Written & Illustrated by: Jessica Love
For Ages: 4-8 years
Language: English
Topics Covered: Sequels, Latinx Family, BIPOC Protagonists, Weddings, LGBTQ Relationships, Love, Friendship.
Summary: Julián is back, this time in a wedding! Julián and his friend Marisol have important jobs in the ceremony, and have been given fancy outfits to go with it. Afterwards, the pair slip off on an adventure into the magical branches of a weeping willow.
I love both of these books because of the way the family accepts each other for who they are, and this wedding adventure is no different. Julián and Marisol’s creativity with their wedding outfits are greeted with humor from their grandmothers and excitement from the brides that they’re back at the reception. This is all we can hope for in a family, to be accepted and celebrated for exactly who we are.
Jessica Love’s whimsical artistic style is a delight for the eyes, and I hardly noticed the sparse text. The brides getting married positively glow with love, and makes me long for breezy summer nights out with friends feeling our bare feet in the grass and enjoying each others company.
This book was kindly sent by Candlewick Press, but all opinions are my own!
Jessica Love is the author and illustrator of Julián is a Mermaid, published by Candlewick Press. Jessica grew up in Southern California, raised by a pair of artist parents. She studied printmaking and illustration at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and then went on to study acting at Juilliard. Jessica has a new book, Julián at the Wedding to be released in October, 2020. Jessica lives in Brooklyn.