What do you think?
The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name: A Picture Book
Perfect for fans of Alma and How She Got Her Name and Your Name Is a Song , author Sandhya Parappukkaran and illustrator Michelle Pereira’s picture book The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name encourages readers to take up space and support each other with respect and kindness.
When Zimdalamashkermishkada starts at a new school, he knows he’ll have to introduce himself to lots of new people. He trips over his long name and decides to shrink it down to the shorter, simpler Zim. The nickname works fine for introductions, but deep down, it doesn’t feel right. It’s not until a new friend sees him for who he truly is that Zimdalamashkermishkada finds the confidence to step proudly into his long name.
The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name is a warm and uplifting story that encourages young readers to celebrate their authentic selves and that proclaims no one should ever have to shrink themselves to fit in.
“This sensitive book will make an excellent lead-in to age-appropriate discussions about difference and belonging.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (Starred Review)
When Zimdalamashkermishkada starts at a new school, he knows he’ll have to introduce himself to lots of new people. He trips over his long name and decides to shrink it down to the shorter, simpler Zim. The nickname works fine for introductions, but deep down, it doesn’t feel right. It’s not until a new friend sees him for who he truly is that Zimdalamashkermishkada finds the confidence to step proudly into his long name.
The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name is a warm and uplifting story that encourages young readers to celebrate their authentic selves and that proclaims no one should ever have to shrink themselves to fit in.
“This sensitive book will make an excellent lead-in to age-appropriate discussions about difference and belonging.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (Starred Review)
40 pages, Hardcover
First published August 18, 2021
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
June 28, 2022
A sweet story with a thought-provoking moral.
Zimdalamashkermishkada is a little boy with a huge name. This lengthy name “trips him up every morning, like shoelaces that have come undone.” As he begins at a new school, he struggles to fold his name, halve his name, cut his name, shrink his name, all to no avail – his name bounces back bigger and stronger than ever. However, when his mom explains to him the significance of his name, he realises that he should accept it rather than suppress its size and begins the task of letting his best friend Elly know that he isn’t Zim but Zimdalamashkermishkada.
I loved the concept of the story. It reminded me somewhat of “The Name Jar” by Yangsook Choi, which also has an Asian child struggling with their name. The racial identity of the boy isn’t revealed but it is clear from the illustrations and a part of the content (such as their food habits) that he is of South-Asian heritage. The story is supposed to be set in Australia but this again is something I discovered through the author’s interview and not through the book. The lack of specific location references make the book globally valid.
There are plenty of themes that shine through the content, but the most important one is that of acceptance, both of oneself as well as of one’s friends’ identities. In a global world where national and cultural divisions are diminishing with migrations for better prospects or safety, such books are highly relevant.
The illustrations were nice. I loved how they didn’t fit to stereotypical forms but stuck to more realistic human shapes. My favourite part was the idea of representing the XXL-sized name in an objectified form such as a ball of string or a puffer fish or a ream of paper. This matches the content well and also serves as a visual representation of what’s being said. Very useful for little readers. I would have appreciated a brighter colour palette but put that down to my preferences than as a shortcoming of the book.
The language level of the book is pretty manageable and the book will be perfect for readers aged 4-8.
Why I am not going higher with my rating is that I feel there are a couple of aspects the content could have covered better.
👉 The made-up name that is used in this case, Zimdalamashkermishkada, is actually very long. I have many friends who use a shorter version of their names not because they are ashamed of the full-length version but because it is convenient. (Imagine calling someone “Zimdalamashkermishkada” every time you are speaking with them!) So there’s nothing wrong with “shrinking” your name, as long as you are doing it for the right reasons.
👉 Some names are genuinely difficult for people of other cultures to pronounce – having a shorter version shouldn’t be seen as a cop-out as long as it is the one accepted by the holder of the name.
👉 I don’t know why a made-up name was used. There are enough long names in South-Asian culture and I would have appreciated one of them being incorporated than a concocted one.
Still, the misgivings are minor. This is a good book with a good message.
4 stars.
My thanks to Abrams Books and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Zimdalamashkermishkada is a little boy with a huge name. This lengthy name “trips him up every morning, like shoelaces that have come undone.” As he begins at a new school, he struggles to fold his name, halve his name, cut his name, shrink his name, all to no avail – his name bounces back bigger and stronger than ever. However, when his mom explains to him the significance of his name, he realises that he should accept it rather than suppress its size and begins the task of letting his best friend Elly know that he isn’t Zim but Zimdalamashkermishkada.
I loved the concept of the story. It reminded me somewhat of “The Name Jar” by Yangsook Choi, which also has an Asian child struggling with their name. The racial identity of the boy isn’t revealed but it is clear from the illustrations and a part of the content (such as their food habits) that he is of South-Asian heritage. The story is supposed to be set in Australia but this again is something I discovered through the author’s interview and not through the book. The lack of specific location references make the book globally valid.
There are plenty of themes that shine through the content, but the most important one is that of acceptance, both of oneself as well as of one’s friends’ identities. In a global world where national and cultural divisions are diminishing with migrations for better prospects or safety, such books are highly relevant.
