I love how the books don’t directly state or comment on the bend in gender rules, but beautifully illustrates that it’s okay to step outside the stereotype. Pull in a few other books to round out the unspoken content here. Want Character Trait and Feeling Cards? Click here. What does she do? Why do you think she does that? How would you describe her personality (with character traits)? How is she feeling? Remember, feelings can change, so does she have a variety of feelings? Always ask students to back up their thinking with text evidence. Not a lot is communicated through words or thoughts, but the character’s actions in this book speak loudly! Ask students to analyze Grandma. Then have students emulate that in their own writing. Help students notice how focused the author was on this small moment.

In the end, his grandmother takes him to a parade to join in. In the middle, he dresses up as much as he can and his grandmother helps. This picture book is a perfect small moment narrative! In the beginning, Julian sees mermaids and wants to be like one as well. Truth be told, I have a group of seventh graders who could find value in this nugget! Integration Ideas Personal Narrative: Small Moment It’s simple, but a lot can be taken from it. This would be a fun book in any primary and elementary classroom. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julin notices three women spectacularly dressed up. I adore how it is just a story of an event, and not a lesson to be learned or even discussed. Julin Is a Mermaid (Julin, 1) Audio CD CD, December 22, 2020. While this is clearly a book that bends gender stereotypes, it isn’t brought up as an issue or problem, it just is. In a beautiful, unspoken moment, she helps add to his outfit and takes him to a parade of people dressed up. When he goes home, he dresses up like a mermaid with items found in the house and proudly shows his Grandmother.

Jessica Love tells a story of a little boy who wants to dress up like the mermaids he saw on the bus. The story was handled beautifully – beyond all expectations. Since this is a delicate topic for our culture, I wanted to see how this story would be handled. Definitely the cover and title curiosity on this one.

Julian mermaid