Make an Original Little Mermaid Story for Kids
Andersen's original Little Mermaid does not end the way the famous film does — she does not marry the prince, and the story closes with her dissolving into sea foam. Readkidz writes and illustrates a complete retelling where you choose which ending your child gets: the original, a gentler close, or something between the two.
Made with Readkidz
Three pages from “The Little Mermaid and the Daughter of the Air,” which keeps Andersen's ending rather than the film's — the prince is kind, and it still does not work out.
How it works
- 1Choose your ending first
Andersen's, where she becomes a daughter of the air; the happier one most children expect; or a middle version where she chooses the sea and her sisters. Everything else in the book is paced toward whichever you pick, so this is not a decision to leave until the end.
- 2Decide what the bargain costs
In the original she loses her voice and every step feels like knives. That price is what gives the story its weight, and it is also the part most likely to need softening for a younger reader. Say how much of it to keep.
- 3Keep the sea consistent
The same reef, the same colour of water, the same sisters. Half this story happens underwater and half above it, and holding each world visually stable is what stops the book feeling like two different books stapled together.
Is this what you were looking for?
- What you get
- 10 illustrated pages plus a cover
- Written for
- Ages 6-9
- How long
- One sitting — not weeks
- Rights
- Public-domain source — free to print, share or sell
Frequently asked questions
Which ending does the sample use?
Andersen's. The prince is kind, he marries someone else, and she is not rewarded with the life she wanted — which is why the book is called The Daughter of the Air. It is included precisely because it is the version most people have never actually read.
Is the original ending too sad for children?
For many under-sixes, yes — and there is no obligation to use it. Older children often find it more satisfying than the happy version, because it takes their disappointment seriously. If you are unsure, ask for the middle version, where she returns to the sea by choice rather than losing everything.
Can I use the film's characters?
No, and the maker will not produce them. Andersen's 1837 tale is public domain and free to retell, but a studio's named characters, designs and songs are protected. The book is built from the tale itself.
Does she have to give up her voice?
It is the bargain that gives the story its shape, but the cost can be changed — her memory, her name, a year of her life. Say what you want traded and the story is built around it.
Can I read a full one first?
Yes. The link below opens all eleven pages of The Little Mermaid and the Daughter of the Air, including the caregiver notes on discussing the ending.
Will mine be the same story?
No — and with this tale especially, the ending you choose changes the entire book. The source is shared with Andersen; nothing is copied from the sample.
Make your Little Mermaid
Choose the ending before anything else. Every page is illustrated in the same sitting, and you approve the cost first.
This maker is based on a literary work in the public domain. Its prompts require new character designs, clothing, environments, wording, and story emphasis, and do not copy or claim affiliation with any copyrighted modern film, television, game, or merchandising adaptation. Users should avoid protected modern designs.