Tammy the Truthful Mermaid - Your Guide to Getting the Most Out of Letter Eleven of The Mermaid Mail Series

The eleventh letter in the Mermaid Mail series introduces Tammy the Truthful, a mermaid who helps her friend Leo the Lionfish navigate the tricky feelings that come with telling the truth.

In this story, Leo accidentally breaks a piece of coral and feels scared about admitting it. Instead of speaking up, he tries to hide, worried that others will be mad at him. But Tammy helps him understand that telling the truth - especially when it’s hard - takes courage, and honesty helps everyone move forward together.

This letter encourages children to embrace honesty, even when it feels scary, and reminds them that mistakes can be fixed, but trust is built through truth.

Validating For Your Child Why Telling the Truth Feels Tricky

Leo’s story in the letter is a great way to start a gentle conversation about why telling the truth can feel difficult sometimes.

Ask your child:

• “Have you ever felt nervous about telling the truth like Leo did?”
• “What did it feel like before you told the truth? What about afterward?”
• “How do you think Leo felt when everyone was proud of him for being honest?”

This is a great opportunity to help children name their feelings and recognise that fear of getting in trouble or disappointing someone is normal but honesty is always the best choice!

Representation in the Illustrations

This letter features ethnically diverse mermaids, as well as:

A mermaid with a facial birthmark

Birthmarks are unique, natural skin markings that some people are born with. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colours and make each person one of a kind! Some are small, while others are more noticeable.

Here’s how you can explain facial birthmarks to children:

• “A birthmark is a special mark some people are born with. It’s part of what makes them unique - like freckles or dimples!”
• “Some birthmarks are tiny, and others are bigger. They don’t hurt or change anything about a person’s personality!”
• “People with birthmarks are just like everyone else.”

This is a great way to teach children about kindness, acceptance, and celebrating differences.

A mermaid with glasses

Glasses are an everyday tool for many people, but they can sometimes make kids feel different or self-conscious. In this letter’s illustrations, one of the mermaids wears glasses, helping to normalise vision differences.

Here’s how you can explain glasses to a child:

• “Glasses help people see clearly, just like flippers help mermaids swim faster!”
• “Some people wear glasses all the time, and others only need them sometimes. Either way, they’re just another cool part of who someone is!”
• “Glasses don’t change who a person is on the inside, just like wearing different clothes doesn’t change how kind or fun someone is!”

Encouraging children to notice and celebrate differences helps build inclusivity and understanding, teaching them that everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and accepted.

How to Encourage Honesty in Everyday Life

Leo’s story reminds children that telling the truth isn’t always easy, but it builds trust and helps solve problems.

Here are some ways to encourage honesty in your child’s daily life:

Praise honesty, not just the outcome.

• • If your child tells the truth about something difficult, recognise their bravery by saying,
    “I’m really proud of you for being honest, even though it was hard.”
    
    

Make truth-telling feel safe.

• • Instead of reacting with frustration, try saying,
    “I know it might feel scary to tell me, but I’m glad you did. Let’s figure out what to do next.”
    
    

Use role-play to practice honesty.

• • Take turns pretending to be Leo and Tammy. Act out situations where one of you makes a mistake, and talk about how to handle it with honesty and kindness.

By showing children that telling the truth leads to understanding, not just punishment, we help them feel safe, heard, and valued.

Bringing the Lesson to Life!

Tammy’s letter includes a fun, interactive way for children to connect with honesty and courage.

Lionfish Sticker & Meaningful Placement

This letter includes a sparkly lionfish sticker, a symbol of bravery and truthfulness. Encourage your child to stick it somewhere special.

Colouring-In Activity: Truth & Courage Underwater Scene

Your child can decorate an underwater coral garden and imagine how they would help protect it, just like Leo and Tammy did! This activity sparks creativity and thoughtful reflection on how their choices make a difference.

Share Your Child’s Thoughts & Artwork!

We love seeing how mer-kids engage with these important lessons! We would love to see and hear about your child's experience with their letter.

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