Overview

In this empowering story, one child shows that by making the effort to properly pronounce someone's name, we send the welcoming message that everyone is worthy of respect and dignity. When Ai Lin starts school, none of her classmates can say her name. The children make several attempts, but they still cannot pronounce it properly. They ask Ai Lin if they can just call her by another name. It's not that important, right? But Ai Lin knows the significance of her Chinese name. No, it can't be changed. Her name is part of her identity and heritage. Her name was chosen not only for what it means, but also for how it sounds. It ties her to her family--present and past--and to its traditions. When Ai Lin shares her family history with her classmates, they come to understand that a name can be a person's story, special and unique. Ai Lin's name, and all that it means and stands for, is as personal as a fingerprint, as distinct as a snowflake.

Full Product Details

9798855193718

Table of Contents

Reviews

Along with expressive illustrations, the story teaches us to make the effort to say someone's name correctly, and includes Chinese naming traditions and the author's personal connection in the back.--Deb Greenberg ""Story Monster Ink"" (11/1/2025 12:00:00 AM) A fine story of cultural identity, fitting in, making choices, and teaching others evolves, which will be perfect for picture book readers and adults seeking to transmit information about other cultures, words, heritage, and values.-- ""Midwest Book Review"" (10/1/2025 12:00:00 AM) An empowering celebration of identity.-- ""Kirkus Reviews"" (8/16/2025 12:00:00 AM) VERDICT This charming book about a girl navigating new situations belongs in every collection.--Debbie Tanner ""School Library Journal"" (6/25/2025 12:00:00 AM) Starred Review Ai Lin has to teach her classmates how to say her name properly. When she started school, the kids said American words and names instead of her name. She carefully explains the meaning of her name and how it fits into her culture. Ai Lin does a beautiful job with the explanations and the lovely, muted artwork shows her loving family and her joy at being a respected part of the school community. This is an excellent book for the beginning of the school year and will pair well with other books about names like Kevin Henkes's Chrysanthemum or Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow's Your Name is a Song. With a very light touch, it offers discussion points on respect for others, cultural traditions, and the how and why parents choose names. The author's notes about her own experiences with her name as well as the Chinese characters for the names in the book are a nice addition. VERDICT: This charming book about a girl navigating new situations belongs in every collection.--Debbie Tanner ""School Library Journal"" (6/26/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Author Information

Maria Wen Adcock is a first-generation Chinese American writer, and It's Chinese New Year, Curious George was her first children's book. She is the founder of the award-winning blog BiculturalMama.com and has appeared in Bloomberg News, Huffington Post, The Dr. Oz Show, and Newsday. Maria is a board member of Multicultural Kid Blogs, an organization supporting diverse parenting bloggers, and co-host of the annual event Multicultural Children's Book Day. She lives on Long Island in New York. Yu Ting Cheng is a Taiwanese illustrator who graduated with an MFA in Computer Art from the School of Visual Art in New York. After several years in the animation field, she draws inspiration from her love for storytelling and the everyday magic of life. Her experiences abroad resonate deeply with Ai Lin's journey. She believes that every name has a story waiting to be told and remembered. Yu lives in Taipei, Taiwan.

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