The illustrations were nice. I loved how they didn’t fit to stereotypical forms but stuck to more realistic human shapes. My favourite part was the idea of representing the XXL-sized name in an objectified form such as a ball of string or a puffer fish or a ream of paper. This matches the content well and also serves as a visual representation of what’s being said. Very useful for little readers. I would have appreciated a brighter colour palette but put that down to my preferences than as a shortcoming of the book.
The language level of the book is pretty manageable and the book will be perfect for readers aged 4-8.
Why I am not going higher with my rating is that I feel there are a couple of aspects the content could have covered better.
👉 The made-up name that is used in this case, Zimdalamashkermishkada, is actually very long. I have many friends who use a shorter version of their names not because they are ashamed of the full-length version but because it is convenient. (Imagine calling someone “Zimdalamashkermishkada” every time you are speaking with them!) So there’s nothing wrong with “shrinking” your name, as long as you are doing it for the right reasons.
👉 Some names are genuinely difficult for people of other cultures to pronounce – having a shorter version shouldn’t be seen as a cop-out as long as it is the one accepted by the holder of the name.
👉 I don’t know why a made-up name was used. There are enough long names in South-Asian culture and I would have appreciated one of them being incorporated than a concocted one.
Still, the misgivings are minor. This is a good book with a good message.
4 stars.
My thanks to Abrams Books and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
April 23, 2022
The illustrations by Michelle Pereira present the story told by Sandhya Parappukkaran about a young boy who will be attending a new school & is feeling self-conscious about the length of his name. Together, their efforts allow the reader to remember that practice can make perfect — whatever ‘perfect’ may entail — & that it is important to speak our boundaries to those around us so that they don’t inadvertently offend us in their attempts to be inclusive.
I highlight this last part because though the main character has allowed Elly to call him a shortened version of his name, he appears to not necessarily feel comfortable with this option. There are, of course, instances across the globe of people going by nicknames, short versions of their names or even pseudonym. None of these decisions are wrong if they were chosen by the person in question. Even nicknames that might appear outwardly unconnected to the birth name the person has been given, can showcase a positive relationship if the named person feels comfortable with this.
All of that to say, Zimdalamashkermishkada decides to help those around him, primarily Elly, learn to say his name, he does so with patience & remains true to himself. It would not be innately wrong if he wanted Elly to call him ‘Zim’ or if he preferred for others (say, bank tellers, for example) to call him ‘Zim’ rather than spend all his time correcting people who had no practice utilizing their jaw muscles in such a way as to be accurately able to pronounce his name.
I enjoyed this book & I enjoyed the illustrations. I think that this is a case of a story that will feel very comforting to certain individuals but may miss the mark for others. There is little discussion in the story about the ethics behind deciding to go by one’s full name rather than adopting another. Some people are called by their middle name because that’s what they prefer, again, this is all subjective.
As well, I do think it’s important to appreciate where the characters live in terms of expecting people to be able to pronounce certain names. I say this having had the experience of people misspelling & mispronouncing my name, Chantel, a French name, in a French-speaking country wherein my name is not complicated to grasp. Should I go to a part of the world where the letter formations are pronounced differently or represent different sounds, I should not automatically expect people to be able to phonetically sound off my name how it was intended.
This book might open the gateways for further discussions. Though I felt that the length was perfect for the intended age of the reader, I should encourage those who might be reading alongside the young ones to be prepared to discuss the ethics of choosing how one presents themselves & how they feel towards their names & the value they hold regarding having their names spoken properly.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Abrams Books for Young Readers & Sandhya Parappukkaran for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I highlight this last part because though the main character has allowed Elly to call him a shortened version of his name, he appears to not necessarily feel comfortable with this option. There are, of course, instances across the globe of people going by nicknames, short versions of their names or even pseudonym. None of these decisions are wrong if they were chosen by the person in question. Even nicknames that might appear outwardly unconnected to the birth name the person has been given, can showcase a positive relationship if the named person feels comfortable with this.
All of that to say, Zimdalamashkermishkada decides to help those around him, primarily Elly, learn to say his name, he does so with patience & remains true to himself. It would not be innately wrong if he wanted Elly to call him ‘Zim’ or if he preferred for others (say, bank tellers, for example) to call him ‘Zim’ rather than spend all his time correcting people who had no practice utilizing their jaw muscles in such a way as to be accurately able to pronounce his name.
I enjoyed this book & I enjoyed the illustrations. I think that this is a case of a story that will feel very comforting to certain individuals but may miss the mark for others. There is little discussion in the story about the ethics behind deciding to go by one’s full name rather than adopting another. Some people are called by their middle name because that’s what they prefer, again, this is all subjective.
As well, I do think it’s important to appreciate where the characters live in terms of expecting people to be able to pronounce certain names. I say this having had the experience of people misspelling & mispronouncing my name, Chantel, a French name, in a French-speaking country wherein my name is not complicated to grasp. Should I go to a part of the world where the letter formations are pronounced differently or represent different sounds, I should not automatically expect people to be able to phonetically sound off my name how it was intended.
