Illustrated by Michelle Pereira
4 stars
A sweet picture book about practice, confidence, identity, and friendship. Zimdalamashkermishkada is starting a new school and is worried about his long name. He tries to shrink it down to make it easier for his classmates and teacher to say. But through practice and repetition, a new friend helps show him the beauty of being called the name that most feels like you. Lovely representation of being your true self, not being afraid to take up space, and that it’s okay to correct someone when they say your name.
As the story progresses, Zimdalamashkermishkada shares more syllables of his name with Elly, allowing the reader to practice as well. The book doesn’t say nicknames are bad (Elly is likely short for something), but rather encourages people to use the name that feels most like them instead of worrying about how others will react to it.
The illustrations are lovely. I especially enjoyed the visual representations of Zimdalamashkermishkada trying to shrink down his name before finally letting it fly free.
Nice messages about the power of names and not being afraid to be yourself. Also works in good examples of the power of practice and how natural something can become through repetition, whether it’s a skateboard trick or saying a name.