When a Palestinian child asks their family why they have their given name, they discover how much meaning and empowerment it holds.
A child asks their mother, then their father why they have their given name. Their mother says the name speaks of sweetness and serenity; their father says it contains courage to care for and preserve their land. The child learns that their name holds memories of olive trees in bloom, the family gathering for the harvest, even the taste of olives, according to their grandfather! Their name says so much about their history, who they are, what they do. And that's why the child and their friends write their names everywhere - even on their own hands and feet - so that they will never be forgotten.
In this moving story, author and illustrator Marilda Castanha takes what might be marks of victimhood - the names of children, written on their bodies - and transforms them into an act of empowerment and an insistence on being seen and remembered.
This beautifully illustrated story is an invitation to reflect on the impact of war on children's lives, the hope we harbor for world peace, and the importance of remaining true to our identities and origins.
Key Text Features
author's note
dialogue
epigraph
illustrations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3
Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2
Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
When a Palestinian child asks their family why they have their given name, they discover how much meaning and empowerment it holds.
• STAYING TRUE TO YOU: My Name is a bittersweet exploration of names and how they represent memories, identity and origins, beautifully rendered from a child's point of view.
• THE REALITIES OF WAR: Set in Gaza, My Name explores the impact of war on children's lives, and the hope for peace. It was inspired by videos of real Palestinian children writing their names on their hands, arms and legs to ensure that they are identified in the event of their deaths. This story is author-illustrator Marilda Castanha's way of paying tribute to all children who are victims of war.
• AWARD-WINNING ILLUSTRATOR: A three-time winner of the Prêmio Jabuti, one of the most prestigious literary prizes in Brazil, Marilda Castanha is beloved in her native country and around the world. Her striking folk-art illustrations are the perfect complement to this poignant and necessary story.
author's note;dialogue;epigraph;illustrations