This book might open the gateways for further discussions. Though I felt that the length was perfect for the intended age of the reader, I should encourage those who might be reading alongside the young ones to be prepared to discuss the ethics of choosing how one presents themselves & how they feel towards their names & the value they hold regarding having their names spoken properly.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Abrams Books for Young Readers & Sandhya Parappukkaran for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
September 13, 2021
3.5 stars. An interesting story about a boy who struggles with his long name and how to get his friends to use it. Interestingly, I felt the blurb on the back covered the main point better than the story itself. He shortens his name to Zim early on, but the back cover makes it clear he wasn't comfortable with this. This is an important distinction I thought wasn't clear in the story, as there is nothing wrong with shortenings or nicknames if you are comfortable with them.
August 31, 2023
This is a really sweet children’s book about embracing your identity and not making yourself different to make others around them comfortable. The illustrations in this story are amazing and I loved the color palette they chose for this book. The illustrations were engaging and I loved the sequence of Elly and Zimdalamashkermishkada bonding together, it felt genuine and sweet. I loved how Elly also made sure that people got Zimdalamashkermishkada’s name right and made him more comfortable with his identity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2024
"The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name" by Sandhya Parappukkaran is a creative international children's book that explores the theme of acceptance of one's own identity amongst other cultures. I actually found this book in two places: The CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) for the CBCA Award for Best New Illustrator, as well as the Anti-Defamation League website (specifically the section for book recommendations).
The story follows a child named Zimdalamashkermishkada who starts at a new school and frets the idea of having to introduce himself (and his really long name). Given that this text is for younger grades, I would imagine the challenge that they face as they try to truly convey the struggles that the narrator faces as he tries to introduce himself to his new classmates. Throughout the first half of the book, the author and illustrator creatively capture Zimdalamashkermishkada's feelings of hesitation and inner turmoil as he thinks about saying his name out loud. The author uses simplistic figurative language in order for young readers to begin to sympathize with the narrator, while the artist perfectly illustrates said figurative language to really bring the readers into the narrator's feelings. To top it off, the story ends with an ingeniously playful skateboarding metaphor that shows the narrator master the confidence to own his unique name thanks to the help of his friend.
Jumping off a previous point, I think that teachers can use this book for younger grades as they explore the themes of identity and culture. I am sure in younger grades, many students are experiencing other cultures and meeting others from different cultures for the first time, so this book would be an excellent introduction as students begin to explore the origins of their names, whether that is through family history and/or their ethnicity and culture.
The story follows a child named Zimdalamashkermishkada who starts at a new school and frets the idea of having to introduce himself (and his really long name). Given that this text is for younger grades, I would imagine the challenge that they face as they try to truly convey the struggles that the narrator faces as he tries to introduce himself to his new classmates. Throughout the first half of the book, the author and illustrator creatively capture Zimdalamashkermishkada's feelings of hesitation and inner turmoil as he thinks about saying his name out loud. The author uses simplistic figurative language in order for young readers to begin to sympathize with the narrator, while the artist perfectly illustrates said figurative language to really bring the readers into the narrator's feelings. To top it off, the story ends with an ingeniously playful skateboarding metaphor that shows the narrator master the confidence to own his unique name thanks to the help of his friend.
Jumping off a previous point, I think that teachers can use this book for younger grades as they explore the themes of identity and culture. I am sure in younger grades, many students are experiencing other cultures and meeting others from different cultures for the first time, so this book would be an excellent introduction as students begin to explore the origins of their names, whether that is through family history and/or their ethnicity and culture.
March 26, 2023
Zimdalamashkermishkada is going to start his first day at school.
He is so worried about having to introduce himself because he knows he has such a long name.
He comes up with an abbreviated nickname, but will he be able to be his truest self? A new skateboarding friend may be able to help him.
A cute story about reminding kids to always be their best selves and never letting anything or anyone stop you from fitting in.
Thank you to Sandhya Parappukkaran and Michelle Pereira for giving us this book. The illustrations reminded me of Last Stop on Market Street (in terms of similar style and a unique color palate).
He is so worried about having to introduce himself because he knows he has such a long name.
He comes up with an abbreviated nickname, but will he be able to be his truest self? A new skateboarding friend may be able to help him.
A cute story about reminding kids to always be their best selves and never letting anything or anyone stop you from fitting in.
Thank you to Sandhya Parappukkaran and Michelle Pereira for giving us this book. The illustrations reminded me of Last Stop on Market Street (in terms of similar style and a unique color palate).
May 29, 2022
It's a rare occasion that you read something and realise it's going to go down as 'one of the classics' but that is what I felt when I read this story. It has a beautiful message that has meaning for everyone and Sandhya's use of metaphor is brilliant and timeless. From the perspective of a fellow writer, it was easy to recognise the care that Sandhya has put into her 'art'. Every single word earnt it's place and the story had such a great story arc. The colours palette used was also perfect for the story. Author and illustrator felt like a really natural pairing and it's clear that the book itself will age really well. A must read for parents and teachers with children struggling with acceptance.
