I am Nefertiti by Annemarie Anang illustrated by Natelle Quek

This is a book that should be shared with new teachers. It is SO important to acknowledge any child in your class or care by using and pronouncing their name correctly. I am Nefertiti is a US book but these issues also apply here in our Multicultural community. I work as a volunteer in a Sydney children's hospital and I find the names of the children so interesting mainly because in all of my former schools we only had very small multicultural representation. I also well remember when I had a student at one of my schools with the Welsh name Myfanwy. 

Nefertiti is a beautiful name but I guess it is not one you hear often except in reference to that famous Egyptian queen from long ago but that does not excuse the ignorant teacher in this book. Nefertiti is a terrific drummer. She joins the class band but when the teacher shortens her name to Nef her confidence and sparkle shrink. 

"Every time (the teacher) chanted Nef, Nefertiti shrank. She shrank and shrank, until she was jus the size of your thumb."

Luckily one of the kids in the band understands what has happened and she tells Miss Potts to say Nefertiti's full name - and to say it loudly and confidently.

I am Nefertiti is a title from the Empathy Lab collection of 2024. You can see the author reading her book here. 

Here is an interview with the illustrator Natelle Quek.

I am Nefertiti is a heartwarming, joyful story for everyone about identity, being proud of who you are, whatever your ethnicity and culture, belonging within a diverse community and about recognising the importance each player has in the bigger team. It is an ideal story for classroom discussions in Early Years and KS1, book group settings and at home around the themes of identify, self-confidence and peer support. It’s an important reminder about the importance of people’s names and identity. Perfect for younger children aged 3-6 years with appealing illustrations by Natalie Quek, I Am Nefertiti is a charming story about celebrating our names and identities and having the confidence to speak out about feelings. Just Imagine

Companion books:

View from the 32nd Floor by Emma Cameron

Blurb: Something special has been gifted to you. Join your neighbours, Saturday, 6.00 pm, on the roof. Living on the thirty-second floor of an apartment block, William has a clear view of the building opposite. He sees his neighbours eating ice-cream, watering potted palms, painting pictures ... or as shadows behind closed curtains. Shadows worry William. With his new friend Rebecca, and helped by lots of cake, a dictionary of names, tai chi, and banana-shaped sticky notes, he plans to tempt his lonely neighbours back into the world. Can they succeed? Always always.

Today I had to wait around 3 hours at an appointment so I picked up View from the 32nd Floor before I left home this morning. Today is the THIRD time I have read this book and I still adore it - but I so desperately wish Walker Books Australia had given this book a better cover - apologies to Liz Anelli. I need to beg, shout, cajole this publisher to reprint this little book - it is such a GEM. 

I have talked about View from the 32nd Floor twice previously in 2013 and 2019 so please take a minute or two to read my comments and then IF you have any way of influencing the publisher please beg, plead, implore them to republish this book NOW. Perhaps we should all tell the author Emma Cameron too.

Teachers - you could use this book for so many things but most off all this book would be a splendid read aloud to a Grade 4 class. In my previous posts I talked about the music William's dad share each day and all the wonderful names William adopts to match his daily hopes and purpose.  Here are some character descriptions:

Mrs Stravros - "She had hair streaked with more silver threads than black, and her pale face was as wrinkled as crepe paper."

Paula - "Paula was as skinny as Jess but only came up to her armpits. Her boots were nothing like Jess's either. They were covered in sequins of every colour and a tiny bell jiggled at the end of each pointy toe when she walked."

Jess - "her skinny legs covered in stretchy black tights and her fine frame wrapped in a pale blue terry towelling bathrobe. Thick brown hair flopped over her eyes when she juggled a key in the lock."

What do you call your Grandpa? by Ashleigh Barton illustrated by Martina Heiduczek

"In every country around the world are grandpas short and tall.

Though they go by different names, we love them one and all.

A Poppy here, a Grampa there - or maybe he's a Pa?

Turn the page, let's meet a few of the finest near and far ... "

What do you call your grandpa?  I called mine Paa Paa.  I'm not sure why? His name was Charles Frederick but everyone called him Fred.  I only had one grandfather. My mum's dad died in 1924 - my mum barely knew him. In this book we meet grandfathers from around the world and discover their names. Each scene has been carefully designed to show different cultures, people and daily activities along with different times through the day.  I especially like the way the each grandchild has a name from their culture.

Israel - Saba is loved by Levi

Wales - Taid is loved by Seren

Brazil - Vo is loved by  Miguel

Belguim - Bompa is loved by Sandrin

The Philippines - Lolo is loved by Kaya

Grab your atlas and prepare to journey around the world. There is much to explore in this book.

This book is listed in the 2021 CBCA Notables - Book of the Year Early Childhood.

As you might expect the sequel - What do you call you Grandma - this is due for publication later this month. Both books would make perfect presents for new grandparents.

My name is Bear by Nicola Killen

"Once there was a bear called Bear, 

who had just moved to a new home."

Bear sets off to introduce himself to his new neighbours. Bear has no idea about the other animals that live in the world. He has an egocentric idea that his name is the best name in the whole world so when Bird and Fish say hello he declares their names are just silly. In the corner of the page a little worm adds an appropriate commentary - "how rude" he says.  The next neighbours are snail and tortoise. Bear comments that these names are silly. The little worm says "This bear has such bad manners!". Things get even worse when he meets an elephant.

