The residents of the neighborhood are all brown-skinned, with characters who seem so real, we feel we've met them before. Love sets her story in a neighborhood that's urban - Julián and Abuela take the subway, and girls cavort in a fire hydrant sprinkler - but she slyly shows us that they also live near the ocean: That's a seagull, not a pigeon, strutting on the sidewalk. And by handling most of the story visually, author-illustrator Jessica Love avoids text that might clang or seem preachy. Julián's imaginative transformation into a mermaid, and his actual transformation via costume, are conveyed via art alone. This is no formulaic 'it's fine for boys to be mermaids' story. There's so much to praise in Julián Is a Mermaid, beginning with its original handling of the subject. In this delightful, mermaid-themed heartwarmer, gender is as fluid as the sea Julián dreams of swimming in. Parents might also be interested to know that the Mermaid Parade is a real event: an annual, spirited spectacle that ushers in summer at New York City's Coney Island.

There's not a lot of text, with much of the story revealed via art. Author-illustrator Love depicts a vibrant community where everyone's brown-skinned. But when she brings him to a parade where everyone's dressed in similar costumes, there's relief that Julián has found his tribe. There's definite tension when we don't know how Abuela will react. Julián shares his dream and identity with his abuela, but when he first tries dressing as a mermaid, he does it when he's alone. Parents need to know that Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love is a story about a boy who wants to be a mermaid that will resonate with all kids who have secret dreams. Abuela supports her grandson by giving him a necklace to add to the costume, and by taking him to a parade where everyone's dressed like him. He bravely reveals himself to his abuela, telling her, 'I am also a mermaid.' When he doesn't get a response, he actively fashions himself as a mermaid, creating his costume with found materials. Julián freely imagines who he is and how he sees himself.

Julian is a mermaid book