Your Name Is a Song

PreS-Gr 3--This story simultaneously imparts a strong spark of sensibility and envelops readers in a warm embrace through an overdue, crucial lesson about the significance of honoring every individual's cultural identity, including the respectful care to correctly learn another's name. At the end of the first day of school, Kora-Jalimuso, the story's young Black Muslim protagonist, shares her sorrow with her mother over her teacher and classmates' inability to pronounce her name. Her mother's response lifts the girl's--and readers'--spirits by illuminating the resonating meaning and power of diverse names through song. As the gently rendered scenes of this heartfelt talk unfold, Uribe's expressive details capture the musicality of different names. Fine, swooping lines and blooming silhouettes of pastel color flow through each page, matching the mother's musical notes and Kora-Jalimuso's growing sense of understanding and confidence in her ability to pass this lesson on to others. The book concludes with a glossary and a pronunciation guide, emphasizing the beauty and significance of all the names featured. VERDICT For all collections, this is a heartwarming tale with a simple yet critical message of respecting the pronunciation of an individual's name and honoring the importance of identity and cultural heritage.--Rachel Mulligan, Pennsylvania State Univ.

A conversation between a girl and her mother distinguishes this poignant second picture book from educator Thompkins-Bigelow. Distraught that her classmates don't pronounce her name correctly, a Black girl in goldenrod overalls complains to her Ummi, who wears a coral-colored headscarf, on the walk home. Describing the musicality of names, Momma encourages her daughter to "tell your teacher that your name is a song," and expounds on others: "Take the name, Olumide (O-loo-muh-DAY)./ Olumide is a melody, girl! And so is Kotone (KOH-tow-neh)." With a creative answer for each of the child's hesitations ("Made-up names come from dreamers.... They make a way out of no way, make names out of no names--pull them from the sky!"), Momma imparts wisdom that her daughter shares the next day, teaching her name's correct pronunciation by singing it, and classmates' names, during roll call. In subtly surfaced illustrations rendered digitally by Uribe, the girl traces names--including Trayvon--through a mellow-toned sky. A resonant tale that honors and celebrates a rich landscape of names. Back matter includes a glossary of names featured with pronunciations and origins. Ages 5-10. (July)

★ "This lovely celebration of African American culture, featuring a Muslim family, offers a fresh way to look at the tradition of creating new names. . . A delightful celebration."
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Simultaneously imparts a strong spark of sensibility and envelops readers in a warm embrace through an overdue, crucial lesson about the significance of honoring every individual's cultural identity..."
— School Library Journal, starred review