October 10, 2023
For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle
A sweet picture book about practice, confidence, identity, and friendship. Zimdalamashkermishkada is starting a new school and is worried about his long name. He tries to shrink it down to make it easier for his classmates and teacher to say. But through practice and repetition, a new friend helps show him the beauty of being called the name that most feels like you. Lovely representation of being your true self, not being afraid to take up space, and that it's okay to correct someone when they say your name.
As the story progresses, Zimdalamashkermishkada shares more syllables of his name with Elly, allowing the reader to practice as well. The book doesn't say nicknames are bad (Elly is likely short for something), but rather encourages people to use the name that feels most like them instead of worrying about how others will react to it.
The illustrations are lovely. I especially enjoyed the visual representations of Zimdalamashkermishkada trying to shrink down his name before finally letting it fly free.
Nice messages about the power of names and not being afraid to be yourself. Also works in good examples of the power of practice and how natural something can become through repetition, whether it's a skateboard trick or saying a name.
A sweet picture book about practice, confidence, identity, and friendship. Zimdalamashkermishkada is starting a new school and is worried about his long name. He tries to shrink it down to make it easier for his classmates and teacher to say. But through practice and repetition, a new friend helps show him the beauty of being called the name that most feels like you. Lovely representation of being your true self, not being afraid to take up space, and that it's okay to correct someone when they say your name.
As the story progresses, Zimdalamashkermishkada shares more syllables of his name with Elly, allowing the reader to practice as well. The book doesn't say nicknames are bad (Elly is likely short for something), but rather encourages people to use the name that feels most like them instead of worrying about how others will react to it.
The illustrations are lovely. I especially enjoyed the visual representations of Zimdalamashkermishkada trying to shrink down his name before finally letting it fly free.
Nice messages about the power of names and not being afraid to be yourself. Also works in good examples of the power of practice and how natural something can become through repetition, whether it's a skateboard trick or saying a name.
June 12, 2022
A great story of cultural diversity and the ability we all have to learn through patience, practise and the guidance of others. (Ha, I'm proving the last point right now, I could never remember if it was 'c' or 's' for the word practise until a new teaching friend - spoke of how she remembers the difference, I no longer suffer the trouble of remembering).
I love the depiction of Zimdalamashkermishkada name as the shoelaces unravelling across the pages and visually linking the story and growth of knowledge.
As well as the quiet parenting to advise him to give people - time to adjust to something new.
The use of a limited colour palette within the illustrations made for striking pages and visual emotion.
I love the depiction of Zimdalamashkermishkada name as the shoelaces unravelling across the pages and visually linking the story and growth of knowledge.
As well as the quiet parenting to advise him to give people - time to adjust to something new.
The use of a limited colour palette within the illustrations made for striking pages and visual emotion.
September 21, 2023
This kid has a super-cool name, but it will take him some time to grow into its supercalifragilistic awesomeness—plus, a minute for him to learn how to spell it and others to practice how to pronounce it. The story shows how he deals with the anxiety during the interim by accepting a nickname until others learn how to say his name in full. Expressive illustrations empathetically portray the boy’s journey of self-acceptance.
April 11, 2023
A great example in not making yourself smaller to make others more comfortable. It also shows (not tells) the read how to do this, without many words. Practicing new things (whether a new name or hobby) makes us all better, giving rise to familiarity, courage, and advocacy, especially with things that are uncomfortable at first.
April 3, 2023
I like how this picture book tackles the concept of having a name that people find difficult without shaming people who don't pronounce it correctly. The book shows how people can practice over time to learn how to say something correctly, just as they practice with anything else, and the book breaks down the long name into smaller parts for the reader to figure out and put together.
March 30, 2025
Beautifully illustrated, this children's book shows the inspiring message of giving people a chance to try and learn your culture.
I think this is a great book for children to read, regardless of their own name and if they have insecurities about it. It's a great messaging with some easy to understand metaphors for how Zimdalamashkermishkada feels about his own name.
*Read as part of the Storygraph Genre Challenge 2025
I think this is a great book for children to read, regardless of their own name and if they have insecurities about it. It's a great messaging with some easy to understand metaphors for how Zimdalamashkermishkada feels about his own name.
*Read as part of the Storygraph Genre Challenge 2025
December 22, 2025
a great way to explain how different names take practice!, just like anything else!! They have a whole set of meaning within where they came from!!!! learn to say a person’s name!! Don’t make anyone shrink themselves or anything about themselves to fit a box that’s easy for YOU.
February 23, 2023
4.5 stars.
February 15, 2025
I mean, I cried a little at the end of this children's book, so yeah, it's 5 stars.
I read this as part of a StoryGraph genre challenge. It's really cute. 😊
I read this as part of a StoryGraph genre challenge. It's really cute. 😊
September 6, 2025
I appreciated the focus on practice and showing one another the way, and I think young recipients of this story will, too. The limited color pallet and chunky illustrations are charming and lively.
