A review by librarianoliviarae
Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

5.0

One of the most beautiful articulations of gender fluidity I have seen. Julian wants to be a mermaid like the ones he sees on his ride home with his Abuela. Those mermaids are participants in the Coney Island Mermaid Parade, a celebration of art and self-expression in which residents dress as mermaids, parade through Coney Island, and crown a King Neptune and Queen Mermaid. The mermaids in that parade are people of all walks of life, all genders, all colors. This is a colorful introduction to gender fluidity and discussions of artistic expression and self-expression for kids. It may be of importance to note that author/illustrator Jessica Love does not identify as LGTBQ+.