Common Sense Media Review
By Diondra K. Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Melodic story celebrates the beauty of everyone's name.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
YOUR NAME IS A SONG shares the story of Kora-Jalimuso, a young African American girl who is bullied for her name on the first day of school. Her mother, seeing that her daughter is so frustrated and embarrassed that she doesn't want to go back to school, comforts her with an important and empowering lesson. She compassionately shows Kora-Jalimuso that her name is so beautiful and unique that it can be sung to a song, just like all other names. Together they sing melodic songs for countless names from Black American, African, Asian, Latino, and Middle Eastern cultures. The next day, Kora-Jalimuso uses her courage to communicate the correct pronunciation of her name in a song to her classmates and teacher. Soon, everyone joins together in singing her dazzling name song.
Is It Any Good?
This is a must-read book that will leave readers feeing warm and uplifted. Your Name Is a Song allows every little boy and girl who has a big name with a beautiful history, to be seen and understood. The book empowers everyone to take ownership over their name and recognize its special musical qualities, while also remembering to show others the same respect. The illustrations are magnificent and really capture the characters' emotions. The welcome message is that your name is your story and your unique song, and it's important to honor that.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how in Your Name Is a Song the main character, Kora-Jalimuso, feels upset and embarrassed after her first day of school because no one could correctly pronounce her name. Have you ever felt this way? Do people mispronounce your name?
Why were communication and courage important parts of this story?
Which new names did you learn today? What are their meanings, and which countries do they come from?
Make a new song and sing your name!
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Luisa Uribe
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : The Innovation Press
- Publication date : July 7, 2020
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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