Autumn Field

Professor Polk
LS5603.20
29 November 2019
Finding New “Classics”

Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes Summary of book:

This book is about a young mouse who was given the name Chrysanthemum by her parents.
All of her life her parents have told her how special and unique her name is. When
Chrysanthemum begins kindergarten, all the girls in her class tease Chrysanthemum about
her name, how long her name is and how she is named after a flower after a silly old flower.
She tries telling her parents what is bothering her but she is unable to find the right words to
say to them. Then one day the class goes to music class and learn that the music teacher is
also named after a flower, Delphinium. Chrysanthemum is overjoyed to learn that her
teacher is also named after a flower. Her classmates begin to respect Chrysanthemum and
her name and learn to accept her for who she is.

Professional Reviews:

Kirkus Review (1991)

“With perfect trust in her doting parents, Chrysanthemum (a mouse) knows that her name is,
as they tell her, ‘absolutely perfect’–until she goes to school and is teased about it by her
classmates, especially the imperious Victoria. Doubt sets in, to be allayed each night by
``hugs and kisses and Parcheesi,’’ but then reintroduced next day. Fortunately, a charismatic
music teacher whose name happens to be Delphinium makes flower names a new fad. The
ending here is preposterously tidy, contributing to the humor of a warmhearted story that
celebrates the security of a happy family while gently satirizing its members. Henkes’s
language and humor are impeccably fresh, his cozy illustrations sensitive and funny, his little
asides to adults an unobtrusive delight.”

– “Chrysanthemum.” Kirkus Review: 32. Academic Search Complete,

EBSCOhost (accessed November 27, 2019).
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Horn Book Magazine (1992)

Kevin Henkes has done it again! His galaxy of stars is brighter with the addition of another
engaging female protagonist, a mouse child. To her parents she is perfect from the moment
she is born — "absolutely perfect." And for so perfect a creature only one name seems to fit
— Chrysanthemum. As she grows older, Chrysanthemum loves her name

– “Chrysanthemum.” Horn Book Guide: 32. Academic Search Complete,

EBSCOhost (accessed November 27, 2019).

Sales Information:

The story of Chrysanthemum has sold over one million copies and has received many
awards for teaching children about self-esteem, overcoming bullies and showing acceptance
of individuals who are different than you. This story has been developed into an animated
story by Scholastic and Weston Woods. Chrysanthemum is also available on the digital book
platforms, Epic Books and Vooks.com. School Library Journal Blog (2012) conducted a poll
with children’s books available to the public. Chrysanthemum was ranked among the Top
100 Picture Books by library patrons, parents, teachers and children.

Awards:

– ALA Notable Children’s Books, 1991

– Horn Book Fanfare, 1992
– Library of Congress, Best Books of the Year, 1991
– School Library Journal, Best Books, 1991
– Wisconsin Library Association, Outstanding Achievement, 1992

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi Summary of book:

Autumn Field
Professor Polk
LS5603.20
29 November 2019
This book is about a Korean girl who recently moved to America with her mom and brother.
Before she left Korea, her grandmother gave her a Korean stamp with the symbol that
represents her Korean name and to be proud of her Korean name. On the first day at her
America school, a few kids teased Unhei on the bus because of Korean name. When she
goes to class, she tells her class she does not have a name yet. For the next week, the kids in
her class put different names in a name jar to give her ideas on what her name should be.
After befriending a boy named Joey, she tells him her true name and the meaning of her
name. One day when Unhei goes to school, the name jar is missing and she then decides to
tell the whole class her true name. The class cheers for Unhei and tell her that name is
perfect for her and to be proud of her name. This is the first time the audience sees Unhei
accept her Korean heritage.

Professional Reviews:

Kirkus Review (2001)

“Unhei has just left her Korean homeland and come to America with her parents. As she
rides the school bus toward her first day of school, she remembers the farewell at the airport
in Korea and examines the treasured gift her grandmother gave her: a small red pouch
containing a wooden block on which Unhei’s name is carved. Unhei is ashamed when the
children on the bus find her name difficult to pronounce and ridicule it. Lesson learned, she
declines to tell her name to anyone else and instead offers, “Um, I haven’t picked one yet.
But I’ll let you know next week.” Her classmates write suggested names on slips of paper
and place them in a jar. One student, Joey, takes a particular liking to Unhei and sees the
beauty in her special stamp. When the day arrives for Unhei to announce her chosen name,
she discovers how much Joey has helped. Choi (Earthquake, see below, etc.) draws from her
own experience, interweaving several issues into this touching account and delicately
addressing the challenges of assimilation. The paintings are done in creamy, earth-tone oils
and augment the story nicely.”
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Professor Polk
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– "The Name Jar." Kirkus Review: 32. Academic Search Complete,
EBSCOhost (accessed November 28, 2019).

School Library Journal (2001)

“On the way to her first day of school, Unhei is teased by the children on the bus for her
Korean name. When she reaches her classroom and is asked her name, she tells her
classmates that she has not yet decided on one. To be helpful the children put their
suggestions into a "name jar." Eventually the girl decides to keep her own name as one of
her classmates takes pride in the new Korean nickname he has chosen, Chinku, meaning
"friend." The round, red imprint of the Korean character for Unhei's name provides the
graphic manifestation of the story's theme. Attractive golden endpapers feature random
repetitions of the stamp imprint interspersed with her classmates' handwritten suggestions on
scraps of torn paper. The bold, bright paintings that illustrate the story are realistic, warm,
and appealing. Unfortunately, the text sags under the weight of its mission to describe how it
might feel to immigrate. A well-meaning and visually attractive effort, but uninspired.

