Helen Recorvits

Yoon is a little girl from Korea. When her family moves to America, she must learn to write her name in English. But Yoon likes the way her name dances together in Korean and refuses to be Yoon at school. After trying out names like "cat" and "bird", Yoon finally decides that being Yoon in America is not all bad.
Growing up in the military, I can relate to Yoon's hesitation to blend in to her new environment. It is hard for a child to leave their identity in one culture and move to another. show more Yoon's teacher displayed amazing patience and love for a young, displaced child.
I think I'd utilize this book when a new student arrives in my classroom. Living in a military town, we often get children from other cultures and backgrounds in our school. Many children have spent time in Korea and may find comfort in reading this book. We could research our names in Korean and learn how to print them and the meanings, also. show less

I really enjoyed this book! The main character Yoon is a young girl who came to America from Korea. She loves to write her name in Korean, but when she comes to America she is not happy and her name no longer means the same to her. Throughout the book, Yoon calls herself different names that she hears such as “Cat,” “Bird,” and “Cupcake.” I really enjoyed the illustrations in the book that enhanced the story. Yoon was just a little girl so she didn’t truly understand what those show more names meant; however the illustrations enhanced the meanings of the words. In addition, the illustrations symbolized her innocence and loneliness. We were able to analyze her behavior and feelings over time as the story changed. And, we were able to follow as Yoon found her place in America. The imagery in the book helped to understand Yoon’s feelings as she found her place in a new world and eventually accepted her own self. It was interesting to hear the book from the perspective of a young girl who came from Korea. The book ended with Yoon wanted to write her own name in English, and realizing wherever she is, her name will always mean “shining wisdom.” show less

This piece of children’s literature is a story of a child named Yoon who is in a foreign environment where she is forced to adjust herself to her new settings. The first thing Yoon must to is learning how to write her name in English. Unfortunately, she does not like the way her named is spelling in English, so she tries to write other names. She soon starts to realize that her Korean name will always be a big part of who she is because it represents her Korean culture and just because she show more has to spell it in English, does not change the meaning. Yoon’s character is truly inspiring in this aspect because she wants to uphold her Korean culture and does not want to give in to conformity. The illustrations in this book add to the overall humorous tone of the book because of the amount of detail they possess. The illustrations are not only engaging, but they aid young readers to relate to Yoon and her struggles. The theme of acceptance and acculturation make this book something all immigrant students can relate to. show less

"An unhappy young immigrant seeks, and at last regains, a sense of self in this atmospheric, expressionistically illustrated episode. Instead of writing her own name on her papers at school, Yoon calls herself “Cat,” then “Bird”—“I wanted to be BIRD. I wanted to fly, fly back to Korea”—and even, after a classmate’s friendly culinary overture, “Cupcake.” Ultimately, she finds her balance again: “I write my name in English now. It still means Shining Wisdom.” show more Swiatkowska internalizes Yoon’s adjustment, both by depicting her escape fantasies literally, and by placing figures against expanses of wall that are either empty of decoration, or contain windows opening onto distant, elaborate landscapes. Reminiscent of Allen Say’s work for its tone, theme, and neatly drafted, often metaphorical art, this strongly communicates Yoon’s feelings in words and pictures both. She is also surrounded by supportive adults, and her cultural heritage, though specified, is given such a low profile that she becomes a sort of everychild, with whom many young readers faced with a similar sense of displacement will identify. (Picture book. 8-10)" www.kirkusreviews.com show less