This heart-warming picture book explores family relations, gender-nonconformity, identity construction, and understanding. Young Julian is out with his grandma called ‘Nana’ in town when he spots three women in spectacular mermaid costumes. Their colourful dresses let him daydream and rise his desire to dress as the most exotic mermaid ever seen. He gets home and starts to dress in the most colourful costume. When his granny sees him, Julian worries that she might not be too happy: Will Nana reject his new identity or will she show love and appreciation?

Julian Is a Mermaid is perfect for teaching diversity and creating acceptance for different gender identities in class. The text can be used for an interdisciplinary teaching project on gender awareness.

Picture book/Short fiction · United States · 2018