Julian is a Mermaid

Julian is a Mermaid

Author: Jessica Love
Located In: Hindley, Royle, Ox Ridge & Holmes Elementary Schools Libraries (4 copies)

Why it’s inappropriate: Part of 2nd grade classroom "Acceptance" curriculum, this book is also a RULER suggested read. It follows the story of a young boy who sees drag queens on the subway and is inspired to dress up like them. The book is tagged as "Gender Identity -- Fiction" in Darien elementary school libraries. The book's author Jessica Love said her inspiration came from a friend who transitioned their gender later in life and her desire to bring gender identity topics to young persons. 

After many concerns from the community that gender identity topics were inappropriate for 7 year olds and national media coverage focused on Darien over the resulting controversy, this book was reviewed by the District Curriculum Team and was allowed to remain part of the curriculum. An excerpt from their letter explaining this:  "While gender identity and self-expression are not teaching points in this unit of study, these aspects of the story may be relatable to some students....While one of the publisher’s book tags is “gender identity,” a book tag in no way determines or limits the scope of a lesson or its teaching point. The book is also tagged for “mermaids” and “Latinos,” both of which were not part of the lesson..."