The Name Jar
Written and Illustrated by Yangsook Choi
Dragonfly Books: Copyright 2003
Fiction
Plot Summary:
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi follows a young girl named Unhei who has just moved from Korea to the United States. At school, she feels like she just doesn't fit in with the other children. She is anxious that no one in her new American school will be able to pronounce her name, so on the first day of school, she informs her class that she will be choosing a new, American name by the end of the week. Her classmates help her out by placing options for a new name in a glass jar. However, before the end of the week, the glass jar goes missing! Will Unhei be able to choose a new name after all? Why did the jar go missing? Find out what acceptance and love can really do for a person in The Name Jar.
Illustrations: Author and Illustrator Yangsook Choi chose to illustrate her book in an open-frame concept. The reader's view is that of an "onlooker" of the story. The colors she chooses to use are earthy toned and neutral, depicting some cultural ties to Korean heritage. The images correlate with the words that are written and add to the message that the author is sending to the reader.
I would use this book for a 2nd or 3rd grade social studies lesson! This book promotes social acceptance and love for all people, even if they are a little different than us. This book tells a relatable story in which a new student comes to class, and depicts the emotions that this student goes through as she faces new challenges. My students would benefit from reading this book because some of them might have been new students themselves before, and if we have a new student come into our class, reading this book can help them understand why they might seem nervous or shy at first, and why it is important to make them feel welcome. This book would help me, as a teacher, promote acceptance and love in my classroom.
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