Horn Book (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2012)

Five young mermaids take part in a carnival after locating their stolen magical pony (Rosa); in Jasmine, they try to track down a legendary mermaid's lost treasure. These uninspired illustrated tales feature a sometimes illogical undersea setting and stock bland characters, including thinly drawn adversaries that flit in momentarily to add conflict.

School Library Journal (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

Gr 1-3 Mermaid friends Jasmine, Sula, and Melody support Rosa's suggestion that they enter the Midsummer Carnival Competition. With the hope of winning a pearl necklace, they decide to use their magic to turn a sea horse into a water pony. Rosa's cousin Coral swims in and is invited to join them. Her talents for casting spells and stunt riding outshine Rosa's efforts, and Rosa abruptly leaves the group. When the friends meet to practice with the pony in the morning, neither Rosa nor the animal is there and a search ensues. Surprises unfold as they are found, and the friends reconcile and win the competition. The allure of mermaid culture, a large font, and frequent line drawings welcome children who are ready to take the plunge from beginning readers to this transitional chapter book, and they will be looking for the second installment in this series. Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI

Kirkus Reviews

A new chapter-book series introduces a set of mermaid friends. Rosa, a young mermaid, lives in Mermaid Bay with her three best friends. The annual Midsummer Carnival is coming up and the girls can't wait to enter. The best performance wins a gleaming pearl necklace! With the help of a sparkling water pony (a magically transformed seahorse, of course), fluttering golden ribbons and a routine filled with dazzling finflips and tailspins, the girls are certain their team will win. But mean twin sisters Muriel and Myrtle make fun of their routine. And when Rosa's cousin Coral visits unexpectedly, her triple sideflip and graceful pirouettes blow Rosa's best moves out of the water. To make matters worse, their water pony is stolen on the day of the show! How will they ever win the necklace now? Familiar themes of friendships, jealousy and bullying abound in this undersea world—with a generous sprinkling of sea jewels and stardust on every page. The pony is named Sparkle, natch. An alternative for those fairy-loving transitioning readers who are looking for a new magical adventure. (Fantasy. 6-8)