Swimming Headfirst With Flounder and Sebastian Below, Ariel

A mermaid with long flowing hair swims headfirst through the water, one arm stretched out behind her and her striped tail curling down the right side of the page. She looks happy as she glances at a round-faced fish swimming right beside her. Down on the left, a small crab with one raised claw scuttles along near a rocky ledge. The sea floor is full of detail, including a branching coral, a spiky sea anemone, a cluster of tube-shaped sponges, and a tall leafy piece of seaweed. Small bubbles of different sizes float all around the characters. Try a smooth blend of blues and greens for the water, then pick out the tail stripes in two alternating colors. The mix of big open areas and tiny bubbles works well for both crayons and fine markers, and it is a good prompt for talking about ocean life with kids.