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The Name Jar

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Hardcover
$18.99 US
9"W x 11.25"H x 0.38"D   | 15 oz | 24 per carton
On sale Jul 10, 2001 | 40 Pages | 9780375806131
Age 5-8 years | Grades K-3
Reading Level: Lexile 290L | Fountas & Pinnell N
The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she?

Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it—Yoon-Hey.
  • WINNER | 2003
    Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Master List
  • NOMINEE | 2005
    Arizona Young Readers Award
“Unhei’s reflection and inner strength are noteworthy; cultural details freshen the story, and Choi’s gleaming, expressive paintings are always a treasure.” —The New York Times
Yangsook Choi grew up in Seoul, Korea. View titles by Yangsook Choi

Educator Guide for The Name Jar

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Classroom Activities for The Name Jar

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

About

The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she?

Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it—Yoon-Hey.

Awards

  • WINNER | 2003
    Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Master List
  • NOMINEE | 2005
    Arizona Young Readers Award

Praise

“Unhei’s reflection and inner strength are noteworthy; cultural details freshen the story, and Choi’s gleaming, expressive paintings are always a treasure.” —The New York Times

Author

Yangsook Choi grew up in Seoul, Korea. View titles by Yangsook Choi

Additional Materials

Educator Guide for The Name Jar

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Classroom Activities for The Name Jar

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Always Anjali

Meet Anjali! She’s the spunky star of this picture book with a timeless message about appreciating what makes us special and honoring our different identities. Anjali and her friends are excited to buy matching personalized license plates for their bikes–but Anjali can’t find a plate with her name. She is often teased about her “different”

Read more