Review by Kirkus Book Review
A girl explains her name's pronunciation and significance to her new classmates. Ai Lin is the only Asian-featured child in a classroom of children with many other shades of skin and hair colors. On the first day of school, the other kids don't know how to say her name. "Island?" "Eileen?" they ask. "No," Ai Lin replies, correcting their pronunciation. They persist. "Can we just call you Eileen?" Ai Lin then explains why her name is not to be changed; it is her heritage, carrying the hopes and dreams of her elders. She describes how each part of her name has a meaning. "Ai" means "love," like warm hugs from Mama, and "Lin" means "gem," precious and unique the way Baba sees her. Her sister also has a meaningful name, Ai Mei. "Ai" is for "love," "just like me… It's what I feel when I say her name." "Mei" means "rose," and the two sisters together are a lovely gem and a lovely rose. By the end of her explanation, the other children are listening intently and, of course, get her name exactly right the next day. Cheng's sweet illustrations in a muted yet colorful palette convey Ai Lin's childlike perspective of her classmates and her understanding of herself, her family, and her heritage. An empowering celebration of identity. (author's note, glossary)(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
