Jessica Love, Beloved Creator of Picture Books

Jessica Love is the American author and illustrator best known for the picture book *Julian Is a Mermaid*. She creates children’s books that pair spare, emotionally attentive text with luminous, expressive artwork. Several people share the name Jessica Love, so search results can lead to unrelated artists and public figures; this Jessica Love created *Julian Is a Mermaid*, *Julian at the Wedding*, and *The Boy Who Loved Maps*.

Who is Jessica Love, and why do people know her?

Jessica Love writes and illustrates picture books in which the art carries much of the feeling: a glance, a posture, a burst of color, or a quiet pause between family members. She became especially well known for Julian Is a Mermaid, about a young child inspired by women dressed as mermaids on the subway.

Her stories make room for children who are working out how they want to dress, play, belong, or be understood. Rather than explaining a lesson, Love lets readers watch a character’s hopes and worries and see how the people around them respond.

For example, a child might first notice Julian’s bright mermaid costume and the dramatic city scenes. An adult may also notice how closely Julian watches the world and how much his grandmother’s reaction matters. That combination gives young listeners something immediate to enjoy while offering adults more to discuss.

In the context of Julian Is a Mermaid, Jessica Love is the picture-book author and illustrator, not another person with the same name.

Why Julian Is a Mermaid resonated with so many readers

Julian Is a Mermaid begins when Julian sees spectacular mermaids on the subway while traveling with his abuela. Their style stays with him, and at home he uses ordinary household items and his imagination to create a mermaid look of his own.

The book takes Julian’s self-expression seriously without making it heavy. He is not a problem to solve or a lesson for other people. He is a child drawn to beauty and eager to be part of it. The story also gives weight to the uncertainty that can come with showing someone something personal.

His grandmother’s response matters deeply, but the book is not simply about one adult approving of one outfit. It is also about paying attention to children, making room for creativity, and understanding that play can express something deeply felt.

For example, one reader may connect Julian’s mermaid fantasy to dress-up play. Another may see a child trying out a way of presenting himself that feels more true. Both readings fit the story.

What Jessica Love’s illustrations do that words alone can’t

Jessica Love’s artwork uses loose watercolor-and-ink lines, saturated color, and expressive figures to tell parts of the story the text leaves unsaid. Her pages can feel lively and theatrical, but she also gives quiet moments room to land.

Faces and body language do much of the storytelling. Julian’s absorbed attention, a grandmother’s watchfulness, or the confidence of someone entering a crowded room can be clear before a child has words for what they see. That makes the books especially strong for read-alouds and picture walks.

Visual details set the emotional tone. In Julian Is a Mermaid, the subway riders are not just background figures. Their clothes, poise, and color show readers why Julian is so inspired and make his imaginative leap feel believable from his point of view.

For example, instead of asking only, “What happened on this page?” ask, “What do you notice about Julian’s face here?” A child might point to pride, nervousness, excitement, or concentration. The book does not require one answer, but the illustrations give readers a great deal to notice.

Which Jessica Love books should you read next?

If Julian Is a Mermaid brought you to Jessica Love, Julian at the Wedding is the natural next choice. It returns to Julian and his abuela as they attend a wedding. Julian meets Marisol and experiences the curiosity, excitement, and uncertainty that can come with joining a celebration. It suits preschool and early-elementary readers, especially children who enjoy noticing relationships and social moments in pictures.

The Boy Who Loved Maps follows a boy whose fascination with maps shapes how he sees the world. It will appeal to children who collect facts, study routes, enjoy patterns, or find comfort in a focused interest. Like Love’s Julian books, it attends to a child’s particular way of experiencing the world rather than treating difference as something to fix.

The books share a generous view of childhood, though their plots are different. Julian Is a Mermaid focuses on imaginative transformation and family response. Julian at the Wedding brings Julian into a community celebration. The Boy Who Loved Maps centers curiosity, close attention, and the meanings people make from places.

For example, choose Julian at the Wedding for familiar characters and a gentle story about meeting someone new. Choose The Boy Who Loved Maps for a child drawn to geography, routes, collections, or the pleasure of looking closely.

Are these books only about gender identity?

No. Gender identity can be a meaningful part of how some readers understand Julian Is a Mermaid, particularly because Julian’s self-presentation does not follow narrow expectations about who may wear or admire certain things. The book can help adults begin a welcoming, age-appropriate conversation about gender expression and identity.

That is not the only way to read Love’s work. Her books also explore imagination, beauty, artistic play, family care, friendship, social belonging, and the wish to be seen without embarrassment. A child does not need to name a gender concept to understand Julian’s joy in becoming a mermaid or his concern about showing his abuela what he has made.

For example, a classroom might use the book to discuss respectful self-expression, while a family might talk about dress-up or the comfort of a supportive adult.

The books should not be used to demand that a child explain their identity, preferences, or family. Let the story open conversation, and let children respond at the level that feels right to them.

How to share Jessica Love’s books with children

Read slowly enough to leave room for the pictures. Children often spot a visual detail that changes how they understand a page.

• Before turning a page, ask what a character seems to be noticing.
• Ask how a character might feel, then point to a facial expression or posture that supports the idea.
• Invite children to describe colors, clothing, objects, or settings that stand out.
• Ask what a character might wish other people understood about them.
• Let children answer with words, gestures, drawings, or silence; not every response needs discussion.

For example, after Julian creates his mermaid look, ask, “What do you think Julian hopes his abuela will notice?” That keeps the focus on the story while giving children room to talk about pride, worry, creativity, or wanting approval.

In a classroom or library, set the tone before the discussion. Remind children that people enjoy different clothes, colors, games, and ways of expressing themselves, and that listening kindly is part of sharing stories. Do not turn a child’s response into a debate or ask them to speak for a whole group of people.

If children want to extend the book through art, offer open-ended materials rather than requiring a mermaid craft. They might draw an outfit, map a favorite place, design a parade, or make a picture of a person feeling welcome. The goal is expression, not copying the book exactly.

Quick answers about Jessica Love

Jessica Love’s picture books are commonly shared with preschool and elementary-age children. Younger children can follow the visual storytelling, while older readers can discuss the characters’ feelings and relationships in more depth. Reading order is flexible, but Julian Is a Mermaid comes before Julian at the Wedding because the later book revisits Julian.

Her work is widely recognized in children’s literature for its distinctive art and humane treatment of self-expression and belonging. If you need a specific award list for a collection policy, school display, or citation, check the publisher’s current book pages or a library catalog rather than relying on a general summary.

These books work well in classrooms and libraries because their brief text, detailed art, and open-ended emotional situations support read-alouds, picture walks, and discussion without requiring one predetermined interpretation.

Conclusion

Start with *Julian Is a Mermaid* for the clearest introduction to Jessica Love’s work. Then follow Julian into *Julian at the Wedding*, or choose *The Boy Who Loved Maps* for a different child-centered story. Trust the pictures as much as the text: a short pause and one open question can show you what a child is taking from the book.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is Jessica Love’s work best for?

Her picture books are often a good fit for preschool through early elementary readers. Younger children can follow the visual storytelling, while older children may have more to say about the characters’ feelings and relationships.

Should I read Julian at the Wedding before Julian Is a Mermaid?

It is usually better to begin with *Julian Is a Mermaid*. *Julian at the Wedding* can be understood on its own, but the earlier book gives readers more context for Julian and his relationship with his abuela.

What themes appear in Jessica Love’s books?

Common themes include imaginative play, self-expression, family support, friendship, empathy, curiosity, and belonging. Some readers also use *Julian Is a Mermaid* to discuss gender expression and identity in an age-appropriate way.

Do Jessica Love’s books work in classrooms and libraries?

Yes. Their brief text, visual richness, and open-ended emotional situations make them useful for read-alouds, picture walks, and conversations about characters’ feelings and about how communities can help people feel welcome.