Julian Is a Mermaid

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

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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 hes 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

Reviews

celebratory and ground-breaking * The Sunday Times Culture/The Sunday Times Ireland *
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 Julians 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 Nanas acceptance, as she accompanies him on a wild parade of mermaids, will leave the reader filler with joy. * The Guardian *
This is Jessica Loves 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 humorAlongside Julin, 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 *
Beautiful [...] Magnificent [...] Lovely [...] Magical [...] Gorgeous * RuPaul of RuPaul's Drag Race *
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 childrens picture books weve ever read. [] This book is a luminous carnival of joy. * Attitude *

Author Bio

Jessica Love is an illustrator and Broadway actress. She has a BA in studio art from the University of California, as well as a graduate degree from Juilliard. Julian Is A Mermaid is her first picture book. Find her online at jessicalove.org/art.