner
• Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester
• The Sea Lady by H.G. Wells

Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Little Mermaid" can be found

• in Stack 3: The Complete Fairy Tales and Stories, translated from the Danish by Erik Christian Haugaard, foreword by Virginia Haviland
• as an audiobook: Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales
• or in Jerry Pinkney’s 2020 retelling.