Review of Julian is a Mermaid

Written and illustrated by Jessica Love

I have not read this book before.

Ratings: Amazon: 4.9 out of 5 stars. Goodreads: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

On Amazon, this book is tagged as a teacher’s pick. On Goodreads, this book has a Goodreads Choice Award and was a nominee for Readers’ Favorite Picture Books (2018).

This book is also a New York Times bestseller and winner of the Stonewall Book Award for 2019, and the Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award.

Summary: This book is about a little boy named Julian who is inspired by women he saw on the subway to dress as a mermaid.

First off, this book is beautifully illustrated. My favorite part is that it shows women’s bodies in their authentic form in a gorgeous light. It does show that Julian, a boy, wants to look feminine as a mermaid, with long curly hair, as well as a flower and fern crown. This can appear as promoting “woke’ gender ideology, the main reason why this book was tied for the second most banned picture book in early 2025, according to PEN America.

But I believe that Julian still saw himself as a boy in mermaid form, or maybe merman. In the pictures, his chest is bare, like most illustrated mermen. The other mermaids in the story have covered chests, unlike the clam bra in Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

This book gives boys permission to play with different looks and vibes, whether it’s feminine or masculine. That can let boys grow up to be healthier and happier.