Say My Name, Say My Name (my Korean name, that is... haha).
I know it's already October but for the month of September,
I wanted to recommend a book I came across this summer.
I wanted to recommend a book I came across this summer.
Book summary: Unhei has just come with her family from Korea and is starting school. Her name is pronounced Yoon-hye, which means grace, but she feels awkward about it after some teasing on the school bus. She decides to choose an American name, and her classmates oblige her by filling a glass jar with their suggestions. Her mother reminds her that she and her grandmother went to a name master for Unhei's name, and Unhei practices stamping her name with the beautiful name stamp her grandmother gave her. Finally, Unhei decides to keep her own name, and one of her classmates even has a stamp made for himself with the Korean characters for friend. The paintings are mostly in gold and earth tones, and the figures have both stature and simplicity--as does the story.
GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
I think the reason why this book appealed to me so much is because I can totally relate to the main character(I love it when you totally "get" what a character is going through in a story). When I immigrated to the United States and enrolled in school, I used to get embarrassed when my teachers and classmates could not pronounce my Korean name, correctly.
I've had substitute teachers attempt my first name, give up after the first syllable and simply resort to calling me "Kim."
One day in 4th grade, I cam home and told my mom that I wanted an American name,
just like all the other kids.
My cousin helped me pick out the name "Helen."
Well, she really just gave me two choices.
It was either going to be Helen Kim or Kimberly Kim.
I am so thankful that something sounded
terribly OFF with Kimberly Kim,
even to a non-English speaking child (at the time).
I've been going by "Helen" ever since but I never legally changed it on paper.
I've had substitute teachers attempt my first name, give up after the first syllable and simply resort to calling me "Kim."
One day in 4th grade, I cam home and told my mom that I wanted an American name,
just like all the other kids.
My cousin helped me pick out the name "Helen."
Well, she really just gave me two choices.
It was either going to be Helen Kim or Kimberly Kim.
I am so thankful that something sounded
terribly OFF with Kimberly Kim,
even to a non-English speaking child (at the time).
I've been going by "Helen" ever since but I never legally changed it on paper.
Ultimately, I am so glad that I never formally changed my name.
As an adult, I've come to appreciate my
sometimes butchered but ultimately very meaningful name.
My Korean name "Bo Reum" means full moon because I was born when it was up.
As an adult, I've come to appreciate my
sometimes butchered but ultimately very meaningful name.
My Korean name "Bo Reum" means full moon because I was born when it was up.
This book can be used to teach children that it's a wonderful thing to be different from the rest and that you should embrace ALL the unique traits that make you, you!
Recommended for: Primary grades(1,2,3)
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