Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it—Yoon-Hey.
Yangsook Choi grew up in Korea. She started drawing at age 4 and loved telling her grandma scary stories. After moving to New York to pursue her art, she has written and illustrated many books for young readers. Her books have been acclaimed as “Best of the Best” by the Chicago Public Library, included on the American Library Association Notable Books List, and have received the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award.
Read Aloud Tips
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Give the students time to explore the illustrations and details. Encourage students to share their thoughts and feelings about how the pictures connect to the story.
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Information about Korea and Korean culture are revealed throughout the story. Allow the students time to learn more.
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Class activity suggestion: look up each child’s name in class to understand what they mean. This can be a time for students to appreciate the origin of their name like Unhei.
“A person’s name is a huge part of their identity. The students who enter our classrooms carry names that were chosen just for them. Please do your part to learn, honor, and respect their names (or nicknames). The Name Jar has a great message about identity, diversity, and self-acceptance.” – Amazon Review