"What? Smelly pants?' laughed Bear."

Bear is, however, not prepared for the next neighbour. It is another bear and her name is Bear. Our original bear screams and throws an enormous tantrum. How can someone else have his own beautiful name. The new bear suggests a compromise. The discuss a few ideas but finally decide they can share the name and "they celebrated with a big bear hug!"

The two bears now set off back through the neighborhood with Bear apologising for his initial rudeness. Everything seems be settled. All the animals of the forest are happy UNTIL, a few days later, a new neighbour arrives. He looks like a bear.  "Hello ... my name is ... "

This book is such fun. I am so glad I have discovered it. A perfect book to share with a preschool child aged 3-5.

Ideal for little ones who are going to preschool for the first time or learning to play with others, this funny story introduces children to key themes such as sharing, manners and learning to accept others as they are. Egmont

I am talking to a group of preschool parents about reading to children.You may recall I did this at the end of last year. This means I have begun to collect more titles to share with this group and with you.

A Porcupine named Fluffy by Helen Lester illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

Mr and Mrs Porcupine are delighted by the arrival of their first baby. They really want him to have exactly the 'right' name.  Spike - no. Lance - no. Needleroozer NO!

"Let's call him Fluffy. It's such a pretty name. Fluffy!"

Gradually Fluffy discovers he his actually not at all fluffy. He has spikes and prickles that punch holes in everything.  Fluffy looks for things that are fluffy hoping to get some ideas that might help him become fluffier. There are the clouds, pillows and a long soak in the bath. His efforts are useless but also hilarious (for the reader). One day, deep in thought, Fluffy meets a very large rhinoceros.

When Fluffy tells the rhino his name his reaction is exactly as you would expect:

"The rhinoceros smiled.
He giggled.
Then he laughed out loud.
He rolled on the ground.
He jiggled and slapped his knees.
He roared with laughter."

But wait a minute. What is the rhino's name?  Yes there is another laugh to come and perhaps a gentle lesson to learn and most importantly the beginning of a very special friendship.

Here are a set of teaching ideas and questions to use with this book. These are notes that support the audio version of this story along with ideas for using some other books by Helen Lester.

Here is a video of the whole book.  I love this book and would highly recommend it as a great addition for any primary school library.

This terrific tribute to self-acceptance comes complete with the cutest porcupine pictures on the planet!

I spied this book in a school library last week. I am a huge fan of the Tacky series also by this talented pair of Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger. This book was published in 1986 but I am so happy to report it is still available.  I would pair this book with Fearless by Colin Thompson and Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes.

The name at the end of the ladder by Elena De Roo

I always enjoy books set in the future involving draconian controls imposed by a corrupt government. The name at the end of the ladder only hints at this but I did enjoy the premise that names are dangerous and so children have to wait until they turn twelve when they can 'choose' a name.  I say 'choose' because it seems there really is no choice.  The authorities or Investigators have created a safe name list and even though they give lip service to the idea of matching the name with the child this clearly is not really their practice.

"Here at the Name Bank we pride ourselves on our efficiency.  We'll have a name chosen for you in no time at all... He sounded friendly enough but September's gut told her otherwise. The words 'chosen for you' and 'assigned' didn't sound promising."

Until the age of twelve children are named by the month of their birth and so as this story opens September has just turned twelve and so she has an appointment with The Name Bank.  This appointment does not go well but as she is leaving, September, opens a lolly wrapper and reveals the words :

"Winner!

Play the game to choose your name!

Collect your prize from basement level 4, room 449."

September does indeed have to play the game. She plays the game using herself as a counter.  It is a game like snakes and ladders and after each turn the player is presented with a tuning fork and a new name.  Each of these names has severe consequences for September and then she realizes to reach the final square, where the perfect name awaits her,  the player must throw the exact number.  She hears the voices of other children and realizes they are trapped in the game.  Time is running out.  She has some help from a boy called August who is also playing this game but so much depends on that final roll of the dice.  Her father would be a brilliant ally after all he works for the Council of Knowledge but she is afraid to tell him the truth.

Here is a set of teaching notes from the publisher.  Here is the author web site.  You might also enjoy The Museum of Thieves, Finding Serendipity, Among the Hidden or Forbidden Memories.

If you enjoy fast paced action, board games, solving puzzles, the triumph of good over evil and strong-minded characters like September you will enjoy The Name at the end of the Ladder.

My name is Elizabeth by Annika Dunklee illustrated by Matthew Forsythe

This is such an obvious idea but I am almost certain this is the first picture book I have seen with this message.  My Name is Elizabeth is the title and the theme of this book.  Elizabeth simply wants to be called Elizabeth - not Lizzie, or Beth or Liz or even Betsy.  Elizabeth loves her name.  She is proud to be named after the queen and so using body language and facial expressions she works hard to convince everyone that her name is ELIZABETH.  In fact her name is Elizabeth Alfreda Roxanne Bluebell Jones "but you may call me Elizabeth."

The timing of this book is perfect for me as I ask our new Kindergarten children their names each week in the library.  Many are quite confused by all the names they have and will tell me the whole name, others can only whisper a tiny abbreviated name which I have to translate onto our formal barcode list.  Names for young children can be confusing.

This is a simply and perhaps slight book but it is nevertheless quite delightful. Here is a review.

As an extra coincidence I really wanted Elizabeth to be my middle name when I was a child.