When Julin 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. 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. 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 car. A glimpse of three women dressed as mermaids leaves one boy filled with wonder and ready to dazzle the world. Without a word, she takes Julián’s hand and leads him to the mermaid parade, where they join in the celebration. After a moment of apprehension, Julián’s relief is palpable when Abuela, dressed in blue, returns to present him with a beaded coral necklace. 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.
ISBN: 978-0-7636-9045-8) Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love I adore Julan Is a Mermaid, by Jessica Love, and Mother Bruce, by Ryan T.
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