Say My Name
Written by Joanna Ho
Illustrated by Khoa Le
HarperCollins, 2023, 36 pp (unpaged)
ISBN: 9780063205338

Joanna Ho has written a stunning book about the importance of speaking one’s name and the power of identity, language, and culture behind each name. Told in lyrical prose, the book lists names from specific cultures and shares the meaning and the history behind each one. The children included in this picturebook come from Tonga, China, Persia (Iran), the Nahua (Mexico), Ghana, and the Navajo (United States), each character calling out the power of one’s name and correctly pronouncing each name.

The bright and detailed digital illustrations, many of which cover two pages, go perfectly with the engaging text. Each page is filled with meaningful patterns that highlight important cultural symbols, blending together past and present. The result is a joyful story that celebrates identities and the meaningful history behind each name.

Teaching children the importance of names is not only a way to better identify one another but also a means of respecting and honoring generational histories. The end of the book has name pronunciations and short overviews of each culture along with photographs of the real-life child whose name is featured, providing meaningful context. To ensure cultural accuracy, Joanna Ho carefully researched the details of each culture by consulting with individuals from each cultural group and drawing on various perspectives to represent each name authentically. In an interview with Horn Book’s Roger Sutton, Ho states that she prioritized deep cultural research to convey the meanings and histories behind each name with respect and accuracy. An audio companion with a full pronunciation guide including intonation and syllable stress would have been beneficial, especially with the focus on saying one’s name correctly. A YouTube video interview of Joanna Ho does include her read aloud of the book. Including a map to highlight the various locations and offering more geographical and cultural details would also enhance the reader’s experience.

Based on the main theme of the book as an appreciation of each name, culture, and history, this book can be paired with others that explore similar themes. For instance, My Name is Sangoel, written by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed (2009), also centers on the importance of names in life and identity through the story of an eight-year-old Sudanese refugee named Sangoel, who resettles in the U.S. His unique name causes him to face teasing and mispronunciations. Because he carries the name of his father who was killed in the war in Sudan, Sangoel values his name as it embodies his family’s history and heritage, connecting him to his father and ancestors. Determined to preserve this connection, Sangoel teaches others how to pronounce his name correctly rather than changing it.

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal (2018) depicts a girl who has a long name that at first she thinks does not fit. After talking to her father, she realizes that each part of her name honors a relative who is precious to him, leading her to appreciate and embrace her name. Another book is Banana Dream by Hasan Namir (2023), the story of how an Iraqi boy came to be named Mooz, an Arabic name meaning banana. At first, he does not like his name until he learns the story of his name from his parents. René Has Two Last Names by René Colato Laínez (2009) similarly explores the significance of names, focusing on a boy from El Salvador who teaches his classmates the importance of keeping both of his last names, honoring his family’s heritage and traditions.

Joanna Ho is a highly accomplished author, recognized as a New York Times bestselling and award-winning writer of children’s books. Her works have garnered several prestigious accolades, including the Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature Honor, the Golden Kite Award, the Ezra Jack Keats Honor, and the Golden Poppy Award. In addition to her writing, Ho is a dedicated educator with a strong focus on anti-bias, anti-racism, and equity work. She earned her BA in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from the Principal Leadership Institute at Berkeley. Throughout her career, Ho has worn many hats, serving as an English teacher, dean, designer of an alternative-to-prison program, creator of professional development for educators, and a high school vice principal. Born to immigrants from Taiwan and China in St. Paul, Minnesota, she has lived in various places, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, Accra (Ghana), Taipei (Taiwan), and the Bay Area. Her diverse experiences across these locations likely contribute to her deep understanding of the significance of names and the cultural histories they carry. More information can be found on her website.

Khoa Le is a talented illustrator, author, and painter based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Her diverse body of work spans personal paintings, picturebooks she has either written or illustrated, and various other illustration projects. Le draws inspiration from her own stories, dreams, and imagination, along with her passion for exploring the beauty and cultures of the world. More information can be found on her website.

Narges Zandi, University of Arizona

Rana Taheri, Montana State University

© 2024 by Narges Zandi & Rana Taheri