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My Name Is a Story: An Empowering First Day of School Book for Kids
From Grammy Award-winning singer Ashanti comes an empowering story about a girl who learns to love her unique name. First days aren’t easy for a girl with a name like Ashanti. It feels like no one can pronounce it correctly! But with some encouragement from her mom, Ashanti spells her name and learns just how special it is. A is for awesome, S is for sunsets, H is for hand games, A is for art… Inspired by Ashanti’s own experience, this delightful picture book shares the joy that one child finds in her name. A perfect pick for classrooms and all story times!
40 pages, Hardcover
Published July 12, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 1, 2024
This book was written by singer and songwriter Ashanti Douglas. Some of her songs in the early 2000s were "Rock Wit U (Aww Baby)," "Foolish," "Happy," "Baby," and many others. She also sang vocals and wrote songs that featured Jennifer Lopez (J. Lo) that she was not originally credited for.
In this book, Ashanti explores what it was like growing up with a name that people deemed too difficult to pronounce. I can also relate. Even to this day, people still struggle with pronouncing my full first name, Sadonna. I tell people all the time it's like Madonna but with an S. Because if you know how to spell and pronounce the name of a White woman who is considered to be the "Queen of Pop," then you can do the same for my name. In the words of Birdman, "Put some respeck on my name!" Lol.
This book has beautiful and colorful illustrations and is very uplifting and moving. I honestly teared up a bit. It was published in 2022, and Ashanti dedicated the book to her future child. We now know that she had her first child earlier this year. While I don't agree with her and Nelly spinning the block on each other, I respect her choices. Ashanti's music was introduced to me by my oldest sister. I happen to be reading this on my sister's death anniversary today (December 1).
In this book, Ashanti explores what it was like growing up with a name that people deemed too difficult to pronounce. I can also relate. Even to this day, people still struggle with pronouncing my full first name, Sadonna. I tell people all the time it's like Madonna but with an S. Because if you know how to spell and pronounce the name of a White woman who is considered to be the "Queen of Pop," then you can do the same for my name. In the words of Birdman, "Put some respeck on my name!" Lol.
This book has beautiful and colorful illustrations and is very uplifting and moving. I honestly teared up a bit. It was published in 2022, and Ashanti dedicated the book to her future child. We now know that she had her first child earlier this year. While I don't agree with her and Nelly spinning the block on each other, I respect her choices. Ashanti's music was introduced to me by my oldest sister. I happen to be reading this on my sister's death anniversary today (December 1).
August 5, 2022
Such a delightful story with poetic language, colorful imagery, and sweet affirmations. My daughter and I enjoyed this story. Her name is unique as is the spelling of mine. We each appreciated the uplifting theme behind the story. It was a great conversation starter and a good debut book for this author.
August 21, 2022
Wow that's a pretty shameful rip-off of Your Name Is a Song.
July 14, 2026
This book is so cute. I really loved most of the imagery and the words used in it. However, sometimes the wording lost me. Ashanti is one of my favorite childhood singers, so I thought this was a particularly special read.
Overall, I think this is such a great book, especially for Black children whose names are often labeled as "ghetto" or "hard to pronounce." Names are literally made up and I think that's super beautiful, unique, and creative. The way people come up with names is so personal and names can hold so much meaning. Because of that, when they're disrespected, it really grinds my gears.
As someone who has a name that's "hard for people to pronounce", even though it's very similar to a very popular name, I understand the frustrations that come with it. A lot of the time, people simply don't take the time to really learn and understand it. Even as an adult and in college, people spell my name wrong all the time or mispronounce it after I've explicitly reminded them. Sometimes my name is literally written down and they'll still write it incorrectly while looking at it.
Even teachers, who are supposed to be the people who foster and nurture students, have gotten it wrong. I had a lot of teachers who simply didn't want to learn my name and instead wanted to give me a nickname. I always advocated for myself, so I think this is a great book for teaching students to have pride in their names.
I know a lot of people who let others mispronounce their names just to ease the discomfort of the person making the mistake or who accept a nickname instead. People deserve to be respected and called by the name they've been given. This would also be such a cute book to pair with an acrostic poem activity using students' names. I'm kind of gagging at that idea. Remember your name is never too big, never too hard, and never too much! Also, the picture of her at the end? Absolutely stunning. Give her her tens. I just love Ashanti.
Overall, I think this is such a great book, especially for Black children whose names are often labeled as "ghetto" or "hard to pronounce." Names are literally made up and I think that's super beautiful, unique, and creative. The way people come up with names is so personal and names can hold so much meaning. Because of that, when they're disrespected, it really grinds my gears.
As someone who has a name that's "hard for people to pronounce", even though it's very similar to a very popular name, I understand the frustrations that come with it. A lot of the time, people simply don't take the time to really learn and understand it. Even as an adult and in college, people spell my name wrong all the time or mispronounce it after I've explicitly reminded them. Sometimes my name is literally written down and they'll still write it incorrectly while looking at it.
Even teachers, who are supposed to be the people who foster and nurture students, have gotten it wrong. I had a lot of teachers who simply didn't want to learn my name and instead wanted to give me a nickname. I always advocated for myself, so I think this is a great book for teaching students to have pride in their names.
I know a lot of people who let others mispronounce their names just to ease the discomfort of the person making the mistake or who accept a nickname instead. People deserve to be respected and called by the name they've been given. This would also be such a cute book to pair with an acrostic poem activity using students' names. I'm kind of gagging at that idea. Remember your name is never too big, never too hard, and never too much! Also, the picture of her at the end? Absolutely stunning. Give her her tens. I just love Ashanti.
