The Scaredy Cat is a children's chapter book written by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and illustrated by Vivien Wu. This is the first book in the Purrmaids series, which is about three mermaid kittens, or "purrmaids," named Coral, Shelly, and Angel. The story is about the friends' first day of sea school, where they are assigned a project to find a special object to share with the class. The main character, Coral, is a scaredy-cat who is afraid to venture far from home to find a treasure. The book explores themes of overcoming fear and friendship. The series is recommended for readers who enjoy books like Magic Kitten and the Fairy Animals of Misty Wood. Grades 1-4

