Julián is a Mermaid
Publisher
Candlewick Press
Publication Year
2018
ISBN
9780763690458
Pages
40 pages
Genre
realism
Format
picture book
Item Type
Fiction
Annotation
While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he's seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes -- and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself?
Grade Level
PK-1; K-3
Diversity Topics
Family Relationships; Culture/Ethnicity; LGBTQ (Gender and Sexuality); Kinship care; Bilingual; Gender nonconformity; grandparent raising grandchild; bilingual family; gender identity; gender expression
Main Character
male child
Race/Ethnicities
Latinx
Family Formation
grandmother
Awards
Bologna Ragazzi Award, 2019, Winner, Opera Prima
Children's and Teen Choice Book Award, 2019, Finalist, K-2
Cybils Awards, 2018, Finalist, Fiction Picture Book
Goodreads Choice Award, 2018, Nominee, Picture Book
Kate Greenaway Medal, 2019, Long List, Children's Book
NAIBA Book of the Year Award, 2018, Winner, Picture Book
Society of Illustrators Original Art Award, 2018, Silver Medal
Stonewall Book Award-Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children's and Young Adult Literature Award, 2019, Winner, Children's (Young Adult Literature)
Kirkus Book Review Stars, 2018
Best Books for Kids, 2018
Amazon Editors' Picks: Best Books of the Year, 2018 Ages 3 to 5
Best Children and YA Books, 2018 Picture Book
Choices, 2019 Picture Books For Younger Children
Notable Children's Books, 2019 Younger Readers
NPR's Book Concierge, 2018 Kids' Book
Keywords
New York; subway; mermaids; beach; dress up; swimming; costume; parade
Diversity Impact
direct
STARS Citation
Love, Jessica, "Julián is a Mermaid" (2018). Diverse Families. 1714.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/diversefamilies/1714