This is a light-hearted story about a girl that moved from Korea to the Unites States. This girls name is Yoon. That is how it looks in English at least; in Korean her name is much more beautiful on paper and all the characters seem to work together to form her name rather than having independent letters like in the English language. Yoon did not like writing her new name, even though it still meant “Shining Wisdom” and throughout the story learns new words in the English language that she would like to be identified by. On the first day of school she learns about cats; therefore, she wants to be called CAT. When a classmate heard that she wanted to be called CAT she laughed; Yoon wanted to be back in Korea. That evening Yoon wanted her teacher to like her so she drew a picture of a bird and the following day wanted to be called BIRD. The teacher warmly accepts the drawing and new name which makes Yoon feel better about living in the United States. The following school day a classmate approaches Yoon with a cupcake; once again, Yoon has a new name. At home that evening Yoon told her parents about her new friend and how she liked her teacher and even thought about how her new home was not so bad. Then, Yoon had the opportunity to write her name on a piece of paper at school and she wrote YOON. The teacher grabbed Yoon and hugged her. She had been accepted by classmates and her teacher and felt confident to be called by her name that meant “Shining Wisdom”.
I would use this book in a classroom during the first days of class to promote acceptance of other cultures. This book does a good job of illustrating and describing textually the feelings from a child that is new in the United States and does not speak the native language. Students can quickly pickup on the theme that by accepting students from diverse cultures they are give that person a sense of self worth.
