Why I Picked It Up:
Definitely the cover and title curiosity on this one. Since this is a delicate topic for our culture, I wanted to see how this story would be handled.
Why I Finished It:
The story was handled beautifully – beyond all expectations. Jessica Love tells a story of a little boy who wants to dress up like the mermaids he saw on the bus. When he goes home, he dresses up like a mermaid with items found in the house and proudly shows his Grandmother. In a beautiful, unspoken moment, she helps add to his outfit and takes him to a parade of people dressed up. While this is clearly a book that bends gender stereotypes, it isn’t brought up as an issue or problem, it just is. I adore how it is just a story of an event, and not a lesson to be learned or even discussed.
Who I Would Give It To:
This would be a fun book in any primary and elementary classroom. It’s simple, but a lot can be taken from it. Truth be told, I have a group of seventh graders who could find value in this nugget!
Integration Ideas
Personal Narrative: Small Moment
This picture book is a perfect small moment narrative! In the beginning, Julian sees mermaids and wants to be like one as well. In the middle, he dresses up as much as he can and his grandmother helps. In the end, his grandmother takes him to a parade to join in.
Help students notice how focused the author was on this small moment. Then have students emulate that in their own writing.
Character Analysis: Character Actions
Not a lot is communicated through words or thoughts, but the character’s actions in this book speak loudly! Ask students to analyze Grandma. 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.
Want Character Trait and Feeling Cards? Click here.
Reading Strategy: Making Connections
Pull in a few other books to round out the unspoken content here. 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.
- And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson
- Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
- Ruby’s Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges
- Pink is for Boys by Robb Pearlman
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