The Little Mermaid – An English Fairy Tale for Children

The Little Mermaid is a beautiful fairy tale for your kids. It tells of a mermaid who sacrifices everything for love, revealing themes of courage, sacrifice, and the pursuit of dreams.

Andersen’s tales have left a lasting legacy, inspiring countless adaptations and enchanting readers for generations.

We prepare two forms of this story, short and detailed, choose what you want to read.

The Little Mermaid – Let’s Read

In the depths of the ocean, where the light barely reached, where lived a cute young mermaid. Her name was Marina, she was the youngest daughter of the Sea King.

While her older sisters loved exploring underwater treasures, Marina was different. She spent hours listening to her grandmother’s tales about the human world, dreaming of what lay beyond the waves.

When Marina finally turned 16, she eagerly swam up to the surface and was amazed by what she saw: a beautiful ship filled with people, celebrating under the moonlight.

Among them, she noticed a young prince, laughing and dancing with joy. His gentle face and kind smile captured her heart instantly.

Marina lingered, watching from afar until a sudden storm hit. Waves crashed, and the ship was thrown about until it sank. The prince was tossed into the sea, unconscious.

Without hesitation, Marina dove into the stormy waters, swimming with all her strength. She found the prince and brought him safely to shore, watching over him until she heard voices nearby.

Not wanting to be seen, she slipped back into the ocean, but she couldn’t forget him.

From that moment, Marina longed to be with the prince. She visited the Sea Witch, who agreed to help Marina but at a steep price.

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“I’ll give you human legs,” the Sea Witch said, “but you must give me your voice. If you do not win the prince’s heart and he marries another, you’ll turn into sea foam at dawn.”

Marina agreed, and with a spell, her tail transformed into legs. She swam to shore, where the prince found her lying on the beach, unable to speak but smiling warmly.

He took her to his palace, where she became his companion, though he believed her only to be a kind stranger.

They grew close, sharing moments of laughter and friendship. Marina hoped each day that he would realize she was the one who had saved him.

Quote of the Day

True love sometimes means letting go, and the greatest acts of courage often come in the quiet sacrifices we make for others.

But soon, the prince met another princess. He believed this princess to be the one who had rescued him during the storm, as she had come upon him on the shore after Marina left.

He fell in love, and Marina’s heart ached as she watched them prepare for their wedding.

On the night before their wedding, Marina’s sisters appeared, having given their hair to the Sea Witch in exchange for a magical dagger. “Use this to end the prince’s life,” they urged. “You can then return to the sea and avoid becoming sea foam.”

Marina took the dagger and approached the prince, but as she watched him sleeping, she couldn’t harm him. Instead, she threw the dagger into the sea and accepted her fate.

As dawn broke, she felt herself dissolve into the cool morning air. But rather than disappearing, Marina found herself transformed into a spirit of the air, given a chance to earn her place among humans for her selflessness and love.

From that day forward, Marina traveled with the wind, watching over the prince and the world she had once dreamed of, bringing kindness wherever she went.

The Little Mermaid – Detailed Version – Read and Enjoy

Once upon a time, deep beneath the waves of the ocean, there lived a young mermaid named Marina.

She was the youngest daughter of the Sea King and had six older sisters.

Marina was known for her sparkling turquoise tail that shimmered like jewels under the sunlight and her beautiful voice, which could enchant anyone who heard it.

When she sang, even the most irritable sea creatures would pause and listen, their hearts filled with peace.

Marina loved exploring the ocean’s wonders, playing with dolphins, and collecting treasures from shipwrecks.

But what Marina loved most were the tales her grandmother told about the human world above the water.

Her grandmother described bustling cities, carriages that clattered along streets, and humans walking on two legs.

Marina’s curiosity grew with each story, and she often dreamed of the blue skies and the warm sun on her face.

However, mermaids were forbidden from visiting the surface until they turned 16. Marina would often gaze upward at the shimmering sunlight above the water, wondering about the world that lay beyond.

The First Glimpse

Finally, the day of Marina’s 16th birthday arrived. Her sisters helped her prepare, adorning her hair with delicate seaweed ribbons and singing cheerful songs to celebrate her big day.

Marina’s heart raced with excitement as she swam upwards, her tail cutting gracefully through the water.

When she reached the surface, her breath caught at the sight before her.

