The Name Jar By Yangsook Choi

I recently read The Name Jar, this story is about a Korean girl named Unhei who moves to America and begins at a new school. Unhei's grandmother has given her a wood block with a stamp of her Korean name on it. On the bus many of the kids ask what her name is and she says Unhei but no one can say it correctly. She enters her new classroom and some of the student's immediately ask what her name. She knows everyone will probably have trouble saying her name so just answers by saying she hasn't picked one yet. Her teacher makes a name jar for her and sets it on her desk and many of the students bring names to put in the jar for Unhei to pick from. She goes home and thinks about all the new names she can choose from but none of them fit her. Later when her mother and her visit the Korean Grocery store, Mr. Kim tells Unhei that her names means grace for a gracefully girl. This makes Unhei proud of her name. Unhei decides to keep her names and realizes how special and how no other name can fit her like hers. She tells the class about her name and how to correctly say it. I thought this was a wonderful book to share with new students that might have different names or for children who are having problems liking their names. I think this would be a great book to read parts of and then have your students learn about their names and what the mean. This can help students take ownerships and pride in themselves as well. 

My Name is Maria Isabel By Alma Flor Ada

I recently read the book My Name is Maria Isabel.  It is about a young girl starting school for the first time. Her full name is Maria Isabel Salazar Lopez. When she gets to school the teacher tells her that there are already too many Maria's in their class. So the teacher changes her name to Mary Lopez. She doesn't say anything at the time, but she is really upset because she is very proud of her family and who she is named after. She starts getting in trouble for not answering the teacher when she is called on, she isn't doing this on purpose she just recognize the new name. While reading the book Charlotte's Web, Maria gets inspired to write out how she feels about not being aloud to be in the winter pageant, the one thing she wants more than anything. She explains how important her name is Maria Isabel Salazar Lopez is so important to her and how proud she is to be named after her wonderful family. Her teacher realizes what a mistake she makes and gives Maria a part in the pageant singing and begins calling her by her correct name again. I think this was a great multicultural book about names. Everyone's name is very special to them and helps young children find their own identity and be proud of were they come from. It is very important for children to learn about their names and where they came from so they can take pride in themselves and their families.