Maw Books

Maw Books – book reviews, book recommendations, book lists, author interviews and more!

After reviewing three books this week about Sudan, I conclude with one last picture book: My Name is Sangoel by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed and illustrated by Catherine Stock.  Sangoel, his mother and his little sister are all refugee’s from Sudan.  His father died in the war and their home destroyed.  He doesn’t have much but what he does have is his Dinka name, which was the name of his father and his ancestors before him.  As they prepared to leave the refugee camp and relocate in America, a wise old man told him, “Remember, you will always be a Dinka.  You will be Sangoel.  Even in America.”

Everything in America is strange, cold, bright, and moves so fast.  Making the adjustment isn’t easy and sometimes he still sleeps on the floor instead of his bed because he has bad dreams about war, running, and hiding.  Sangoel starts school and joins the soccer team.  The problem is, nobody can pronounce his name.  Everybody tries but no matter how many times he tells them, nobody can say it.  He tells his mother, “In America I have lost my name.”  She suggests that perhaps he needs a new America name.  But he remembers the words of the wise old man back in Sudan “You will always be Sangoel.”

Sangoel comes up with a creative idea to teach others how to say his name and at the same time begin to adjust in his new home with new friends.

My Name is Sangoel is an excellent book to help teach children about the millions of children in the world who are refugees. There is an author’s note at the end which explains who refugees are, why they must flee their home countries, how they lived in camps, and how they must make a new home in foreign countries.  I’d recommend this one for classrooms, homes, and to teach compassion and diversity.  I like seeing books like this.

Links of interest:  Karen Lynn Williams website, Catherine Stocks website,  more book blogger reviews.  My Name is Sangoel is a Cybils fiction picture book nominee for which I’m a panelist.
Genre: Fiction Picture Book, approx age 4-8.
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. June 2009
Hardcover/Paperback # of pages. ISBN 0802853072
My Name is Sangoel is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Hey you! Yes. You! I've noticed that you've stopped by to visit a few times! But I don't know who you are. Why don't you take a moment and introduce yourself. Don't be scared. I try not to bite. I know you're a lurker but I'd love to hear your thoughts about what's been bringing you here. And if you haven't done so already, don't forget to never miss a post by subscribing to my feed or receiving updates by email. Thanks for visiting!