Luna the Loyal Mermaid: Your Guide to Getting the Most Out of Letter Twelve of The Mermaid Mail Series

Letter twelve in the Mermaid Mail series, featuring Luna the Loyal Mermaid, focuses on friendship, loyalty, and the importance of staying true to yourself. Through a thoughtful story, vibrant illustrations, and engaging activities, this letter inspires children to reflect on their relationships and how they can be kind and loyal to both friends and themselves.

Exploring Friendship and Loyalty

Luna’s story begins with an act of kindness: helping an octopus friend tangled in seaweed. She reminds us that loyalty means being there for others when they need us most. Luna also shares an important lesson - loyalty isn’t just about helping others; it’s about respecting and being kind to yourself, too.

After reading the letter, start a conversation with your child about loyalty and friendships:

• “How do you think Luna showed loyalty to the octopus? How did that make the octopus feel?”
• “What does it mean to be loyal to yourself? Why is it important?”
• “Can you think of a time when you were a loyal friend? Or a time when you needed to step back from a friendship to take care of yourself?”

This theme provides an excellent opportunity to talk about balancing kindness to others with self-care, helping children understand that true loyalty works both ways.

Spotlight on Inclusion: Protruding Ears (Otapostasis) and Dwarfism

The illustrations on this letter showcases the beauty of diversity:

• Marlo the Mermaid has large, protruding ears that make her an exceptional listener. This feature celebrates the idea that what makes us different can also make us extraordinary.
• Another mermaid has dwarfism, represented with care and detail, encouraging children to see and appreciate diverse body types.

Ask your child to notice these details in the illustrations:

• “What makes Marlo special? How do her big ears help her be such a great friend?”
• “Did you see the mermaid with a smaller stature? Isn’t it amazing how all mermaids are unique in their own way?”

These conversations can help normalise physical differences, foster empathy, and encourage children to celebrate individuality.

Activities to Deepen the Message

1. Friendship Reflections

• Ask your child to think about their friendships and what makes them meaningful.
• Use Luna’s poem to discuss the qualities of a loyal friend.

2. Kindness Role-Play

• Practice role-playing situations where your child can show loyalty to a friend or themselves. For example:
  • Helping a friend who’s upset.
  • Setting boundaries when someone isn’t being kind.

3. Celebrate Uniqueness

• Encourage your child to draw or describe what makes them unique, just like Marlo’s ears or the mermaid with dwarfism. Display their artwork as a celebration of individuality.

A Reminder from Luna

Inside this envelope, your child will find a shimmering octopus sticker with the words, “loyalty makes us sparkle.” Encourage your child to stick it somewhere special as a reminder of the importance of loyal friendships and staying true to themselves.

Why This Letter Matters

Luna’s story and the accompanying illustrations provide powerful lessons:

• Teaching children how to balance loyalty to friends with loyalty to themselves.
• Normalising physical differences, fostering empathy and understanding.
• Help children appreciate the unique traits that make themselves and others special.

Share Your Stories!

We’d love to hear how you and your child explored this letter! Share your experiences, drawings, or friendship reflections with us at:
📧 hello@happyenvelopeclub.com
📱 @happyenvelopeclub

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