Julián is a Mermaid
Julián is a Mermaid
Book Title: Julián is a Mermaid
Book Author: Jessica Love
Book Illustrator: Jessica Love
This book addresses: Gender norms and expression
The topic of gender and gender identity can be a controversial topic. However, this doesn’t mean that students shouldn’t learn about it. It means that, depending on the age of the student and the comfort of the tutor, some questions and parts of this lesson plan may be left off or modified by the tutor.
Potentially Tricky Vocabulary:
Mijo: directly translates to “my son” from Spanish but can also be used as a term of endearment from an older family member when addressing a young boy
Questions to ask the student before reading:
Have you ever wanted to be a mermaid?
Is it fair to tell people they can only be certain things if they are a boy or a girl?
Has anyone ever judged you based on your gender (if you are a boy or a girl)?
Historical context to give before reading:
For a long time, people had very strict ideas about what it meant to be a boy or what it meant to be a girl. You were one or the other, and which one you were determined things like how you should act, what you can wear, and even what colors you can like. Recently, more and more people understand that gender is not quite so simple. Being a boy or a girl doesn’t limit someone to what they can do, like, or be. Also, some people born in a boy’s body may actually be a girl, and some people born in a girl’s body may actually be a boy. Some people may be either, both, or somewhere in between. A person’s gender identity is their own to define. Unfortunately, there are some people who still only understand the old way of thinking and can be close-minded to the way we understand gender now.
(The questions to ask the student and historical content above are interconnected. The historical context is typically going to be a supplement to what your student might not know. Some students may already be knowledgeable about a subject, others may not know much yet. Pay attention to what your student already knows and share the historical context accordingly.)
While reading:
Make sure to discuss what’s happening in the illustrations with your student, this book shares a lot of its narrative through illustrations rather than words.
After reading:
Do you think Julián was nervous when his Grandma saw him dressed as a mermaid?
This can relate to gender identity as well as the fact that he used a lot of household objects to become a mermaid, without asking
Was Julián’s grandmother supportive of Julián’s declaration that he is a mermaid? How can you tell?
Follow up activity (time permitting):
Draw yourself as a mermaid! Students can add friends or family members as mermaids to the illustration as well. (Mermaid can be substituted with many other things, such as fairy, elf, gnome, etc. However, encourage the student to draw themself as a mermaid in order to best connect to the text and reinforce the idea that anyone can be a mermaid.)