Synopses & Reviews
In
My Name Is Yoon, Yoon's parents encouraged her to write her name in English instead of Korean. Now it's Yoon's turn to teach her parents about something she's learned in America. When Yoon's teacher lends her a book about Santa Claus, Yoon can't wait to show it to her parents. To Yoon's disappointment, though, her mother responds, "We are not a Christmas family." As Christmas Eve approaches, Yoon learns more and more about this exciting holiday. But no matter how hard she tries to convince her parents to sing Christmas songs or put up Christmas stockings, they always say no. A determined Yoon soon realizes that she must use her own "Shining Wisdom" to persuade her parents that they can indeed be a Christmas family.
Distinctive and glowing pictures with brushstrokes echoing Renoir accompany this charming story that rings true and reaches deep.
Review
"The magnificent illustrations are painted in a distinctive style with elements both impressionistic and surrealistic, perfectly suiting Yoon's changing world." --Starred, Kirkus Reviews "Children and parents alike will be charmed by Yoon's yearning and determination to experience a bit of Christmas magic." --School Library Journal "Luminous. Even Santa skeptics and outright non-believers will be charmed as Yoon and her family embrace a new and delightful tradition." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "An affecting story about reconciling cultural identity, beautifully brought to life in Swiatkowska's evocative, feathery portraits and dreamscapes." --Booklist
Synopsis
Yoon, a Korean American, is excited to hear about Santa Claus and Christmas at her school, but her family tells her that such things are not part of their Korean tradition.
About the Author
HELEN RECORVITS and GABI SWIATKOWSKA collaborated on My Name Is Yoon, which was an ALA Notable Book. Helen Recorvits is the author of two books for older readers and lives in North Scituate, Rhode Island. Gabi Swiatkowska, who received the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award for My Name Is Yoon, is also the illustrator of Summertime Waltz by Nina Payne. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.