Childrens

That's Not My Name!

That's Not My Name!

  • Downloads：3678
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-08-06 01:21:42
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Anoosha Syed
  • ISBN：059340517X
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

A debut picture book about loving your name， finding your voice， and standing up for yourself from the critically acclaimed illustrator of Bilal Cooks Daal and I Am Perfectly Designed。

Mirha is so excited for her first day of school！ She can't wait to learn， play， and make new friends。 But when her classmates mispronounce her name， she goes home wondering if she shound find a new one。 Maybe then she'd be able to find a monogrammed keychain at the gas station or order a hot chocolate at the cafe more easily。

Mama helps Mirha to see how special her name is， and she returns to school the next day determined to help her classmates say it correctly--even if it takes a hundred tries。

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Reviews

Kirin ，

2。5I have been looking forward to this book， as I've enjoyed so many of the illustrations the author has created for other authors， and was anxious to see what kind of story she would write for her own authorial debut。  Unfortunately， the book didn't wow me。  It is rather forgettable， the book conflates notions of not being able to pronounce someone's name with not being memorable and with not having a "normal" name， and then recognizing how so many classmates have unique names too。  A bit scatt 2。5I have been looking forward to this book， as I've enjoyed so many of the illustrations the author has created for other authors， and was anxious to see what kind of story she would write for her own authorial debut。  Unfortunately， the book didn't wow me。  It is rather forgettable， the book conflates notions of not being able to pronounce someone's name with not being memorable and with not having a "normal" name， and then recognizing how so many classmates have unique names too。  A bit scattered in messaging， and overall reading like an adult talking， not a young girl of four or five， on her first day of school。  No doubt the illustrations are beautiful， and the book isn't "bad" or a "waste of time，" but it isn't a strong clear story。  I've seen reviews where people find the little girl rude， and I don't know that I'd agree with that， she is frustrated and wants to scream， "that's not my name" when people say it wrong， but I do agree that she could model what to say better and how to handle it。  Not that I expect those with uncommon names to have to carry the weight of making things easy， but the little girl at the end remarks that she has so many new friends at school with "unique， beautiful names， and she always makes sure she says them right，" implying that some dialogue， both about her name and about theirs， takes place to ensure pronunciation is correct， and some "showing" of how that is achieved would be nice。  Before the story starts， on the title page， there is a pronunciation breakdown of Mirha， but not in the text itself。 There is nothing Islamic in the book， the Grandmother wears a scarf loosely draped over her head， there is a crescent and moon wall hanging in an illustration， and the girl's name is claimed to be Arabic in origin。  The book starts with it being Mirha's first day of school。  She is excited to learn， to play， and to make friends， but when no one seems to be able to say her name， she starts to feel shy。 Frustrated and sad she decides to change her name， and tells her mom when she gets home。  Her mother tells her， her name is beautiful and why she was named what she is named。  She builds her up and the next day armed with her mother's words she is ready to make friends and teach them how to say her name。 By the end of the book Mirha has friends， and wants to be your （the reader's） friend too。The voice of the book is inconsistent at times it feels very older kid， almost adult， even though the 40 page book is meant for three to five year olds。  The examples read like an adult reflecting on their childhood struggles with their name， not as a young girl finding her voice and appreciation for the name she has。 When Hayden asks if he can call her Maya instead of Mirha it is because Maya is easier。  Kids are hearing all sorts of names for the first time when they enter school， that conversation seems so forced。  Whether the kids are in preschool or daycare or kindergarten， most of the names they are hearing of their classmates are being heard for the first time。  If they watch a lot of tv and YouTube and movies， they have heard a whole variety of names， they are not going to have a dialogue that sounds like that， at that age， just not realistic。  Similarly after the first day of school she wants to change her name to something "normal？" What is a "normal" name even， then the mom even reinforces that notion when saying she knows she named her something "unique and different。"  A concept that returns at the end when asserting that Mirha has friends with lots of unique names。  Seems to go in circles。 I appreciate that examples are given about not seeing your name on keychains or having the barista get it right， but again， she is under the age of five， are these really her points of reference for having a less common name than those around her？  When her mother is making the case that she shouldn't change her name she references that names such as Beethoven and Tchaikovsky and Michelangelo are memorable。  First of all， what （under） five year old knows those names or who those people are， and second of all， now her name is not memorable？ I thought it was hard to pronounce？ Has she done something worthy of history books and admiration？ I get what the author is trying to do， I often tell my students that they need to demand people say their names right。  If they can rattle off names from Pokemon， Star Wars， Lord of the Rings， and Beyblades， they can say the beautiful names they have been given。  But the kids I am saying it to are not in preschool， nor am I conflating the pronunciation of their names with being names of famous people that are memorable。 Additionally， I do not speak Arabic， but a quick Google search does not show that Mirha means happiness in Arabic， and I have heard from native Arab speakers that they also found the meaning off。The illustrations are engaging， the broader message of getting people's name right and demanding people get your name right is important， it just needed a more age aligning voice and connecting with the reader。 。。。more

Christina ，

Great book for the first days of school

Edward Sullivan ，

Upset that everyone at school mispronounces her name， Mirha's mother helps to understand how special her name is， and she returns to school the next day determined to help her classmates say it correctly， even if it takes a hundred tries。 Upset that everyone at school mispronounces her name， Mirha's mother helps to understand how special her name is， and she returns to school the next day determined to help her classmates say it correctly， even if it takes a hundred tries。 。。。more

Anthony ，

It's the first day of school， and when Mirha introduces herself， no one pronounces her name correctly。 Mirha is hesitant to correct people， but after school， her family reassures Mirha that her name is worthy to be pronounced correctly。 It's the first day of school， and when Mirha introduces herself， no one pronounces her name correctly。 Mirha is hesitant to correct people， but after school， her family reassures Mirha that her name is worthy to be pronounced correctly。 。。。more

Jj ，

Thanks to Penguin Young Readers for the review copy！

Lenny ，

super lovely！！

Lisa ，

When Mira starts school， the other kids and some of her teachers can't pronounce her name right。 Mira does not speak up about her name even though she wants， too。 Her mother helps her see how beautiful her name is and Mira finds a way to tell others what her name is。 This is a sweet and empowering story about the importance of names and standing up for oneself。 When Mira starts school， the other kids and some of her teachers can't pronounce her name right。 Mira does not speak up about her name even though she wants， too。 Her mother helps her see how beautiful her name is and Mira finds a way to tell others what her name is。 This is a sweet and empowering story about the importance of names and standing up for oneself。 。。。more

Dora ，

a great addition to a name/identity unit。 Can be paired with Alma and How She Got Her Name and Yefferson， Actually。

Beth ，

Pair this book with YOUR NAME IS A SONG

CCPL Buzz ，

RPD

Ms Threlkeld ，

Especially great class read aloud for the start of the year。

Sophie ，

This is a BEAUUUTIFUL book about standing up for yourself and learning to accept your uniqueness instead of hiding it！ The art is lush， colorful， and full of little details that will make you smile。

Susan Kennedy ，

Definitely n my first week of school rotation。 Glad I bought two to loan them out。

Kelly ，

I still don't know how to say the girl's name。 Am I saying miracle incorrectly？ Doesn't that I sound like a long e？ I think saying "That's not my name" is disrespectful。 Can't she say it in a nicer way？ Or at least follow up with the correct pronunciation in a nicer tone。 I still don't know how to say the girl's name。 Am I saying miracle incorrectly？ Doesn't that I sound like a long e？ I think saying "That's not my name" is disrespectful。 Can't she say it in a nicer way？ Or at least follow up with the correct pronunciation in a nicer tone。 。。。more

Yapha ，

Such a great book about the importance of pronouncing people's names correctly。 I needed this book in elementary school。 Glad it exists now。 Such a great book about the importance of pronouncing people's names correctly。 I needed this book in elementary school。 Glad it exists now。 。。。more

Lupita Gonzalez ，

As someone who was once a kid with an ethnic name， this book was really heartwarming and accurate。 I resonated with Mirha's experience of learning to love and appreciate her name As someone who was once a kid with an ethnic name， this book was really heartwarming and accurate。 I resonated with Mirha's experience of learning to love and appreciate her name 。。。more

Maleeha Siddiqui ，

Anoosha Syed's signature art style is even more brilliantly displayed in her first author-illustrator release。 This is the perfect picture book to share with any kid who gets their name regularly butchered。 It's sweet， relatable， and inclusive。 You'll want to read it over and over again！ Anoosha Syed's signature art style is even more brilliantly displayed in her first author-illustrator release。 This is the perfect picture book to share with any kid who gets their name regularly butchered。 It's sweet， relatable， and inclusive。 You'll want to read it over and over again！ 。。。more

Pam ，

I received an electronic ARC from Penguin Random House through Edelweiss+

Parker ，

I got this for my 6 year old sister and she loved it！ She is also South Asian like Mirha and has a name that people butcher all the time。 She keeps reading it again and again and she loves the artwork in the book too。 She asked me to thank the author somehow so Ms Anoosha Syed if you’re seeing this thank you for this book！

Dylan Teut ，

As someone whose last name was butchered by teachers， substitutes， coaches， announcers， classmates， etc。 over the years， this story resonated with me。 （My last name is pronounced TOYT， by the way）。 It's so much better to ask and learn than to slaughter the pronunciation and cause giggles/ laughter and potential teasing。 I can't believe adults have not yet learned etiquette for learning to say someone's name， and therefore， students pick up on the habit。 It's embarrassing for both the child and t As someone whose last name was butchered by teachers， substitutes， coaches， announcers， classmates， etc。 over the years， this story resonated with me。 （My last name is pronounced TOYT， by the way）。 It's so much better to ask and learn than to slaughter the pronunciation and cause giggles/ laughter and potential teasing。 I can't believe adults have not yet learned etiquette for learning to say someone's name， and therefore， students pick up on the habit。 It's embarrassing for both the child and the person mispronouncing。 A story that is both reassuring， but hopefully a call to action that we can do so much better for those in our classrooms and communities。 。。。more

Mirha ，

ok dont judge me for wanting to read a picture book at the big age of 18 this is the first time ive seen my name in anything， i also call my mum Mama and the kid on the cover LOOKS JUST LIKE I LOOKED AS A KID im buying this idec

kate ♡ ，

so excited！！ the cover is so colorful + cute！ :））

Lian Cho ，

As someone who grew up constantly having their name mispronounced， this book really hit home。 Anoosha's debut speaks out to all those who've struggled with accepting their beautiful name and is a wonderful reminder for children and adults everywhere that names are an big part of our identity and the affirmation someone feels when their name is pronounced correctly。 It made my heart swell to see the main character， Mirha， overcome her insecurities and shyness to speak up and let others know that As someone who grew up constantly having their name mispronounced， this book really hit home。 Anoosha's debut speaks out to all those who've struggled with accepting their beautiful name and is a wonderful reminder for children and adults everywhere that names are an big part of our identity and the affirmation someone feels when their name is pronounced correctly。 It made my heart swell to see the main character， Mirha， overcome her insecurities and shyness to speak up and let others know that they're wrong。 It's so inspiring to see a character that stands up for themselves， as it was something I struggled to do as a child when people mispronounced my name。 I even struggle to bring it up now！ The impact this book will have some children who have names that are deemed "hard" to pronounce will be so great。 Even for readers who have easy to pronounce names， it'll be a great book to open up discussion about how important names are and to not take pronunciation for granted。 Aside from the absolutely wonderful message， the art in this book is STUNNING。 Anoosha takes all of her years of experience and has created a feast for the eyes。 The colors are so luscious and every page is thoughtfully designed。 A wide range of characters are depicted and the relationship between Mirha and her parents is so tender and loving I could feel the warmth from the page。All in all， a brilliant debut from a brilliant author and illustrator！ Would highly recommend to all。 。。。more

Monica ，

A touching and relatable authorial debut from Anoosha Syed， illustrated gorgeously as always。 Mirha's experience will absolutely ring true to so many children， and the book offers a welcoming and safe place to begin to have those conversations。 A touching and relatable authorial debut from Anoosha Syed， illustrated gorgeously as always。 Mirha's experience will absolutely ring true to so many children， and the book offers a welcoming and safe place to begin to have those conversations。 。。。more

Israa ，

Thank you Edelweiss for an advanced copy。 Incorrect grammar， capitalization， and punctuation irk me so much when it comes to children's books。 Yes， the character bubbles use it， but it shows a bad example， even if intended to be realistic or cute。 Any child who has a difficult to pronounce name would identify with this book。 I think other examples of politely helping others realize their mistake could have been included， besides only saying， "That's not my name。" I wouldn't really recommend this Thank you Edelweiss for an advanced copy。 Incorrect grammar， capitalization， and punctuation irk me so much when it comes to children's books。 Yes， the character bubbles use it， but it shows a bad example， even if intended to be realistic or cute。 Any child who has a difficult to pronounce name would identify with this book。 I think other examples of politely helping others realize their mistake could have been included， besides only saying， "That's not my name。" I wouldn't really recommend this for our classroom libraries， but others might find it helpful in multicultural studies。 。。。more

Andréa ，

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=That's Not My Name!

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=That's Not My Name!&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,That's Not My Name!&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0