May 30, 2022
This book is so wholesome! It reminds me of watching a famous Australian actress talking about how important it is that we welcome people from all backgrounds and they should never be afraid to use their real whole name, and that we should be accepting of everyone. I loved the way the name slowly unfolded ‘like reverse origami’ and finally by the end Zimdalamashkermishkada was able to embrace his name.
I'm really looking forward to reading this one out loud for my storytime session as I think it will be great getting the kids to say aloud an unusual name :)
5 stars!
Shortlisted for the Australian Speech Therapy Book of the Year 2023 Ages 3-5
I'm really looking forward to reading this one out loud for my storytime session as I think it will be great getting the kids to say aloud an unusual name :)
5 stars!
Shortlisted for the Australian Speech Therapy Book of the Year 2023 Ages 3-5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2022
I loved the art and culture shown in this story. It had a good message of standing up for what you want, even if others have kind intentions. I only wish .
I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
March 30, 2026
Has there been a point in your life where a part of you seems "too much" for others to understand? I followed the journey of a young boy named Zimdalamashkermishkada, he starts school and felt self-conscious about his long name. He shortened his name to "Zim" to make it easier for others, but deep down he feels like something is missing. What stood out to me is how this book really showed the emotional weight of changing of what's important to you just to fit in. The first major theme in the book is identity because Zimdalamashkermishkada struggles whether he should keep his long name or make it shorter to benefit others. Another major theme is belonging because it's seen through his desire to be accepted at school. The main genre of this book is contemporary realistic fiction; I say this because there is a huge focus on relatable experiences with real emotions that many kids face within school settings. This book has showed me how important someone's name can be to them and how important it is to respect someone's identity. Children reading this book can learn empathy and confidence to be themselves and respect yourself and others. I rated this book 5 STARS it became a WOW book for me because the delivery of such an important message with very good illustrations. I liked how it encouraged reader not to shrink any part of themselves just to belong because at the end of the day I would rather be around people who know my real name than people who don't.
The author used multiple devices and many many forms of writing craft in this book. I would like to start off with the symbolism, for example the idea of "shrinking" Zimdalamashkermishkada name the author represented him trying to shrink his identity just to fit in, this writing craft helped readers (including myself) understand the feelings of Zimdalamashkermishkada. Also, another craft to tie into the first one is imagery action, this helped so much with picturing the important message and to overall understand everything happening to the character. I would consider this an anti-bias book because it shows how you can be accepted without changing your name, culture, or your identity.
The author used multiple devices and many many forms of writing craft in this book. I would like to start off with the symbolism, for example the idea of "shrinking" Zimdalamashkermishkada name the author represented him trying to shrink his identity just to fit in, this writing craft helped readers (including myself) understand the feelings of Zimdalamashkermishkada. Also, another craft to tie into the first one is imagery action, this helped so much with picturing the important message and to overall understand everything happening to the character. I would consider this an anti-bias book because it shows how you can be accepted without changing your name, culture, or your identity.
March 25, 2026
Genre Note: Some images and language centering around the idea of the boy’s name and how it evolves as his feelings evolve are fantastical in appearance. However, this is used as an engaging way to connect the reader to the boy’s abstract feelings centering around his name. It isn’t literal but rather imaginative in presentation and thus doesn’t change the genre to fantasy.
Summary: Zimdalamashkermishkada starts at a new school knowing he will have to introduce himself, but he feels awkward and trips over his long name. At times he tries to forget or shrink it to a shorter nickname like “Zim,” imagining that a smaller name might make things easier, but no alternative ever feels quite right. The vivid descriptions and imaginative illustrations show his feelings and internal struggles as he learns to accept his unique name. With the support of a new friend who sees him for who he truly is, Zimdalamashkermishkada finds the confidence to step proudly into his full name and celebrate it as part of his identity.
Notable High-Quality Elements:
•Vivid Language Depicted Through Imagery: The book uses rich similes and metaphors to vividly convey how Zimdalamashkermishkada feels about his name and his imaginative attempts to shrink it. These literary devices appear throughout the story, deepening readers’ understanding of his emotions and experiences.
•Color Palette: The illustrations primarily use cool blues, teals, and burgundies for the background and secondary elements, while the boy and his name are highlighted in bold orange. This contrast situates him as the protagonist and emphasizes the importance of names in defining identity, visually linking him to his name no matter what he tries to do with it.
•Dust Jacket and Book Casing: The dust jacket features a wrap-around design that, after reading, symbolically represents his name unfolding. The book casing also uses a wrap-around design, highlighting the pivotal moment when he begins to embrace his name and its significance.
•Typography: Onomatopoeia and the boy’s name are bolded, with playful placement and directionality reflecting his emotions. As Zimdalamashkermishkada grows more confident in his name, the text progressively becomes bolder and larger, mirroring his journey of self-acceptance.
Summary: Zimdalamashkermishkada starts at a new school knowing he will have to introduce himself, but he feels awkward and trips over his long name. At times he tries to forget or shrink it to a shorter nickname like “Zim,” imagining that a smaller name might make things easier, but no alternative ever feels quite right. The vivid descriptions and imaginative illustrations show his feelings and internal struggles as he learns to accept his unique name. With the support of a new friend who sees him for who he truly is, Zimdalamashkermishkada finds the confidence to step proudly into his full name and celebrate it as part of his identity.
