Use costumes, signs and music to celebrate what you love. If you could have your very own parade celebrating something special about you, what would it be like? Have you ever been afraid to share something about yourself? Have you ever felt worried that you would be teased or shamed for sharing something very special about yourself? What does that feel like? If not, can you imagine what that might feel like?ĭo families have to love and accept everything about each member? What is something that would be unacceptable? Why? This powerful story of few words belongs on every bookshelf. This is an excellent book for English Language Learners, especially if their native language is Spanish and it’s great exposure for young children who are not native Spanish speakers (like us). This writing style allows the reader/listener to spend time imagining and thinking deeply about the message of this book. Love uses simple sentences and incorporates many pages that have no words at all. This is a beautifully illustrated book about love and acceptance. Knowing that not all families fully and openly love and accept each member, this is a much-needed story to show what it could and should look like. There are countless examples in our world where children and adults are shamed and outcast for not falling into the cisgendered, heterosexual narrative. The illustrations are stunning, but they dont explain Julians thoughts or feelings beyond him wanting to be a mermaid, and worrying that his Nana wouldnt approve. It was disappointing after the great press reviews. “Julián Is a Mermaid”, written and illustrated by Jessica Love, provides a role model of a grandmother who loves and affirms her grandson and his exploration of his interests. Weve read it twice, once while aged 6 and once aged 7. Her actions thereafter send a powerful message to Julián and all of us in the LGBTQ+ family - you are accepted, loved and worth celebrating. What will she say? What will she do seeing Julián - a boy - dressed this way? He imagines himself as a mermaid and as soon as he gets home, dresses himself up just as spectacularly. While riding the subway, Julián is mesmerized by three people dressed as spectacular mermaids.

Julian mermaid