Hannah is My Name

Author: Belle Yang

Based on author's first year as an immigrant from Taiwan, Hannah Is My Name captures the emotions of a little girl adjusting to a new life. The narrative and illustrations show how much she misses her old school, friends, and customs, but feels privileged to be in America. Na Li's family wants to make her fit in by giving her an American- sounding name. They choose "Hannah", because it is spelled the same backward and they think it will be easy for her because she doesn't know English yet. The illustrations in this book are charming and have an Asian influence and the story is told from the voice of a child. The book relates the family looking for an apartment, filling out forms with an immigration lawyer, her father hiding from immigration, and Hannah's best friend at school being deported. This book is an essential acquisition for any early childhood classroom and would be appropriate for upper grades as well as it discusses the process that the family takes to gain a permanent home in America. Everybody- whether they are recent immigrants or Americans celebrating diversity-will enjoy this little girl's quest for equal opportunity.

Hannah Is My Name

Year Released: 2004

Grades K-4