This is a story of a boy named Julian who loves mermaids. He sees people dressed as mermaids in his community and says that he is a mermaid too. He and his abuela return home and she tells him she is going to take a bath. When she is gone, Julian takes things from around the house to dress as a mermaid. When his Abuela comes back, he is scared he will get in trouble for using household items to dress up like a mermaid. Instead, his abuela takes him to a place where he and everyone else are dressed as mermaids. This shows that he was scared that his grandma may not accept him for being a mermaid, but she ends up supporting him. This story is yet another tale of self-discovery. It shows the importance of being who you are and surrounding yourself with people who accept and love you. This teaches children that it is okay to explore, imagine and become whatever they want to be, even if it may seem scary.

As a group, we selected Julian Is a Mermaid because of its powerful message about self-expression, identity, and belonging. This story highlights the courage it takes to be true to yourself, even when it feels unfamiliar or scary. For multilingual learners, this message can be especially meaningful. Like Julian, they may face uncertainty or fear when navigating new environments, languages, or cultural expectations.

We believe Julian Is a Mermaid supports our classroom goals of creating a safe, affirming space where all students feel seen and accepted. For multilingual learners, it encourages confidence in who they are and reminds them that it’s okay to express themselves in the ways that feel most authentic. Including this book in our classroom library promotes empathy, celebrates individuality, and helps build a community where every student knows they belong.