In this entertaining but uneven series opener, Cora the mermaid has no trouble with the -three S-s- of swimming, splashing, and singing, but a fourth-spelling-proves more difficult. Raymundo (The Monkey Goes Bananas) structures Cora-s story as a heavily illustrated diary, one filled with loose, energetic ink drawings colored with watery splashes of blue, as well as crossed-out words that reflect Cora-s spelling struggles. Brash and headstrong, Cora doesn-t hurt for personality, though her narration has a tendency to ramble (-I shouldn-t be saying I was there! And I wouldn-t if it wasn-t for... Ohhh! I-ll get to that! The fact is, I was there, okay?-) as the plot zigzags among Cora-s attempt hide her new pet (a gigantic shrimp mutated by toxic waste) from her mother, evade bully sharks, address friendship troubles, and improve her spelling grade. Ages 6-8. Agent: Daniel Lazar, Writers House. (Jan.)

The titular mermaid must ace a spelling test to get back on her swim team and in doing so learns a lesson about inner and outer beauty.Mermaid Cora is great at singing, swimming, and splashing-but not so much at spelling, a subject in which she earns "a great big FISH (minus the ish)" on her report card. To help boost her scores, her mother gives her a diary, telling her it has a spell on it to compel her to write. Illustrating her difficulties, numerous words are misspelled, crossed out, and corrected. Cora has just made the junior ranks of the most glamorous swim team-the Singing Sirens-only to get booted for her spelling grade. (How these undersea swim teams compete and what they do-aside from swimming and looking pretty-is never made clear.) Her mother negotiates on her behalf, arriving at an agreement that if Cora aces the next spelling test, she can keep her spot. In writing about her undersea adventures, Cora ends up using her spelling words and learning them. In the end, Cora uncovers the nasty sides of her beautiful teammates and rival, and she decides to change her values. Light-skinned Cora is depicted as chubby and cartoon-cute, while other mermaids (including her best friend, who appears darker-skinned on the cover) appear conventionally "beautiful." Generally amusing, if readers can look past the only mildly critiqued focus on beauty. (Fantasy. 6-8)

Gr 2-4 Cora, a mermaid in the third grade, wants to be part of the Singing Sirens, but her failing spelling grade keeps her from the team. To help encourage Cora's writing and improve her spelling, Cora's mom buys her a diary, and Cora tells readers her story through her conversational entries. In her quest to regain her place with the Singing Sirens, Cora befriends a giant shrimp (made extra large by undersea toxic green sludge) and learns what real friendship is about. Nearly every page contains illustrations and dialogue. Combined with an easy-to-read typeface and short chapters, this may be a visually appealing choice for young independent readers looking to challenge themselves. But while mystical mermaids, talking sea creatures, and one big, mutated shrimp fill the pages, they are flat and predictable. VERDICT A serviceable addition for collections in need of simple chapter books. Lindsay Persohn, University of South Florida, Tampa

Cora is "shellfishalicious" at most third-grade subjects imming, singing, splashing t she's a terrible speller (evidenced in the text's many scribbled out words). If she doesn't ace the next spelling test, she'll be booted off the Singing Sirens swim team. Cora doesn't understand studying, but she is compelled to practice in a "magic" diary her mother gives her. All that writing helps her spelling, just in time for the test. Self-absorbed Cora gets sidetracked along the way, but her friends and Salty, her 3,000-pound pet shrimp, help her learn that hard work, friendship, and intelligence are better than mere beauty. With snappy pacing and attractive illustrations, this first book promises more underwater adventures for Cora and her friends. Although the humor in the first-person narrative is forced at times, short chapters and artwork on every page make this a good fit for a transitional reader. The cartoonish two-color illustrations, using thick swooping lines, add humor and push along the predictable plot. This new series will make a splash with mermaid-obsessed readers.