Rate this book

My Name Is Sangoel (2009)

by Karen Lynn Williams(Favorite Author)

4.15 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0802853072 (ISBN13: 9780802853073)

languge

English

genre

Middle Grade & Children's

publisher

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

review 1: This book was the story of a young boy from Sudan who had to leave the country due to war. When he came to America he found that many people had trouble pronouncing his name, which made him feel as if he had lost it. One day Sangoel has an idea to create a picture of his name on a shirt to help the others be able to understand how to say it. When the children see how well this works they begin to do the same thing and the teacher uses it a s a teachable moment. This book would be good to use as a way to bring the idea of diversity into the classroom. It also shows that it is not always easy to move to a new place where you don't know anyone. It also incorporates a fun activity that could be used in a classroom to help students learn and remember other students' n... moreames.
review 2: This book is wonderful for exploring perspective. Kids are shocked when Sangoel's family has to learn to use forks, and when his little sister cries at the television. Because it's told so simply, students are able to empathize with the family's hardships as they are exposed to the realities of immigrants' lives. They were really delighted with Sangoel's solution to the problem of no one being able to pronounce his name. It's genuinely kid-level genius. This is one of a list I loosely call "My Name" books. I share several around the concept of being a child coming to a new country and finding a place one's own. When I recently shared it with my third graders, I was most moved by one quiet young student's being inspired to share that when his Grandmother came from Vietnam, her name was changed. less

Download links for: My Name Is Sangoel

Advertising