A soft, colorful palette and gorgeous watercolor and ink illustrations on brown paper realistically portray bodies of all different sizes in this touching story of an abuela’s love and acceptance of her gender-creative grandchild. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train carriage. While riding the subway home with his Nana one day, Julian notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Julin Is a Mermaid (Julin, 1) Audio CD CD, Decemby Jessica Love (Author, Illustrator), Avi Roque (Reader) 4,266 ratings Teachers' pick See all formats and editions Kindle 9.17 Read with Our Free App Audiobook 0.00 Free with your Audible trial Hardcover 9.89 52 Used from 4.03 29 New from 5.

Without a word, she takes Julián’s hand and leads him to the mermaid parade, where they join in the celebration. A glimpse of three women dressed as mermaids leaves one boy filled with wonder and ready to dazzle the world. After a moment of apprehension, Julián’s relief is palpable when Abuela, dressed in blue, returns to present him with a beaded coral necklace. Jessica Love lives in Brooklyn and is the author and illustrator ofJulián is a Mermaid, published by Candlewick Press. From the gauzy window curtain he fashions a tail and strikes a pose-only to be discovered by a towel-wrapped Abuela, who promptly walks away. Once they’re home, while Abuela takes a bath Julián removes his clothing, tucks fern leaves and flowers into a headband, and kneels on the vanity to apply lipstick. He discovers a tail where his legs had been, and accepts a coral necklace from a large, blue fish to complete the look. Wide-eyed Julián drifts into a fantasy: submerged in water, his hair lengthens as he sheds his tank top and shorts before being swept up in a stream of sea creatures.

Riding the train on their way home from the swimming pool, Julián and his abuela see women clad in elegant, mint-green dresses trailing tail fins: mermaids. A loose interpretation of being good could include what happens next as Julin decides to act out his good idea: He sheds his clothes (all except undies), ties fern fronds and flowers to his headband, puts on. ISBN: 978-0-7636-9045-8) Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love At home, Julin tells Abuela that he, too, is a mermaid Abuela admonishes him to be good while she takes a bath.