Notable High-Quality Elements:
•Vivid Language Depicted Through Imagery: The book uses rich similes and metaphors to vividly convey how Zimdalamashkermishkada feels about his name and his imaginative attempts to shrink it. These literary devices appear throughout the story, deepening readers’ understanding of his emotions and experiences.
•Color Palette: The illustrations primarily use cool blues, teals, and burgundies for the background and secondary elements, while the boy and his name are highlighted in bold orange. This contrast situates him as the protagonist and emphasizes the importance of names in defining identity, visually linking him to his name no matter what he tries to do with it.
•Dust Jacket and Book Casing: The dust jacket features a wrap-around design that, after reading, symbolically represents his name unfolding. The book casing also uses a wrap-around design, highlighting the pivotal moment when he begins to embrace his name and its significance.
•Typography: Onomatopoeia and the boy’s name are bolded, with playful placement and directionality reflecting his emotions. As Zimdalamashkermishkada grows more confident in his name, the text progressively becomes bolder and larger, mirroring his journey of self-acceptance.
October 22, 2022
Add this picture book, originally published in Australia, to a classroom collection devoted to names, including My Name Is Maria Isabel and My Name Is Yoon. With its interesting digital artwork and poetic lines [for instance, "trips me up every morning, like long shoelaces that always come undone" (unpaged) and "springs back to life like a scared puffer fish at sea" (unpaged)], the book tells the story of a boy with an extremely long and hard-to-pronounce name. As sometimes happens, the boy, Zimdalamashkermishkada, decides to shorten his name as much as possible to make things easy on his classmates and teacher. When Elly, a classmate, calls him Zim, he answers to that name and tells his mother he would like to use that name instead of the other, more cumbersome one. She informs him that his name has significance as it is. As the days pass and she helps him master some skateboarding tricks, he becomes a little more confident in those skills but also in the fullness of his name and its cultural significance, stretching out Zim syllable by syllable until he embraces it in its entirety. The pages on which Zimdalamashkermishkada and his mother interact and on which Elle visits his home and enjoys his mother's cooking reveal her openness to learning more about her friend's culture and her eagerness to accept him on his own terms even while it takes Zimdalamashkermishkada a little longer to do so. This picture book is a gentle reminder that no one needs to change their name or identity for others or for their convenience or in an attempt to fit in or blend in. The illustrations accurately depict the shrinking process through which Zimdalamashkermishkada goes as he first denies and then learns to accept himself.
November 4, 2022
This is a beautiful book about culture and identity, about accepting ourselves and respecting others. As the blurb says, ‘No-one should ever have to shrink themselves down to fit in.’ Our names are an essential part of who we are.
In Australia, people often take liberties with the names of others, lengthening some, shortening others or creating a nickname from their parts, often without asking permission. Over the years, many from migrant families have Anglicised their names to make it easier for the English-speaking population to pronounce.
In both a profound and subtle way, through her story, Sandhya Parappukkaran shows us the importance of respect for others and their culture by something as simple, but significant, as learning to pronounce their names correctly.
Even Zimdalamashkermishkada had difficulty pronouncing his name. When his new friend Elly shortened it to Zim, he asked his mother if he could do the same. She explained, ‘We named you after the coconut trees that stretch high and hold up the sky while sheltering all underneath’, and she asked him to ‘Give people a chance to say it right.’
So, he does. As Elly teaches Zimdalamashkermishkada to skateboard, he teaches her to pronounce his name.
The end of the book is beautiful, encouraging and heart-warming. From the hearts of little people, change will come. When Zimdalamashkermishkada finally completes a full circle on his skateboard, and the crowd cheers and congratulates Zim, Elly informs them that his name is Zimdalamashkermishkada.
It really is a very special book that should be read in every classroom and every home to open hearts and minds and grow a culture of respect. I recommend it highly.
In Australia, people often take liberties with the names of others, lengthening some, shortening others or creating a nickname from their parts, often without asking permission. Over the years, many from migrant families have Anglicised their names to make it easier for the English-speaking population to pronounce.
In both a profound and subtle way, through her story, Sandhya Parappukkaran shows us the importance of respect for others and their culture by something as simple, but significant, as learning to pronounce their names correctly.
Even Zimdalamashkermishkada had difficulty pronouncing his name. When his new friend Elly shortened it to Zim, he asked his mother if he could do the same. She explained, ‘We named you after the coconut trees that stretch high and hold up the sky while sheltering all underneath’, and she asked him to ‘Give people a chance to say it right.’
So, he does. As Elly teaches Zimdalamashkermishkada to skateboard, he teaches her to pronounce his name.
The end of the book is beautiful, encouraging and heart-warming. From the hearts of little people, change will come. When Zimdalamashkermishkada finally completes a full circle on his skateboard, and the crowd cheers and congratulates Zim, Elly informs them that his name is Zimdalamashkermishkada.
