Names are important. If you pronounce someone’s name incorrectly, you’re saying it isn’t important. That THEY aren’t important. If you correct someone on HOW to pronounce their name despite them telling you it’s incorrect, you’re just a jerk. I said it. It’s happened to me. Repeatedly, by a former superior. (Yes, really). The students corrected her when she announced me incorrectly at the concert. *Insert side eye here.*
Communicating to your students that you want to say their name correctly may be an important step to empower them to feel like they can correct you. As they should. I’d rather be corrected by a student about their name than say it incorrectly for a long period of time. I thought a round up of some new books about names and their importance would be helpful.
Alma and How She Got Her Name
Author, Illustrator: Juana Martinez-Neal
ISBN: 978-0763693558
Buy the book on Amazon
This book is about a little girl who has six names and how they were important in naming her.
That’s Not My Name
Author, Illustrator: Anoosha Syed
ISBN: 978-0593405178
Buy the book on Amazon
In this book, Mirha is excited for school but her new friends mispronounce her name. She goes back the next day ready to teach them how to pronounce it correctly!
The Name Jar
Author, Illustrator: Yangsook Choi
ISBN: 978-0440417996
Buy the book on Amazon
This book is about Unhei who is anxious about teaching American students her Korean name. Instead she picks an American name every day to go by until a new friend helps her feel empowered.
The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name
Author: Sandhya ParappukkaranI
Illustrator: Michelle Pereira
ISBN: 978-1419761584
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This book is about Zimdalamashkermishkada who attempts to go by a nickname that doesn’t feel quite right.
Thao
Author, Illustrator: Thao Lam
ISBN: 978-1771474320
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An autobiography about a name that people don’t say correctly, and being comfortable with yourself.
Always Anjali
Author: Sheeran Sheth
Illustrator: Jessica Blank
ISBN: 978-0593648834
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This one is a great book about finding pride in the name you have. After Anjali can’t find a personalized trinket she wants a new name but when her parents say no, she finds out who she is beyond just the name.
Teach Us Your Name
Author: Huda Essa
Illustrator: Diana Cojocaru
ISBN: 978-0692695326
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A great simple book with a great message. Check out the reviews on this one!
My Name is Long as a River
Author: Suma Subramaniam
Illustrator: Tara Anand
ISBN:
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This book is about Kaveri Thanjavur Jayalakshmi Ganesan who would rather go by a short name. This new book helps convey the message of pride in how some children get very long names.
Your Name is a Song
Author: Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Illustrator: Luisa Uribe
ISBN: 978-1943147724
Buy the book on Amazon
This well known book in the music ed community is a great way to help students hear the musicality of their own names.
Looking for even more books? Check out this post.
I hope this gives you a few great ideas for inclusive books about names for the beginning of the year!
