Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Julian Is a Mermaid” as Want to Read:
Julian Is a Mermaid
(Julián #1)
by
Mesmerizing and full of heart, this is a picture book about self-confidence and love, and a radiant celebration of individuality. 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, daydrea
...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
June 1st 2018
by Walker Books Ltd
(first published May 22nd 2018)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Julian Is a Mermaid,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Kate N. Ewing
I loved it! It celebrates the unique, creative soul in each of us and promotes tolerance in our differences and joy in our individual blossoming.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Julian Is a Mermaid
Aug 15, 2018
carol.
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fans of mermaids
Recommended to carol. by:
Mir
Julián makes me uncomfortable. I mean, the pictures are adorable and well done, and I would love to have one of him swimming with the stream of fish up in my bathroom. But every time you turn around, Julián is stripping down to his skivvies. I’m just not an au natural nudist kind of person, you know? But I'm not a glamour-girl either, so add lipstick and hair-out-to-there, and I feel like I’m getting a very mixed message.
He seems to have confused water mermaids with land mermaids, which are two ...more
He seems to have confused water mermaids with land mermaids, which are two ...more
When you walk into another person’s home, there’s always a distinct smell to the place. Homes absorb the lives of their occupants, and the end result is as much an olfactory experience a visual one. I love it when a friend moves house because when I walk into their new home it smells just like their previous place of occupancy, with just a twinge of difference. It is this experience of walking into a house and being overwhelmed by the sense of the place that I hope for in my picture books. When
...more
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
There’s no getting away from the fact that Julian is a Mermaid is a gorgeous book filled to the brim with amazing watercolour style illustrations that capture what I believe is New York in perfect light.
The books, as you would imagine, is about a little boy called Julian. On his way home from swimming with his Nana they board a train. Onboard is three women dressed as Mermaids. Julian is mesmerised by them. They look so beautiful in their outfi ...more
There’s no getting away from the fact that Julian is a Mermaid is a gorgeous book filled to the brim with amazing watercolour style illustrations that capture what I believe is New York in perfect light.
The books, as you would imagine, is about a little boy called Julian. On his way home from swimming with his Nana they board a train. Onboard is three women dressed as Mermaids. Julian is mesmerised by them. They look so beautiful in their outfi ...more
Really nice. Great illustrations.
Parent caveat: your kids will probably feel like making costumes out of household items after reading this. Keep an eye on the drapes. ...more
Parent caveat: your kids will probably feel like making costumes out of household items after reading this. Keep an eye on the drapes. ...more
May 17, 2018
Jamila
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
latinx,
art-design-crafts,
favorites,
picture-book,
african-descent,
lgbtqia-gender,
new-york
This is one of the most beautiful picture books I have ever read. It is affirming and joyful. It is pretty and awe-inspiring. It is quiet and loud. It has movement and is loving. It is Black and Latinx and New York and Queer and intergenerational and wonderful. It is also funny and heartfelt. Enjoy!
Nov 02, 2018
Dave Schaafsma
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
picturebooks
Each year my family reads all the Goodreads-award-nominated picture books, and we have been doing this for years. Everyone rates each book and adds a comment and it may (or may not) affect my overall rating. This is book #1 of 2018, and is one of my favorites of the year, but that view isn't widely shared with the fam.
Tara: 3 stars. Eh. Cute, but who are all the people at the end? Some festival?
Harry (13): 3.5 stars. I like the pictures.
Hank (12): 3.5stars. I like how he got to see the world of ...more
Tara: 3 stars. Eh. Cute, but who are all the people at the end? Some festival?
Harry (13): 3.5 stars. I like the pictures.
Hank (12): 3.5stars. I like how he got to see the world of ...more
I had not yet reviewed this fabulous children's book, which I read in June 2018, other than to rate it a fantastic five stars. However, I recently read a review by a goodreads acquaintance, that seems to have completely missed the point of the book, viewing little Julián as "disturbing." This upset me. We live in a troubling world, and I live in the current Trump Bigotocracy. I stand for equality for ALL. Period. No exceptions, no caveats. I wish that many of my friends and acquaintances, both o
...more
Aug 09, 2019
MissBecka Gee
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommended to MissBecka by:
La Coccinelle
This is fantastic!!!
I think my favourite part is Julian's Grandma (Abuela).
She is not only supportive and accepting of her grandson, but finds him somewhere he can be himself with other like minded individuals.
The illustrations are lovely in a hand painted fashion that doesn't require a lot of text. ...more
I think my favourite part is Julian's Grandma (Abuela).
She is not only supportive and accepting of her grandson, but finds him somewhere he can be himself with other like minded individuals.
The illustrations are lovely in a hand painted fashion that doesn't require a lot of text. ...more
Really touching quick book with minimal dialogue and beautiful art that's more of an instructive lesson for adults than a story for kids. I hope the mermaids were everything Julián hoped they'd be!
...more
Unconditional Love within. Julian feels like a mermaid so his abuela takes him to a place to be around other mermaids.
I do love the art and the simple story of wanting to be who you are. This is so much fun and has the energy of Carnival to it.
The kids had fun with this book.
I do love the art and the simple story of wanting to be who you are. This is so much fun and has the energy of Carnival to it.
The kids had fun with this book.
fulfilling book riot's 2020 read harder challenge task #18: Read a picture book with a human main character from a marginalized community.
review to come.... ...more
review to come.... ...more
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
The fact that this is a PICTURE BOOK and hardly any narrative is included at all is what makes it brilliant. Well, that and the artwork. Those watercolors are 5 Stars. Because so much is left unsaid, Julian Is A Mermaid can be about whatever anyone wants it to be. Mermaids, imagination, expressing yourself, acceptance, all bodies are beautiful bodies, etc., etc., etc.