It really is a very special book that should be read in every classroom and every home to open hearts and minds and grow a culture of respect. I recommend it highly.
February 6, 2023
Like only the very best children's books do, this book hit me right in the feels and made me question my choices as an adult.
Zimdalamashkermishkada is starting school, and he introduces himself as "Zim" so he can avoid the awkwardness of having a mouthful of name. It might be a made up name IRL, but in terms of complexity it isn't terribly far from my own full name - it's 21 letters long, 1 letter longer than even the author of this book.
Even in India, it would be difficult spelling out my name. So when I moved to IndiaNA, hoo boy! I've had to introduce myself by anglicized shortened variations of my name just to avoid hearing it mucked up, or worse, ignored with pointed racism. (Swedish names with silent Js? Yeah, they've got that. But give them a silent J in a Mexican name, or entirely enunciated consonants in an Indian name, and suddenly it's physically painful for - unfortunately, the stereotype is what it is for a reason - painful for white people to articulate.)So I completely feel for Zim -
- or rather, Zimdalamashkermishkada, whose mother reminds him of the beautiful meaning of his name, and tells him to give people a chance to learn it. In a beautiful sequence that follows, in which "Zim" and his new friend Elly grow closer, share food, and skateboard together, "Zim" finally gets to own his own name.
It really gave me so much to think about, and would have helped me feel so much less alone when I was a child.
In terms of the actual CRAFT of the book, the art is beautiful, and it really supports the lyrical and poetic phrasing of the story. Even if you don't feel the story at a personal level, you (or a young reader) will love this.
5/5. For ANYONE, of ANY ethnicity, of ANY age, who feels like people don't get their name.
Zimdalamashkermishkada is starting school, and he introduces himself as "Zim" so he can avoid the awkwardness of having a mouthful of name. It might be a made up name IRL, but in terms of complexity it isn't terribly far from my own full name - it's 21 letters long, 1 letter longer than even the author of this book.
Even in India, it would be difficult spelling out my name. So when I moved to IndiaNA, hoo boy! I've had to introduce myself by anglicized shortened variations of my name just to avoid hearing it mucked up, or worse, ignored with pointed racism. (Swedish names with silent Js? Yeah, they've got that. But give them a silent J in a Mexican name, or entirely enunciated consonants in an Indian name, and suddenly it's physically painful for - unfortunately, the stereotype is what it is for a reason - painful for white people to articulate.)So I completely feel for Zim -
- or rather, Zimdalamashkermishkada, whose mother reminds him of the beautiful meaning of his name, and tells him to give people a chance to learn it. In a beautiful sequence that follows, in which "Zim" and his new friend Elly grow closer, share food, and skateboard together, "Zim" finally gets to own his own name.
It really gave me so much to think about, and would have helped me feel so much less alone when I was a child.
In terms of the actual CRAFT of the book, the art is beautiful, and it really supports the lyrical and poetic phrasing of the story. Even if you don't feel the story at a personal level, you (or a young reader) will love this.
5/5. For ANYONE, of ANY ethnicity, of ANY age, who feels like people don't get their name.
September 3, 2022
I liked this book so much! It really shows how important it is to say people's names correctly. I loved how the author showed how to pronounce the character's name by breaking it down into short syllables for easier understanding!
I could kind of relate to the character and not knowing if the teacher was saying his name or not during the first attendance. Back in the day when class rosters were printed by dot matrix machines and had a limited amount of space to write the last name first, then the first names. My first name would always get cut off at the first half of my name. Michelle would look like "Mich" and I would be called Michael. Teachers always assumed the name was Michael. All the Michaels would say "here". I was never sure who they were calling on unless they included my last name too (and even then it wasn't always clear).
When I have a student with a unique name I ask them how to pronounce it and I let them know I will get it correct eventually. I also ask them to please be patient while I practice saying it because I do want to say it correctly.
I have a 9th grader who has a long last name and she hates having teachers try and say it so she prefers for them to just use the first initial. I don't want her to feel embarrassed by her name. We teachers should be learning the correct pronunciation as we have with all our other students' first and last names.
This picture book is a must-have for all libraries and all homes!
I could kind of relate to the character and not knowing if the teacher was saying his name or not during the first attendance. Back in the day when class rosters were printed by dot matrix machines and had a limited amount of space to write the last name first, then the first names. My first name would always get cut off at the first half of my name. Michelle would look like "Mich" and I would be called Michael. Teachers always assumed the name was Michael. All the Michaels would say "here". I was never sure who they were calling on unless they included my last name too (and even then it wasn't always clear).
When I have a student with a unique name I ask them how to pronounce it and I let them know I will get it correct eventually. I also ask them to please be patient while I practice saying it because I do want to say it correctly.
I have a 9th grader who has a long last name and she hates having teachers try and say it so she prefers for them to just use the first initial. I don't want her to feel embarrassed by her name. We teachers should be learning the correct pronunciation as we have with all our other students' first and last names.
This picture book is a must-have for all libraries and all homes!
