Julian Is A Mermaid (the Ground-breaking And Award-winning Lgbtqia+ Modern Classic Of Identity, Love And Acceptance)

By (author) Love Jessica; Illustrated by Love Jessica
Description:

WINNER OF THE BOLOGNA RAGAZZI AWARD AND THE KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE

“Celebratory and ground-breaking” The Sunday Times

“A stand-out picture book… Will leave the reader filled with joy.” Guardian

“A glorious picture book celebrating self-confidence, identity and individuality.” The Independent

"Every choice Jessica Love makes imbues the story with charm, tenderness and humor" The 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 he’s 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?

Join Julian again with a new friend in Julian at the Wedding.

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A vibrant, witty celebration of tolerance.
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“celebratory and ground-breaking”
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“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 Julian’s 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 Nana’s acceptance, as she accompanies him on a wild parade of mermaids, will leave the reader filler with joy.”
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This is Jessica Love’s 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 humor…Alongside Julián, readers learn that anyone can be a mermaid: All it takes is love and acceptance, a little imagination and a big swishy tail.
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Beautiful [...] Magnificent [...] Lovely [...] Magical [...] Gorgeous
Biographical note:
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 multi-award-winning and widely acclaimed picture book debut, and Julian at the Wedding is her follow-up. She has also written and illustrated A Bed of Stars. Find her online at jessicalove.org/art.