Your Name Is a Song

By Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Luisa Uribe (illustrator),

Book cover of Your Name Is a Song

Book description

Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk…

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Why read it?

3 authors picked Your Name Is a Song as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Your Name Is A Song is a deeply personal book for anyone who's ever felt their name was misunderstood. This story celebrates the melody and significance of names from various cultures, encouraging children to take pride in their identities.

Having grown up with a unique name myself, I understand the importance of this affirmation. This book is a powerful tool for empowerment and inclusivity, teaching both children and adults to appreciate the diversity and beauty of names and the stories they carry.

From Idris' list on books to read aloud to children.

On the first day of school, no one can pronounce a little girl’s name. It gets stuck in the teacher’s throat. The other students cough trying to say it. The girl goes home determined never to go to school again.

Her mom teaches her to sing names. Some names have fire. Some must be sung from the heart or the belly. The next day at school, the teacher has no trouble with any of the other students’ names, but still can’t pronounce the girl’s. The girl sings her name. The teacher is confused, and says “Names aren’t songs.” 

The girl…

From Lois' list on pictures about bullying.

There are so many things I love about this book! I love the way the mom has a beautiful way to respond to the comments the girl’s classmates make. I love the way the child skips and hops and dances along with her mom. I love the clear, close relationship between mother and child. I love how the girl creates songs from all of her classmates’ names—even those with a single syllable like Bob. What a wonderful way to help people explore names they’re unfamiliar with. The list of names at the end is great, too. I can’t comment on…

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