Summary
Julian always going swimming with his Abuela, one Saturday as they rode the train home, Julian noticed three women who were dressed as mermaids. Julian loves mermaids and was very mesmerized by the women he saw on the subway. When he gets home, Abuela goes to take a bath, and Julian begins to think about how beautiful they looked. He changed his clothes, so he too could be a mermaid. When Abuela returns, she is shocked, but accepting as she takes Julian to join the mermaids.
Theme(s):
Acceptance, Individuality, Family
Personal Response
I truly enjoyed this picture book. It was heartwarming to read of a grandmother accepting her grandchild for who he is and showing him unconditional love, as he goes through the journey of self discovery. I think that a book like this would be a great start towards introducing and teaching the theme of acceptance in the classroom/community.
Teaching Ideas
This book would be great to use during a writing unit, or during a lesson about community. I think that teachers can use this book during a fiction or personal narrative writing unit, where students can learn about incorporating this theme or the theme of family. A text like this can also be used to facilitate a conversation around self-awareness and expression, scholars can take part in a class discussion or create a written piece related to the theme/topic.
Recommended Reading Level
Birth-PreK, Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03
