Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

This story is about a boy named Julián, his exploration of self-love, and a celebration of his individuality with the loving support of his abuela. The characters in this text speak in both English and Spanish, allowing our bilingual or multilingual students an opportunity to see themselves reflected in literature. This is a great book to challenge the social norms of gender expression or identity, and could launch a conversation about society-influenced biases in your learning community.

Strategy Instruction Possibilities

Comprehension:

• Set a Purpose for Reading
• Analyze How Visual Elements Integrate and Contribute to the Meaning of Text

Accuracy

• Use Picture Clues

Expand Vocabulary

• Use Pictures, Illustations, and Diagrams
• Voracious Reading

Bonus writing questions!