Julián Is a Mermaid
By Jessica Love
The Story
After spotting three dazzling mermaids on the subway, a boy transforms his home into a lagoon of imagination, fashioning his own mermaid costume from a curtain and some ferns.
Why It's Special
For the kid who turns every quiet afternoon into a costume-and-imagination event, Julián's homemade transformation feels like watching their own daydream come to life.
- Big idea: Being seen and loved for exactly who you are is its own kind of magic.
- Vibes: Tender, dreamlike, and joyfully colorful, with a quiet emotional current running underneath.
Perfect For Kids Who
- love dressing up and making their own costumes
- are drawn to stories about self-expression
- respond well to quiet, art-forward storytelling
- are working on feeling confident being themselves
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & imagination: What did Julián use around the house to make his mermaid costume?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Julián felt when he first saw the mermaids on the subway?
- Real-life connection: Has anything you've seen ever made you want to dress up or make something amazing?
- Art & noticing: What colors and details do you notice in the pictures of Julián's mermaid tail?
- Family & belonging: Why do you think it mattered so much to Julián what Abuela thought of his costume?
