7 Children’s Books to Teach the Importance of Names
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Being the new kid in school in a different country is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name?
This book is about a Korean girl named Unhei who just moved to America. She was nervous on the first day of school, and she told the class she will choose a name from the name jar later. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name again and teaches everyone how to pronounce it—Yoon-Hey.
2. Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
Why does Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela have six names? Alma turns to Daddy for an answer and learns that each name has a beautiful and unique story.
As she hears the story of her name, Alma starts to think it might be a perfect fit after all — and realizes that she will one day have her own story to tell. In her author-illustrator debut, Juana Martinez-Neal opens a treasure box of discovery for children who may be curious about their own origin stories or names.
3. Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Chrysanthemum loves her name and thinks it’s absolutely perfect. However, when she starts school, her name became absolutely dreadful because it was too long, it couldn’t fit on the name tag, and she was named after a flower!
Chrysanthemum’s feelings changed as the story unfolds, but in the end, she was very proud of her name again!
Children with unique names can relate to this story and learn to appreciate the uniqueness and always stay true to themselves.
4. My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits
Do you have students from another country who are trying to find their place? This is a perfect story they can relate to. When Yoon first moves to the United States, she misses Korea and doesn’t want to write her name in English. Later, Yoon learns to embrace her new life and understands that the beauty of her name remains the same in English.
5. Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school.
In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city.
This book is a celebration to remind us about the beauty, history, and magic behind names.
6. Thao by That Lam
How Thao wishes that her name is easier to pronounce for her teacher and new classmates!
Although her name is so simple with only 4 letters, nobody in her class can ever pronounce it correctly! She was even wondering if she should change her name to an American name.
The story will be instantly relatable to readers who have ever felt different. It champions being true to yourself and your background, and being empathetic towards others. It is a celebration of all that's in a name and the power of owning your identity.
7. My Name is Maria Isabel by Alma Flor Ada
María Isabel, a Hispanic child growing up in the U.S., has some problems in her new classroom.
Maria’s teacher called her Mary because there are already two Marias in the classroom. However, Maria doesn’t want to be called Mary. As a new girl in the class, Maria doesn’t know how to tell her teachers that her biggest wish is that the teacher will call her by her full name - Maria Isabel Salazar Lopez.
This compelling portrait of an experience common to many language minority children will inspire discussions on self-identity and biculturalism in your classroom.
This chapter book is for students in grades 3-4.