Say my name /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"In moving, lyrical prose, the book celebrates the beauty and sounds of each name alongside their culture of origin. The author builds a strong case that everyone should embrace their names and honor and learn those with which they may not be familiar." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A moving title that honors its readers and encourages them to feel confident in their cultural identities." --School Library Journal

"A celebratory story that embraces identities and the beautiful origins behind one's name." --ALA Booklist

"In this powerful picture book, Ho's poetic prose and Le's expressive folk-art illustrations explore the beauty of embracing all identities and cultures" --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

An Amazon Best Books of the Month pick for October!

New York Times bestselling author Joanna Ho, of Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, creates a meaningful and diverse picture book about how names define us.

Names reveal generational ties and histories, weaving an intricate tale of the past. Names--and correctly saying them--are important. Each one carries the hopes, dreams, and traditions of those who came before us.

Six children connect with the reader and proudly celebrate their names and backgrounds: Hé Xiao-Guang, Ofa Kivaha Tupoumalohi, Bijan Hosseini, Nizhoni Yazzie, Xóchitl Luna, and Akosua Acheampong. These captivating kids of Chinese, Tongan, Persian, Navajo, Mexican, and Ghanaian descent also honor their ancestors and cultural histories.

Joanna Ho's lyrical story, with gorgeous illustrations by Khoa Le, explains how saying a person's name is the only way we can truly know another.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

In a picture book that weaves ancestral and cultural identity into a fluid, rhythmic narrative, six children--of Chinese, Tongan, Persian, Diné, Nahua, and Ghanaian Akan descent--share the origins of their given names. "Each syllable,/ each sound,/ is a building block/ in an architecture/ constructed over oceans/ and across generations. Say my name," Ho begins. On each page, one child introduces their name alongside their forbears' legacy ("My family flows through me,/ pulling power from heaven/ with promises of peace/ and prosperity"). Le's velvety, intricately rendered images, meanwhile, use burgundy and teal tones to delineate expansive landscapes and patterned motifs. Together, they create an affirming, uplifting work focused on how correct pronunciation honors and respects: "Say my name./ Anything less/ is not/ me." A pronunciation guide concludes. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 1--3--Many children understand the frustration and pain that comes with having a name that their teachers, doctors, and other adults outside of their families cannot seem to correctly pronounce. The book takes that experience very seriously, offering its readers an opportunity to take pride in the beautiful origins of their names. Children from several underrepresented cultures, from Tongan to Persian, can be found in this title and each celebrates their names and the meanings behind them. The text is gorgeously lyrical, as lovingly constructed as the illustrations that accompany it, depicting the characters in their native landscapes, surrounded by patterns inspired by the art of their people. Readers and educators alike will be delighted to see the back matter that includes how to correctly pronounce these names they've learned so much about. Ho, acknowledging that she is writing outside of her own culture and experiences, credits the different people that helped bring life to this book. She has quickly become a go-to source for affirming children's literature, and her adoration for her growing audience of young readers is etched into every page. VERDICT A moving title that honors its readers and encourages them to feel confident in their cultural identities.--Alexandra Quay

Booklist Review

This colorful picture book celebrates the names, languages, and cultures of six different kids who are of Chinese, Tongan, Persian, Diné, Mexican, and Ghanaian descent. Through vivid, lyrical prose, the children share the meaning and history of their names, which reflect their diverse backgrounds and identities. Each child confidently urges the reader to "say my name" and to do so correctly, for "anything less is not me." For anyone reading the story for the first time unsure of just how to correctly pronounce any name, back matter includes a pronunciation guide along with additional cultural context. Still, an audio companion with a full pronunciation guide including intonation, syllable stress, and more would be very helpful, especially for young readers. Digital illustrations incorporate rich colors and colorful patterns, many of which are full two-page spreads. The striking artwork enhances the beauty of each world that is captured. The result is a celebratory story that embraces identities and the beautiful origins behind one's name.

Kirkus Book Review

Behind each name is a story that spans generations. Six children of Chinese, Tongan, Persian, Diné, Nahuatl, or Akan descent share the meaning and history of their names. In moving, lyrical prose, the book celebrates the beauty and sounds of each name alongside their culture of origin: "Each syllable, / each sound, / is a building block / in an architecture / constructed over oceans / and across generations." Every name is laden with meaning and a sense of identity, carrying the hopes and dreams of those who came before. Ho emphasizes that it is therefore monumentally important to pronounce names correctly, for "Anything less / is not / me." The author builds a strong case that everyone should embrace their names and honor and learn those with which they may not be familiar. Le's richly colored and textured illustrations perfectly complement the compelling text. Ripe with symbolism, each page features intricate patterns referencing significant motifs from the cultures portrayed, seamlessly weaving together images of the past with the present. The backmatter features a pronunciation guide with additional context for each name and culture. Given its focus on the importance of tones and cadences, the title could have benefited from an audio guide. Still, many will find the phonetic spellings of the names helpful. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A beautifully empowering declaration. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.