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My Name Is Sangoel
When Sangoel leaves the Sudanese refugee camp with his Mama and little sister, the Wise One tells him, “you will always be a Dinka. You will be Sangoel. Even in America.” The family adjusts to their new life in an apartment with a telephone and TV, but the Americans who meet Sangoel all have trouble with his name. His schoolteacher, soccer coach, and the other kids struggle to pronounce “Sangoel” correctly, and he worries that he has lost his name. It’s the logo on his new soccer jersey that inspires Sangoel to use his markers on a plain white shirt. After writing the words “My name is,” he draws a sun and a soccer goal: sun-goal. His classmates are motivated to create pictograms for their names, and Sangoel’s teacher commends him for his good idea—and his good name. “It is the name of my father and my grandfather and his father before him… My name is Sangoel. Even in America.” An author’s note provides a short explanation about refugee life, both before and after relocation, and discusses how a name can connect people to their heritage. ©2009 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by Catherine Stock
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 5-9
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Families
Identity
Immigration and Immigrants
Problem-Solving
Refugees
Sudanese People
Diversity subjects:
Arab
Black/African
Publisher:
Eerdmans
Publish Year: 2009
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9780802853073
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Williams