That’s Not My Name!

A child’s first day of school is marred by classmates and teachers mispronouncing her name in Syed’s solo debut. Mirha, who cues as of South Asian heritage, has been “waiting for months” to start school, but after she clearly introduces herself to the class, she’s perplexed by her classmates’ incorrect variations on her name, which appear in word bubbles across a spread. On the playground, white-presenting Hayden asks “if he could call her Maya. He said that would be easier for everyone to say.” Though Mirha thinks about changing her name, her mother lovingly persuades her otherwise, offering its meaning and saying, “If people can remember names like Beethoven and Tchaikovsky and Michelangelo, they can remember Mirha!” Saturated illustrations spotlight a candy-colored classroom environment, and classmates of varied abilities and skin tones, while accessible text offers a useful script that even invites readers to introduce themselves. Ages 3–5. (July)