Status
Available
Publication
The Innovation Press (2020), Edition: Illustrated, 40 pages
Library's review
"Agirl learns to appreciate her long name and the diverse names of others.
A Black child wearing cornrows braided into an afro puff watches her classmates in the schoolyard playing handball. Momma arrives, wearing a bright headwrap, and asks about her first day of school. The girl is upset because
A delightful celebration. (Picture book. 5-10)" www.kirkusreviews.com, A Kirkus Starred Review
A Black child wearing cornrows braided into an afro puff watches her classmates in the schoolyard playing handball. Momma arrives, wearing a bright headwrap, and asks about her first day of school. The girl is upset because
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no one could say her name—not even the teacher. Reflecting the title, Momma tells her to tell her teacher her name is a song. As they walk through the streets, swaying and dancing to the sounds of street musicians and music from cars, Momma sings names from many different cultures. (Each name is spelled phonetically in parentheses for ease of caregivers reading aloud.) The next day, “the girl didn’t want to go to school, but she had songs to teach.” She even shows her teacher that “Miss Anderson” is a song. This lovely celebration of African American culture, featuring a Muslim family, offers a fresh way to look at the tradition of creating new names; Momma says, “Made-up names come from dreamers. Their real names were stolen long ago so they dream up new ones. They make a way out of no way, make names out of no names—pull them from the sky!” A glossary notes the origins and meanings of the names included in the text, with a note to always listen closely to how a person pronounces their name. The dynamic, pastel-hued illustrations reflect energy and strength.A delightful celebration. (Picture book. 5-10)" www.kirkusreviews.com, A Kirkus Starred Review
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Awards
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — Picture Books — 2022)
CLEL Bell Picture Book Award for Early Literacy (Nominee — 2021)
Carolyn W. Field Award (Honor Book — 2021)
Irma Black Award (Contender — 2021)
Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award (Nominee — 2022)
Iowa Goldfinch Award (Nominee — 2023)
Donna Norvell Oklahoma Book Award (Nominee — 2021)
Great Reads from Great Places (Pennsylvania — 2021)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Children's Books — 2020)
Penn GSE's Best Books for Young Readers (Selection — Picture Books — 2020)
Great Texas Mosquito List (K-2 — 2022)
Picture This Recommendation List (Fiction — 2021)
El día de los niños / El día de los libros (K-2 — 2021)
Evanston Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids (Picture Books — 2020)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Kids (Picture Books — 2020)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2020
ISBN
1943147728 / 9781943147724