Of course since only children are amazing and adults are buttholes, t ...more
The fact that this is a PICTURE BOOK and hardly any narrative is included at all is what makes it brilliant. Well, that and the artwork. Those watercolors are 5 Stars. Because so much is left unsaid, Julian Is A Mermaid can be about whatever anyone wants it to be. Mermaids, imagination, expressing yourself, acceptance, all bodies are beautiful bodies, etc., etc., etc.
Of course since only children are amazing and adults are buttholes, t ...more
Apr 03, 2019
Hilary
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Children who love dressing up
Recommended to Hilary by:
Abigail
Julian enjoys dressing up. Inspired by seeing some colourful costumes he makes himself one from bits and pieces from his Grandmother's house then they go together to a parade. The illustrations are lovely, colourful and full of sunshine, some beautiful images of glamorously curvy older ladies in colourful clothes, busy enjoying life!
...more
Prediction: 2019 Caldecott winner
Truth be told I indeed do find the internal messages featured in Jessica Love's Julian is a Mermaid about being yourself, about accepting who you are and what appeals to you, while certainly important and essential, also a bit too much of having been presented over and over again in far too many recently published picture books (although yes, I also very much consider Julian's abuela, I find his grandmother an absolute gem, especially that she does not ever verbally criticise her grandson after
...more
This may be my favourite picture book that I've ever read. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. The expressions say so much by themselves. And Julián's abuela's unquestioning acceptance and affirmation makes me want to cry.
...more
What Betsy said. http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production... (Can't imagine anything beating this for the 2019 Caldecott.)
...more
So beautiful, especially the illustrations!!
The last book read in my evening of reading diverse children's books. This one was pure fun. Julian is adorably drawn and there is a luscious array of fabric illustration - from bathing suits to Nana's pants and dresses. The final sea-themed parade was just lovely.
As always when I pick up children's books I want to see them converted to animated short-films, this one would be particular cool in that format. ...more
As always when I pick up children's books I want to see them converted to animated short-films, this one would be particular cool in that format. ...more
Worth the wait. I wouldn't recommend that you buy it unless you have an heir or students, but I read it on my mom's library's Overdrive on my laptop and it is clearly more than just another encouraging message book. It's about more than just loving what you love, but also about family (a supportive grandma in this family of 2) and community (oh, see where Abuela takes Julian!).
Very few words, nothing to do with being a drag queen or being gay or anything.... Julian thinks long hair & skirts with ...more
Very few words, nothing to do with being a drag queen or being gay or anything.... Julian thinks long hair & skirts with ...more
This is a cute story about being yourself.
Julián sees some women dressed as mermaids on the subway, and he wants to be like them. While his grandmother is having a bath, he dresses himself up as a mermaid using a houseplant and some curtains. When his grandmother first sees him, she doesn't look very happy. Julián thinks he's going to be in trouble. But she eventually helps Julián with his costume, encouraging him to express himself.
I like the message here, and the illustrations are really lovel ...more
Julián sees some women dressed as mermaids on the subway, and he wants to be like them. While his grandmother is having a bath, he dresses himself up as a mermaid using a houseplant and some curtains. When his grandmother first sees him, she doesn't look very happy. Julián thinks he's going to be in trouble. But she eventually helps Julián with his costume, encouraging him to express himself.
I like the message here, and the illustrations are really lovel ...more
The art in this one nearly made me swoon. I read this to groups of grade 3/4 students this week and am happy that the only thing that made a few of the boys uncomfortable was seeing Julián in his underwear. We have come a very long way since I first started teaching.
Swimming in the pool with his Abuela and her friends during aquatic aerobics, Julian dreams of being a mermaid among mermaids. On the subway, seeing women dressed up on their way to Coney Island's Mermaid Parade, he is inspired to dress up like a mermaid when he gets home, improvising with his Abuela's curtains and plants. Will Abuela be angry? In that magical way that only grandmas sometimes can, she SEES him, and in the moment, choses what is important. She brings him to join the Mermaid Parad
...more
I don't often mark picture books on Goodreads or count them toward my yearly reading goal just because I read so many of them. I definitely don't take the time to review them. That being said, this is one of the most beautiful and intentional books I've read in a while about identity and the importance of being affirmed by your loved ones. Jessica Love's expertise in capturing facial expressions makes this book really tug on the most tender parts of my being and I just want to read it over and o
...more
LOVE this! Beautiful illustrations and an inspiring and important story.
I was fortunate to receive this book early. I read it and put it aside. I needed time to process its beauty and message. I came back to it again and appreciated it even more. It is hard to put into words how important I think this book may be.
A beautifully illustrated storybook for younger children about gender identity and self expression. My five year old thoroughly enjoyed reading about Julian and his fondness for mermaids. Books like this help to shape the child I want my son to be, so I’m glad to have discovered it for him.
A great children book with awesome illustrations. Beautiful and welcoming. I came across it when I was looking for a book for "Task #22: A children’s or middle grade book (not YA) that has won a diversity award since 2009 " of < a href ="https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group... Harder Challenge. It has won many awards including 2019 Stonewall Book Award and also The prestigious award by British institution Waterstone.
...more
...more
Award winning children’s book that can be appreciated by someone of any age. Julián is on public transportation when he sees three mermaids, and falls in love. He wants to be a mermaid, too! Afraid his abuela will be angry when she sees him in his outfit, he’s instead met by love and support. A beautiful story, beautifully illustrated.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers also enjoyed
Other books in the series
Julián
(2 books)
News & Interviews
As dedicated readers already know, some of the best and most innovative stories on the shelves come from the constantly evolving realm of...
51 likes · 13 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
