Jessica Love is an illustrator and a New York based actor. She has a BA in studio art from the University of California, Santa Cruz, as well as a graduate degree from Juilliard.
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.
—The New York Times Book Review
Love couples the spare narrative with vivid, imaginative, and
breathtaking illustrations. A heartwarming must-have for one-on-one
and small group sharing.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
Refreshingly, Spanish words aren't italicized. Though it could
easily feel preachy, this charmingly subversive tale instead offers
a simple yet powerful story of the importance of being seen and
affirmed.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
[Julian] is, in a word, fabulous. Love lets an anxious beat pass
before Abuela takes Julián by the hand, leading him to what some
readers may recognize as the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. “Like
you, mijo,” says Abuela. “Let’s join them.” Love’s deep empathy for
her characters and her keen-eyed observations of urban life come
together in a story of love, understanding, and embracing the
mermaid within us all.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The luminous, lovely, and layered art is what really makes the
book...The concluding parade is a confectionary wonder of marine
fantasy that many kids will yearn to join, and it might prompt
adults to set up their own in- library mermaid celebrations. More
importantly, though, those who’ve been shy about their love for
dazzle and showmanship will love the idea of a formidable
grandparental ally, and they will find this encouraging and
empowering.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)
Julián’s emotional journey takes on depth through small but
important details: a wary look in the mirror, a slight inward slump
of the shoulders, a chin held high while marching down the street.
Love uses vibrant watercolors with gouache and ink and a lively
style to create scenes that splash and swirl to life on the
page.
—The Horn Book (starred review)
Across her watercolor, gouache and ink spreads, Love captures the
transformative power of being seen...Love's affecting combination
of the literary and the visual results in a powerful affirmation of
individuality, creative expression and unconditional
acceptance.
—Shelf Awareness for Readers (starred review)
Love’s painted scenes glow against muted backgrounds, with
saturated, opaque tones tracing the graceful shapes of the figures.
They’re especially striking when Julián gets swept away in a vivid
underwater fantasy: a school of sea creatures whirls around him as
he transforms into a mermaid. That scene is nicely replicated when
he arrives at the parade, which is populated by scores of people in
a wide variety of inventive costumes. The affectionate depiction of
a broad range of body types and skin tones makes this particularly
cheery.
—Booklist
This beautiful book is one of the very few picture books about a
gender non-conforming child. Yet it feels like a celebration of all
children who want to do things differently than the parental
figures in their lives—and a love letter to the grownups who deeply
understand them.
—Gothamist
There is nothing about this book that is forgettable. In fact, you
may have a hard time not thinking long and hard about it after you
put it down. A book for mermaids and boys and girls and parents and
teachers and booksellers and librarians and . . . Let’s just
simplify things and say it’s a book for the human race.
—Betsy Bird
Jessica Love’s vivid watercolor and gouache illustrations are made
even brighter by her decision to paint on brown paper; the richly
colored palette pops off the pages, and abundant character is
conveyed via the subtlest of facial expressions and body language.
Also subtle—and terrifically poignant—is the eloquent encouragement
of Abuela’s spare words. A book for the ages, Julián Is a Mermaid
is going to make a big splash.
—BookPage
The illustrations couldn’t be more beautiful, and I love how
Julián’s grandmother accepts him for exactly who he is...I’m so
grateful for books like these that help foster acceptance and
understanding from a young age.
—A Cup of Jo (blog)
Julián Is a Mermaid makes a fine addition to the best LBGT
children’s books.
—Brain Pickings (blog)
Groundbreaking...here’s a happy picture book that challenges
traditional gender stereotypes, rendering one boy free to be
himself.
—San Francisco Chronicle
Right now, I just finished reading ‘Julián Is a Mermaid,’ by
Jessica Love, which is an awesome picture book, one of my
favorites, and I won’t spoil the end for you, but it has something
to do with the mermaid parade.
—Charles George Esperanza, The New York Times
It’s a story of a little boy who is taken with some elegant
costumes, and decides to fashion one of his own. It’s that simple,
but it makes a big impression; I can’t recommend it highly
enough.
—The New York Times Book Review e-newsletter
Ask a Question About this Product More... |