The Recommended Reading Path for Emily Windsnap
For readers diving into Emily Windsnap's magical universe, the best reading order is the publication order. The main novels follow a linear timeline, tracing Emily's growth from a twelve-year-old girl who discovers her mermaid tail in a school swimming pool to an experienced adventurer dealing with sea gods, time travel, and ancient curses. Reading the books in sequence ensures that you understand the developing friendships, character relationships, and overarching mythology of the mer-world.
Emily Windsnap Main Novels in Publication Order
Here is the chronological progression of the core middle-grade fantasy series, which spans ten main novels:
- The Tail of Emily Windsnap (2003): Emily discovers she is half-human and half-mermaid when she enters the water, launching a quest to find her missing merman father and unite her split family.
- Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep (2004): Emily accidentally awakens the legendary Kraken while trying to adjust to her new life in a secret mermaid community.
- Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist (2006): A mysterious ring and a castle hidden in the fog lead Emily to a confrontation with an ancient curse that threatens her dual identity.
- Emily Windsnap and the Siren's Secret (2009): Emily fights to build peace between humans and merfolk when an aggressive developer threatens the sanctuary of the sirens.
- Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun (2012): Emily and her best friend Shona travel to the icy north on a mission that brings them face-to-face with Norse myths.
- Emily Windsnap and the Ship of Lost Souls (2015): A ghost ship appearing in the mist prompts Emily to investigate a mystery involving trapped souls and forgotten memories.
- Emily Windsnap and the Falls of Forgotten Island (2018): A family vacation turns into a struggle against an ancient prophecy on a mysterious island.
- Emily Windsnap and the Pirate Prince (2019): Emily is caught in a high-seas clash involving pirates, royalty, and a rescue mission to save her friend Aaron.
- Emily Windsnap and the Tides of Time (2020): Emily undergoes a time-traveling journey to prevent a dark future from destroying both her land and sea homes.
- Emily Windsnap and the Crystal Caves (2025): Emily, Shona, and Aaron team up at Halflight Castle to resolve a dispute between the sea god Neptune and the sky god Thor over a powerful crystal.
The World of Emily Windsnap: Early Reader Spin-offs
In addition to the main middle-grade novels, Liz Kessler created a spin-off series titled The World of Emily Windsnap (illustrated by Joanie Stone). These early reader chapter books are written for a younger audience (ages 5–8) and offer gentle, illustrated stories introducing the characters' backstories and everyday adventures. They can be read in any order, though they serve as a wonderful prequel experience for younger readers before they tackle the main novels.
- Emily's Big Discovery (2022/2023): A simplified retelling of how Emily discovers her mermaid tail during her first school swimming lesson.
- Shona Finds Her Voice (2022/2023): Focuses on Emily's best friend, Shona Silkfin, as she overcomes stage fright before a school talent show.
- The Truth About Aaron (2023): Explores the perspective of Aaron, a semi-mer boy who uncovers a family secret after his trident pendant goes missing.
- Dolphin Rescue (2024): Emily and Shona work together to help a young dolphin in need of assistance.
- Emily's Great Idea (2026): The latest illustrated adventure focusing on Emily's creative problem-solving in the underwater world.
Companion Books and Special Collections
For dedicated fans, several companion pieces and omnibus editions have been released over the years. These are not required reading to follow the plot, but they offer extra fun for readers who want to stay immersed in the world:
- Emily Windsnap's Friendship Book / Fin-tastic Friendship Book (2008): An interactive activity book filled with quizzes, games, and writing prompts designed for best friends to complete together.
- Four Sparkling Underwater Adventures (2010): A boxed set collecting the first four novels in the series.
- Two Magical Mermaid Tales (2014): A bind-up edition containing the first two books in the series.
- Emily Windsnap (2016): A promotional or special edition collection of early books in the series.
What to Know Before You Start
The main Emily Windsnap series is aimed at middle-grade readers (ages 8–12), offering a lighthearted balance of whimsical adventure, relatable coming-of-age struggles, and emotional themes like belonging, identity, and family dynamics. While the books are largely linear, the early reader spin-offs are a great gateway for younger siblings (ages 5–8) to enjoy the same characters with simpler vocabulary and beautiful illustrations. Furthermore, fans can look forward to a premium live-action television series adaptation, which is currently in active development by Very Big World Entertainment.