The sky was a canvas of orange and pink as the sunset. Nearby, a grand ship floated on the waves, its sails billowing in the breeze.

Music and laughter echoed from the deck as humans celebrated. Marina hid behind a rock, mesmerized by their joyful faces.

Among the people, Marina’s gaze fell on a young prince. He had kind eyes and a warm smile, and he danced with effortless grace.

Marina couldn’t take her eyes off him. But as she watched, dark clouds began to gather. The sky turned gray, and the wind howled as a fierce storm descended upon the ship.

Waves crashed violently, and lightning lit up the sky. Marina watched in horror as the ship’s mast snapped and the prince was thrown into the churning sea.

Without hesitation, she dove into the stormy waters, determined to save him.

She found him sinking beneath the waves, unconscious and wrapped her arms around him. Summoning all her strength, she carried him to the shore and laid him gently on the sand.

Marina stayed by his side until the first rays of sunlight touched the earth. She sang softly, hoping her voice would comfort him.

But as she heard voices approaching, she slipped back into the ocean, leaving the prince to be found by the humans who lived nearby.

The Sea Witch’s Deal

Marina couldn’t stop thinking about the prince. She longed to walk on land, speak to him, and be part of his world.

Desperate, she decided to visit the Sea Witch, a powerful sorceress feared by many.

The Sea Witch lived in a dark, eerie cave filled with glowing seaweed and strange, bubbling cauldrons. When Marina entered, the witch smiled slyly. “I know why you’re here,” she said. “You want to become human.”

Marina nodded. “Yes, I want to walk on land and be with the prince.”

The Sea Witch cackled. “I can grant your wish, but it comes at a price. You must give me your voice. In return, I will give you legs.

But remember, every step you take will feel like walking on sharp knives. And if the prince does not fall in love with you and marry you, you will turn into seafoam and disappear forever.”

Though the terms were harsh, Marina’s love for the prince gave her courage. She agreed to the deal.

The Sea Witch brewed a bubbling potion and handed it to her. “Drink this when you reach the shore,” she instructed. “Your transformation will begin.”

Life on Land

Marina swam to the shore under the light of the moon and drank the potion. Pain surged through her as her tail transformed into legs.

The pain was unbearable, but Marina managed to stand. She wobbled at first but took a deep breath and stepped forward.

The prince found her near the shore. He was enchanted by her beauty and took her to his palace.

Though Marina could not speak, her kind actions and graceful movements quickly won the hearts of everyone around her.

Marina spent her days exploring the prince’s kingdom. Despite the pain in her feet, she cherished every moment with him.

They danced at grand balls, walked through lush gardens, and shared countless adventures.

But the prince believed another princess, who had been found near the shore, was the one who had saved him.

He announced his engagement to her, unaware of Marina’s sacrifice.

A Difficult Choice

On the night before the wedding, Marina’s sisters appeared with grave expressions. They had made a deal with the Sea Witch to save her.

They handed her a dagger and said, “If you use this to end the prince’s life, you can return to the sea.”

Marina held the dagger, torn between love and survival. As she stood over the sleeping prince, tears streamed down her face.

She loved him too much to harm him. Instead, she threw the dagger into the sea and walked to the water’s edge.

As the sun rose, her body began to dissolve into seafoam. But instead of disappearing, she found herself rising into the sky as a spirit of the air.

Her selflessness and pure heart had earned her a new purpose—to bring good to the world.

The story of The Little Mermaid teaches us about love, sacrifice, and selflessness. Marina’s journey shows that true love is about giving, not taking and that sometimes letting go is the greatest act of love.

Even in heartbreak, we can find purpose and strength in helping others.

About the Author

Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish author born in 1805, was known for his fairy tales filled with imagination and moral lessons. The Little Mermaid, first published in 1837, is one of his most famous fairy tales.

Follow-up Questions for The Little Mermaid

• What lessons can children learn from Marina’s journey in The Little Mermaid?
• How does Marina’s transformation into a human symbolize personal sacrifice and growth?
• What role does the Sea Witch play in highlighting the challenges Marina faces, and how could her character be interpreted?
• Why does Marina choose to let go of her chance to return to the sea instead of harming the prince?
• How does the story of The Little Mermaid inspire readers to face their fears and embrace selflessness?