Wednesday, July 20, 2016

The Name Jar

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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