Say My Name

Say My Name follows an Asian American girl who faces frequent mispronunciations of her Chinese name at school. She wishes her name was simpler, until her mother shares stories about the deep meaning and history behind it. The story tracks a single day in the girl's life as she encounters classmates and teachers who struggle with her name. Through conversations with her mother, she learns about her grandmother, cultural traditions, and the power of names in Chinese families. This picture book uses parallel narratives to connect past and present, showing how family heritage shapes identity. The themes of cultural pride, belonging, and self-acceptance emerge through the central metaphor of a name's significance in bridging generations.

Readers connect with the book's message about being proud of one's name and cultural identity. Parents and teachers report children becoming more confident about their own names after reading it. Likes: - Meaningful discussions with kids about names and heritage - Vibrant illustrations that represent diverse children - Brief text that works well for read-alouds - Personal author's note resonates with readers Dislikes: - Some found the story too similar to other name-themed picture books - A few mentioned the text was too short for the price - Limited appeal beyond the specific theme Ratings: Goodreads: 4.32/5 (1,124 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (392 ratings) Sample review: "My daughter now corrects anyone who mispronounces her name instead of staying quiet. This book gave her that confidence." - Amazon reviewer "Perfect for classroom discussions about respecting each other's names and cultures" - Elementary school librarian on Goodreads

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🌟 Author Joanna Ho was inspired to write this book after her own daughter felt embarrassed about her Chinese name and wanted to change it to an "American" name 📚 The book highlights the real experiences of many children who have their names mispronounced or changed by teachers and classmates, particularly those with names from non-European cultures 🎨 Illustrations by Bess Choi incorporate traditional Chinese calligraphy elements while depicting modern, everyday school scenes 🗣️ The story's protagonist, Mei, is named after the Chinese character for "beautiful," though many characters initially pronounce it as "May" 🌍 The book is part of a growing movement in children's literature addressing cultural identity, name discrimination, and the importance of pronouncing names correctly as a form of basic respect and dignity