{"id":37369,"date":"2020-05-13T12:52:18","date_gmt":"2020-05-13T16:52:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=37369"},"modified":"2020-05-13T12:52:18","modified_gmt":"2020-05-13T16:52:18","slug":"review-of-julian-is-a-mermaid-by-jessica-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=37369","title":{"rendered":"Review of Juli\u00e1n Is a Mermaid, by Jessica Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Juli\u00e1n Is a Mermaid<\/em><\/p>\n

by Jessica Love<\/p>\n

Candlewick Press, 2018. 36 pages.
\nStarred Review
\nReview written May 24, 2018, from a library book
\n2019 Stonewall Children’s Literature Award Winner<\/a>
\n2018 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>: #6 Other Picture Books<\/p>\n

Juli\u00e1n Is a Mermaid<\/em> is a wonderful story told with magnificent illustrations. On the front end papers we see a young boy swimming underwater while his abuela looks on. Abuela and her four friends \u2013 all approximately Abuela\u2019s age and body type \u2013 are in the pool, too, wearing swim caps and holding onto the edge.<\/p>\n

The book still hasn\u2019t started. On the title spread, we see Juli\u00e1n and Abuela walking to the train station, with three tall, beautiful women flamboyantly dressed as mermaids walking behind them.<\/p>\n

The book officially begins on the train. The mermaids get on the train, too. The text reads:<\/p>\n

This is a boy named Juli\u00e1n. And this is his abuela.
\nAnd those are some mermaids.<\/p>\n

Juli\u00e1n LOVES mermaids.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One of the mermaids waves to Juli\u00e1n. We can tell that the big book he\u2019s reading has a picture of a mermaid inside.<\/p>\n

The next spreads show Juli\u00e1n\u2019s imagination. He\u2019s in the water. He kicks off all his clothes but his underwear. A swarm of fish sweeps past \u2013 and Juli\u00e1n has a tail! He\u2019s a mermaid! Another big fish gives him a necklace.<\/p>\n

But he\u2019s pulled out of the dream when the train reaches their stop. The mermaids wave good-by.<\/p>\n

At home, while Abuela is taking a bath, Juli\u00e1n wants to live in his imagination a little longer. He takes off his clothes except his underwear, makes a mermaid crown with plants and flowers (this part is all shown with pictures), puts on lipstick \u2013 and uses the fluffy lace curtain from the window to make a beautiful tail. Juli\u00e1n stands triumphant in the same pose as in the picture on the cover.<\/p>\n

When Abuela comes out, she doesn\u2019t exactly look happy. We can see Juli\u00e1n considering what he has done.<\/p>\n

And then, Abuela, all dressed now, gives Juli\u00e1n a bead necklace to complete his outfit. They go out the door together.<\/p>\n

We aren\u2019t sure where they\u2019re going \u2013 but as they walk, we see many people, all dressed as sea creatures.<\/p>\n

\u201cMermaids,\u201d<\/em> whispers Juli\u00e1n.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike you, mijo. Let\u2019s join them.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And Juli\u00e1n and Abuela end up walking along the beach as part of a long ocean parade, all sorts of people in wonderful costumes \u2013 and the mermaids from the train right in front of them.<\/p>\n

On the back endpapers, we\u2019ve got Abuela\u2019s swim group again, but this time they\u2019re all underwater and they have all grown tails. Juli\u00e1n the mermaid is swimming beneath them.<\/p>\n

The first lovely thing about this book is the illustrations. They are exquisitely and beautifully done. (In fact, I would be so happy if this book won the Caldecott.) All the people are distinct characters, and the art carries the story in most of the book.<\/p>\n

But what\u2019s especially lovely is that nowhere at all is Juli\u00e1n told that a little boy shouldn\u2019t imagine being a mermaid. Abuela looks askance at him for taking down her lovely lace curtain \u2013 but even that she goes with.<\/p>\n

And I love, love, love the way she encourages his imagination by letting him join the parade of others dressed as he is.<\/p>\n

And nobody puts any restrictions on this boy\u2019s imagination.<\/p>\n

candlewick.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/julian_is_a_mermaid.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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