Description

A glimpse of three women dressed as mermaids leaves one boy filled with wonder and ready to dazzle the world.

“Every choice Jessica Love makes imbues the story with charm, tenderness and humor” New York TImes Book Review

While riding the subway home with his Nana one day, Julian notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train carriage. When Julian gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies and making his own fabulous mermaid costume. But what will Nana think about the mess he makes – and even more importantly – what will she think about how Julian sees himself?

Publisher Review

"Capturing the simple, joyful playfulness of a gender creative young boy and his wonderful grandmother this is one of the most heart-moving and beautifully illustrated children's picture books we've ever read. [...] This book is a luminous carnival of joy." * Attitude * Beautiful [...] Magnificent [...] Lovely [...] Magical [...] Gorgeous * RuPaul of RuPaul's Drag Race * This is Jessica Love's debut picture book, and every choice she makes - the spare text, a color palette both muted and lively, full-bleed pages that make even subway cars and apartment rooms feel as expansive as the ocean - imbues the story with charm, tenderness and humor...Alongside Julian, readers learn that anyone can be a mermaid: All it takes is love and acceptance, a little imagination and a big swishy tail. * The New York Times Book Review * "The stand-out title this month is a picture book, Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love. [...] In the bravura feat of understated storytelling, the richness of Julian's free-floating imagination is caught in images layered with colour, movement, muscle and life, celebrating black and Latino experience. Julian invents a tail and flowing hair, and Nana's acceptance, as she accompanies him on a wild parade of mermaids, will leave the reader filler with joy." * The Guardian * "celebratory and ground-breaking" * The Sunday Times Culture/The Sunday Times Ireland *