– "The Name Jar." School Library Journal: 32. Academic Search Complete,
EBSCOhost (accessed November 28, 2019).

Sales Information:

The Name Jar is ranked number seven in Amazon’s Children’s Asian and Asian American
books for children to read. The Name Jar continues to sell in today’s market because of the
culturally diverse story it portrays for young readers. This book contributes to diversity by
teaching children how to be culturally accepting of others from different cultural
backgrounds. When Unhei moves to America from Korea, she is nervous about starting her
new American school. While riding the school bus, a few students ask her what her name
was and upon stating her name they begin to mock her and the pronunciation of her name.
This shows the students not being culturally accepting of Unhei. For a whole week, Unhei
tells her classmates she has not decided what her name is. When Unhei decides to tell them
her Korean name and the meaning of her name, the classmates are exhibiting cultural
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acceptance by being respecting her name and her cultural difference. The School Library
Journal (2018) states that the lack of diversity in children’s books being published is
astonishing. When looking at Asian Pacific Islander/Asian Pacific American, only seven
percent of children’s books depict characters from this cultural background. By having a
book like The Name Jar available in libraries, children of all cultural backgrounds can learn
from this cultural group and the struggles they endure.

Awards:

– A California Young Reader Medal nominee

– A Best of the Best by the Chicago Public Library
– An IRA Teachers' Choice
– PBS Reading Rainbow Selection
– An ABA Kids' Pick of the List

Book Comparison When reading Chrysanthemum, readers are introduced to a character who is having difficulty
finding her identity. From the beginning of her life, her family expressed to her how perfect
she was and how her name fit her personality. Until one day, Chrysanthemum, is confronted
with the struggle of not being accepted by her peers and teased for who she is. Throughout
the book, her family supports her but she must learn to be accepting of herself before she
truly finds her own identity. When the music teacher shares her first name, a flower name
like Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum finally blossoms as a character by accepting her name
and finding her identity.

Readers who are inspired by the acceptance story of Chrysanthemum will also enjoy reading
The Name Jar. The Name Jar is another children’s story that introduces readers into a
culturally accepting story of a young girl named Unhei. As seen in Chrysanthemum, Unhei
was also told by her parents and grandmother how unique and special her name was. Her
name was chosen by her grandmother in Korea and matches Unhei’s personality. When
Unhei moves to America with her parents, she too struggles with accepting her Korean name
and is teased by her American peers. As Unhei tries to find an American name to present
herself as, her new friend Joey learns the truth behind her name. He accepts Unhei for her
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Korean heritage and her classmates share their understanding and love for her Korean name
as well. The readers see the growth and acceptance Unhei experiences as a character.

Both books illustrate and present the meaning of acceptance and tolerance for others who
may be different to us. It is important for young readers to be exposed to books that teach
about self-esteem, acceptance and cultural differences.

The appeal for The Name Jar might be greater because of the diversity aspect of the story
line. Many schools in America are becoming more diverse and have large multicultural
student populations among their student demographics. Leahy & Foley (2018) state by
having books represent different cultural backgrounds, students will feel represented in their
school environment and library and can relate to the characters and story plot. Libraries need
to begin incorporating more diverse literature to match the student demographics being
represented in their school setting. By having Chrysanthemum in the library collection,
students in all cultural backgrounds can relate to the character because the main character is
an animal and not a particular ethnic background.
Autumn Field
Professor Polk
LS5603.20
29 November 2019

References:

Bird, E. (2012, July 6). Top 100 picture books poll results. Retrieved December 1, 2019, from School
library journal blog: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/07/06/
top-100-picture-books-poll-results/

Burns, M. M. (1991). Chrysanthemum. Horn Book Magazine, 67(5), 581. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com.ezp.twu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=10473784&site=ehost-live

Choi, Y. (2001). The name jar. New York, NY: Dragonfly Books.

Chong, D., Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., & Larkins, J. (2001). The Name Jar (Book Review). School Library
Journal, 47(11), 113. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com.ezp.twu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=5480756&site=ehost-live

Henkes, K. (1991). Chrysanthemum. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

Huyck, David and Sarah Park Dahlen. (2019 June 19). Diversity in Children’s Books 2018. sarahpark.com blog. Created in
consultation with Edith Campbell, Molly Beth Griffin, K. T. Horning, Debbie Reese, Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, and Madeline
Tyner, with statistics compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-
Madison: ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/pcstats.asp. Retrieved from readingspark.wordpress.com/2019/06/19/picture-this-
diversity-in-childrens-books-2018-infographic.

Leahy, M., & Foley, B. (2018). Diversity in Children’s Literature. World Journal of Educational Research, 5, 172.
https://doi.org/10.22158/wjer.v5n2p172

The Kirkus Review. (1991, August 15). Chrysanthemum kirkus review. Retrieved November 27, 2019, from Kirkus website:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kevin-henkes/chrysanthemum/

The Kirkus Review. (2001, June 1). The name jar kirkus review. Retrieved November 28, 2019, from Kirkus website:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/yangsook-choi/the-name-jar/