September 5, 2022
Zimdalamashkermishkada is starting at a new school and decides it is easier to shorten his name rather than try to get the teacher and his new classmates to pronounce is very long name. His mother advises that it is better to help the kids but "Zim" opts for a shortened version. He buddies with Elly in class and after school she takes him to the skate park. Elly offers to help Zim learn new moves, and one move at time she does so. Zim takes the same approach, and one syllable at a time, Elly masters Zimdalamashkermishkada.
There is a lovely subtext to this story celebrating cultural identity with the boy's Kerala Indian heritage evident in the illustrations and home life - preparing and eating curry and making steamed rice pancakes (ada) with traditional costumes, low tables and feeling comfortable in an Australian setting - including a kookaburra outside his bedroom window and presented alongside a multicultural classroom. Winner of the 2022 CBCA New Illustrator Award, Mchelle Pereira had superbly captures this story, symbolically representing the too long name with a ball of orange string that is compressed, expanded, rolled out and manipulated at appropriate moments in the story. The colour palette is quite constrained with interesting with softer hues of greens, browns and beige contrasting with the bright orange string and lots of movement in the flying bird outlines and the skateboarding.
There is a lovely subtext to this story celebrating cultural identity with the boy's Kerala Indian heritage evident in the illustrations and home life - preparing and eating curry and making steamed rice pancakes (ada) with traditional costumes, low tables and feeling comfortable in an Australian setting - including a kookaburra outside his bedroom window and presented alongside a multicultural classroom. Winner of the 2022 CBCA New Illustrator Award, Mchelle Pereira had superbly captures this story, symbolically representing the too long name with a ball of orange string that is compressed, expanded, rolled out and manipulated at appropriate moments in the story. The colour palette is quite constrained with interesting with softer hues of greens, browns and beige contrasting with the bright orange string and lots of movement in the flying bird outlines and the skateboarding.
June 8, 2022
Zimdalamishkermishkada is going to a new school, and his name initially feels like a burden, unfolding between him and potential friends like an obstacle. He begs his mom for a nickname, but she tells him that his name has a very special meaning, and is an important part of who he is. He insists on calling himself "Zim," but as his friendships and confidence in himself grows, he reveals more and more of his full name. At the end, his full name unfurls like a celebration of his identity.
I really liked this book. The message was so powerful, and the gorgeous illustrations showed how Zimdalamishkermishkada's confidence grows. I loved how this was showcased by skateboarding. The scenes of Zimdalamishkermishkada and Elly cooking together with Zimdalamishkermishkada's mother also warmed my heart.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Abrams books for an ARC.
I really liked this book. The message was so powerful, and the gorgeous illustrations showed how Zimdalamishkermishkada's confidence grows. I loved how this was showcased by skateboarding. The scenes of Zimdalamishkermishkada and Elly cooking together with Zimdalamishkermishkada's mother also warmed my heart.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Abrams books for an ARC.
February 25, 2023
Zimdalamashkermishkada is starting a new school, which means that everybody's going to learn his name. He struggles with this, wondering if it would be perhaps better to have a shorter name or a nickname. But his name means something special, and it's out of respect that others should learn to say his name, in full. So when he meets a new friend who invites him to skate with her, Zimdalamashkermishkada must make her understand how important it is to him.
This was a fun story regarding the importance of identity and names. Accompanied with brightly colored illustrations with a striking metaphor for his name (pages that unfold with each syllable), this makes for an attention-grabbing tale.
My only real criticism is that his friend is illustrated wearing a dress while she skateboards, which seems both confusing and unsafe. What's wrong with pants?
This was a fun story regarding the importance of identity and names. Accompanied with brightly colored illustrations with a striking metaphor for his name (pages that unfold with each syllable), this makes for an attention-grabbing tale.
My only real criticism is that his friend is illustrated wearing a dress while she skateboards, which seems both confusing and unsafe. What's wrong with pants?
November 18, 2024
I have now read about twenty books in my research into picture books about names. This one is remarkable! Not only because the name involved is Zimdalamashkermishkada (I *almost* have it memorized), but also because the metaphoric imagery and illustrations are so good. As Zimdalamashkermishkada teaches his friend Elly how to say his name, she is teaching him a new trick in skateboarding. They both take practice and time. And his mother is teaching them both how to make a particular dish containing coconut (which is what Zimdalamashkermishkada's name means). By the end of the book, Elly is able to correct some other classmates who call her friend "Zim." All of the symbolism and concrete images get across the ideas and feelings clearly for kids who may not be familiar with this problem. The orange-peach-teal color palette is just gorgeous.
January 5, 2022
"The boy who tried to shrink his name" sends a beautiful message "be yourself". Author Sandhya Parappukkaran has successfully depicted the uncomfortable inner feelings of Zimdalamashker which I can relate to my childhood awkward moments. For little ones, this book would help them to picturise their feelings and overcome their fears gradually. At the same time, the book gives a sweet touch to the story with Zim's mom's cooking, Few sentences like " we sit around the table munching soft ada and sticky coconut filling" took me on a ride to my childhood memories sharing adas with my siblings. A very good book to share with your 4.5+-year-olds and we look forward to seeing more diverse books from Sandhya.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews