The Name Jar

Unhei has moved from Korea to America and faces her first day at a new school. When her classmates struggle to pronounce her Korean name, she tells them she will choose a new American name by the following week. Her classmates begin collecting name suggestions in a jar to help her decide. Meanwhile, Unhei visits her Korean grandmother and the local Korean shop owner, who remind her of her heritage. The Name Jar explores a young immigrant's journey to embrace her identity in a new country. Through Unhei's story, readers gain perspective on the cultural significance of names and the challenge of bridging two worlds.

Readers connect with the authentic portrayal of a young immigrant's struggle with cultural identity. Many teachers and parents report using this book to discuss inclusion, acceptance, and celebrating differences with children. Liked: - Clear, relatable message about self-acceptance - Thoughtful portrayal of classroom dynamics - Realistic depiction of Korean-American family life - Illustrations help convey emotions effectively - Useful for teaching cultural sensitivity Disliked: - Some found the resolution predictable - A few readers noted the pacing felt slow in the middle - Minor criticism about simplistic handling of complex identity issues Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (580+ ratings) Scholastic: 4.9/5 (100+ ratings) "Perfect for teaching empathy to young students" - Elementary teacher on Amazon "My Korean-American daughter finally saw herself in a book" - Parent reviewer on Goodreads "Promotes discussion about names, heritage, and belonging" - School librarian review

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🌟 Author Yangsook Choi moved from Korea to New York when she was 24, similar to how her character Unhei moved from Korea to America as a child 📚 The Korean name "Unhei" means "grace" and is traditionally chosen with great care by parents and grandparents 🎨 The book's illustrations were created using oil paintings, giving them a rich, warm feeling that captures both Korean and American cultural elements 🌏 The practice of using a "name stamp" (shown in the book when Unhei's grandmother gives her one) is still common in Korea today for signing important documents 🤝 This book was one of the first widely-published children's books to address the complex emotions immigrant children face when deciding whether to use their birth name or adopt an "American" name in their new country