Choi, Y. (2001). The name jar. New York, NY:
Dragonfly Books. After immigrating from one country to another, nothing can
be more hurtful than others making fun of your name. When on the bus to her
first day of school, Unhei is teased about her Korean name. As she is
introduced to her class, she is asked what her name was and being embarrassed,
Unhei will give her class a new name by the end of the week. With the help of
her classmates, the name jar offers Unhei suggestions. Through that week, Unhei
learns to embrace her given name, her culture, and decides to keep her name.
Every child’s worst nightmare is being made fun of,
especially on your first day of school. Choi
took that fear and took it to the next level.
Young Unhei recently immigrated to America from Korea. As the reader venture from page to page, they
will understand the importance of acceptance of ones identity and culture. Although
the children of her class thought they were being helpful, they came up with
the name jar, symbolizing a change that many feel is stripping them of their
identity. Choi is able to bring
awareness on a sensitive topic that immigrant children endure daily while in
school.
When reading the book, the reader is captivated with natural
hues of greens, browns, yellows, reds, and blues that fill the pages. The
illustrations provide soft, smooth lines that allow the images to blend into
one and are not harsh when creating lines. Choi shows different skin tones of the
children from creamy fair skin, to warmer hues of a milky chocolate,
representing the diversity that many American schools are populated with today. She also shows the reader what modern clothing Uhnei and her classmates wear, compared to her Grandmother in her traditional dress in Korea. The atmosphere of the school, home, and city are simplistic, something our students today would interact in.
Through her diction and illustrations, Choi elaborates the
theme of acceptance and to embrace the culture of which is presented, like
Unhei did in the end.
Reviews
School
Library Journal
K-Gr
2-On the way to her first day of school, Unhei is teased by the children on the
bus for her Korean name. When she reaches her classroom and is asked her name,
she tells her classmates that she has not yet decided on one. To be helpful the
children put their suggestions into a "name jar." Eventually the girl
decides to keep her own name as one of her classmates takes pride in the new
Korean nickname he has chosen, Chinku, meaning "friend." The round,
red imprint of the Korean character for Unhei's name provides the graphic
manifestation of the story's theme. Attractive golden endpapers feature random
repetitions of the stamp imprint interspersed with her classmates' handwritten
suggestions on scraps of torn paper. The bold, bright paintings that illustrate
the story are realistic, warm, and appealing. Unfortunately, the text sags
under the weight of its mission to describe how it might feel to immigrate. A
well-meaning and visually attractive effort, but uninspired. - Dorian Chong,
School of Library and Information Science, San Jose State University, CA
Ages
4-8. Unhei has just come with her family from Korea and is starting school. Her
name is pronounced Yoon-hye, which means grace, but she feels awkward
about it after some teasing on the school bus. She decides to choose an
American name, and her classmates oblige her by filling a glass jar with their
suggestions. Her mother reminds her that she and her grandmother went to a name
master for Unhei's name, and Unhei practices stamping her name with the
beautiful name stamp her grandmother gave her. Finally, Unhei decides to keep
her own name, and one of her classmates even has a stamp made for himself with
the Korean characters for friend. The paintings are mostly in gold and
earth tones, and the figures have both stature and simplicity--as does the
story. GraceAnne DeCandido
As I looked at eth cover I questioned what the jar was about
and as I began to read the book, I soon began to understand what the jar was
for. I cannot imagine having to find a new name for your peers to call you by
because they cannot pronounce the name. I am guilty of it with students. I just
cannot, but I try my hardest to show them I want to respect their name and
culture. When I finished reading The Name Jar, I thought about our ESL and LEP
populations that are increasing yearly, but with various cultures and
languages. I thought about the nicknames they provide their teachers and kind
of felt bad and heart broken. I ended up buying this book to keep in my
classroom for those students when they feel misplaced or feel like they are
loosing their identity. I want them to feel accepted when in my presence and
know that they are important like everyone else. I enjoyed reading this book.
Although it was a simple children’s picture book, it opened my eyes on keeping
one’s identity through their name and accepting that individual and culture.
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