"Julian is a mermaid" reception aged child

[Quantumduckling]

Hi, I wonder if I could get some views on this. My child has just started reception and came home with a book "Julian is a mermaid". I'm concerned that the teacher may be pushing a transgender narrative to the children if this is the book that they are given on day 1 of reception. Would you be concerned?

I'm absolutely fine with boys being told they can dress up and play with whatever they like, the same for girls. This just feels off to me so soon after starting. Would you be concerned? After the supreme court ruling are schools allowed to teach children that they can change sex if they feel like it (they can't- and I wouldn't want my 4 year old child to be taught anything like that).

Or would you just take it as a fun book for the first day of reception and no deeper meaning?

I think you're right otherwise the whole 'mermaid' not merman? But always remember #bekind 🙄

Can your child read? If not, I would just quickly read it through once saying ’merman’, hand it in and forget about it.

If you want to talk about it with your child,( I agree, boys cannot become girls) I think a simple ‘the boy is dressing up/pretending’ is enough.

The book is inspired by transition of the author’s ex partner’s sibling, so yeah, I think you’re right to be concerned.

This book isn't about changing sex. We have it and I read it to my girls. It's about a little boy who likes dressing up as a mermaid. I read it to them because I want them to know that they (and all children) can express themselves as they wish and because it has lovely pictures. I want my girls to know that gender stereotypes are just that...

I'm not pro trans by the way...I'm probably more GC than anything else. I just don't find this book sinister.

If you’re not comfortable with the book just hand it back in.

Read them something else
So many excellent books out there that are so much better

This according to AI.
so yes it seems the teacher may well be pushing an agenda

I’d be surprised if the teacher chose the book. Most schools allow the kids to pick a book that they want an adult to read to them. Your son will have picked a book cover that appeals to him.

I expect either your child picked up the book or the teacher just grabbed it out of a pile of 30 books.
I seriously doubt the teachers have time for some kind agenda.

I understand your alarm, not surprised you're wary. I'd also read that book once then put it back in the book bag and read something better. As an antidote, I've occasionally bought a copies of My Body Is Me! to give away - it's a much better book anyway.
On the plus side, sending home picture books to encourage bedtime reading is quite nice. Hopefully it's just one book out of many.

Edited to add: I think I've seen Julian is a mermaid in big multi-packs of books for schools? So there's a good chance it's not been chosen as such.

It may be innocent or may not.

I would advise that you keep a very close eye on external groups coming into the school to 'assist' with any topics around identity or mental health.

There are lots of them with an underlying gender ID focus. Place2Be is one. Just Like Us is another. Check out Transgender Trend if any are coming in, as they have good advice.

If you feel comfortable doing it, drop an email to the school asking out of interest which outside organisations are timetabled for the year.

I’m a teacher and I really like this book. It’s against gender stereotypes.

It’s about a boy who wants to be a mermaid. I think the story even starts with “this is a boy called Julian.”
I don’t see any agenda in it - the message is boys can like mermaids. Maybe I’m completely wrong and the subliminal message is very subtle but I use it as an example of being who you want to be.

If you can pretend to be a merman you can pretend to be a mermaid. It is fine to play pretend.

I wouldn’t be concerned, presumably is one of many books available to take home from hopefully a varied and rich library. Or do you think all children had a copy of the same book to take home and indoctrinate their fanilies?

But 'trans' is all about conforming to outdated stereotypes isn't it?
I'd suspect the teacher has an agenda and is pushing boundaries already.

Julian wants to be mermaid. Children won’t see it as anything other than a story about a kid pretending and playing.
Schools have to address the awfulness of gender stereotypes. It’s quite rightly on the pshe curriculum.

Julian is not confirming. The story says he’s a boy. It’s right at the start of the book. He likes mermaids. There really isn’t more to it than that.

Is the school using jigsaw for PSHE?

my dd school used jigsaw and they had this book. I was not ok with the jigsaw resources it’s very pushing an agenda. They have since changed the website but they used to have photos of the jigsaw staff on there and it’s very obvious looking at that why they push that agenda. That said there was updated guidelines or something from the government since my dd was at that school think there was supposed to be a clamp down on outsourcing PSHE school is still responsible.

what bothers me about it was it’s not just PSHE. Jigsaw required the school to weave the materials though multiple lessons.

even if this was school choice of book not a PSHE provider I’d not be comfortable. The book makes me uneasy. The child dressed in his grandmother’s clothes behind her back if I remember correctly? That’s portrayed as ok because he wants to be a mermaid whereas I think stealing and wearing your female relatives clothes should not be encouraged it’s not a safe behaviour.the mermaid parade also looked rather sexualised to me with the outfits. Seems to be encouraging young children to attend pride which I know divides opinion but I don’t believe children have a place at a celebration of diverse sexuality as children should not be sexual beings.

He does not steal his grandmothers clothes. He makes his costume out of a plant and a curtain!!

They go to something that looks like a Mardi Gras.

It's their class book at the moment, so they will all be reading and discussing it together. I'm not sure of the logistics of how many copies they have and how it is rotated around, but it is more than just a child picking a book at random.

This is what schools have to teach. Gender stereotypes are challenged. Which they really need to be!
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-social-health-and-economic-education-pshe/personal-social-health-and-economic-pshe-education

Thank you everyone - some really useful insights.

I have some good points to follow up on and things to look out for going forward.

Well, of all the books in all the world, they chose this one.

I know for some it may come across as OTT, but I would be wary.

x.com/Spyonmike/status/1283509068196458496?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4wIGs9Wm1cM18IhO21ZMbA6UAajTC1xkA64L7pkix5vJGXYw57mrAIfU-L7w_aem_4Ejx2LGCmh9hupFUOTbhMQ&ct=rw-fb

Read the thread above. It explains all of the issues with this disgusting book.

Reading and discussing together that gender stereotypes are bad or that boys can become girls if they want to? '

I genuinely wish I wasn't so cynical, but this batshit is everywhere.

First book of term. Screw that nonsense.