May 4, 2026
Ashanti delivers a great story of a girl discovering her name and the meaning behind it. The girl in the story wants her name to simple and easy. However, she has a name that is complicated for all those that encounter it. The story walks the reader through every letter of A-S-H-A-N-T-I. She demonstrates how every letter of the girl's name is empowering and uplifting. The journey through the letters is filled with elaborate visions.
I would easily incorporate this into a poetry unit. Students would work to make an acrostic poem that would represent their name. This would also be great for Kindergarten as an introduction to name spelling.
The book does a great job and promoting and empowering the sole thing that defines us. . . our name. I think the books has a great idea, although it is simple in planning. The reader still gets a highly effective take on understanding why a person's name is so valuable.
I would easily incorporate this into a poetry unit. Students would work to make an acrostic poem that would represent their name. This would also be great for Kindergarten as an introduction to name spelling.
The book does a great job and promoting and empowering the sole thing that defines us. . . our name. I think the books has a great idea, although it is simple in planning. The reader still gets a highly effective take on understanding why a person's name is so valuable.
August 18, 2022
Adorable pictures and nice text tell the story of Ashanti's name and her becoming comfortable and proud of it. I didn't like this quite as much as Your Name Is a SongYour Name Is a Song but it was still quite good.
Side note: some of the poor ratings seem to be strictly related to the audiobook version of this so I almost think they should be disregarded. As with most picture books, it is the text and illustrations working together that makes (or breaks) the book.
Side note: some of the poor ratings seem to be strictly related to the audiobook version of this so I almost think they should be disregarded. As with most picture books, it is the text and illustrations working together that makes (or breaks) the book.
March 2, 2025
This is a very sweet and empowering book about a little girl struggling with her challenging name for others to say correctly. She gets upset that her name is not simple like the other students in her class, but her mom reassures her that her name has a beautiful background and story to it that comes from different family members and traditions. The author is portraying the message that everyone's name has a story that makes them unique in their own way and we should be proud of that. This can be used in the classroom for students to explain the story behind their own individual names to encourage self love and confidence.
August 17, 2022
I really liked the premise of this book! The illustrations were gorgeous as well. If I'm being picky, I wish there would have been stronger parallel structure. The same number of words mentioned for each letter of Ashanti's name, for example, and strong vocabulary that actually starts with the letter, rather than phrases like "a TINY fib from my mischievous lips" for T. However, I do love this publishing trend of giving attention and love to non-white names and setting the expectation that they be pronounced correctly.
August 18, 2022
So... as an old lady librarian, I am not familiar with this performer, so it's tricky to read this properly without a pronunciation guide. The whole POINT is getting her name right, and yet it is assumed that the readers will know it already, like Beyonce. But, believe it or not, there are folks out there who wouldn't know how to pronounce that name either without including it in the story or having to do a little research before reading it aloud. Worth noting is the acrostic at the end which could inspire a short writing assignment with students' own names.
November 18, 2022
I loved this book! I would read this to my students on the first day of school to get them excited and inspired for the year. I would have them do an activity after reading and tell their friends a story about their name. I think this book was so sweet and truly empowering. I loved the characters story and how easy it was to follow for young kids.
December 28, 2022
I wish I had this book years ago. This is the book answer for children who feel disenfranchised because adults (teachers, etc) can't pronounced their names or worse, give them a nickname which is "easier" to say. Names are identity and this book gives children the pride that they need to assert their names with pride and to direct other people to see how important their names are.
July 5, 2022
My Name is a Story by Ashanti is not a story. I received this short six minute audio from Libro.fm. If you young have children in the car it could be a quick distraction, but beyond that there isn’t much to it.
Unfortunately, it’s a flop for me.
Unfortunately, it’s a flop for me.
December 1, 2024
Ashanti Albums #1
I don't know the music of Ashanti, and whilst her name sounds vaguely familiar, I know nothing about her, but this is a decent read with a good perspective on respecting and owning your own name.
I don't know the music of Ashanti, and whilst her name sounds vaguely familiar, I know nothing about her, but this is a decent read with a good perspective on respecting and owning your own name.
July 1, 2022
Short audio - thank you Libro!
Perfect for kids to listen on a car ride!
Perfect for kids to listen on a car ride!
July 16, 2022
I read this book (via Libro.fm) as I look for classroom ideas. This didn’t really appeal to me. Earlier this year I read Your Name is a Song (Thompkins-Bigelow) and it was much richer.
July 24, 2022
Beautiful, empowering story to help children appreciate both their and others’ names.
July 31, 2022
4 stars for this book about celebrating your unique name
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September 14, 2022this has been done before, but this is sweet and serviceable
September 23, 2022
3.5 stars.
November 21, 2022
My name is a story that was written by parents. I love these story and children who have unique names like mine will see how powerful our names are.
January 12, 2023
A celebration of the special story behind a child's name and a reminder of how important it can be to learn to say/spell someone's name correctly.
April 14, 2023
This would be a great book for the beginning of the school year. It encourages kids to think about why their names are special. I love the acrostic at the end.
August 30, 2022
Thanks to LibroFM for an advanced listening copy of this title.
My Name is a Story is a semi-autobiographical story of how singer/author Ashanti grew up with an uncommon name. For many people, her name was too much - too difficult to spell, too difficult to pronounce, too "weird". With her mother's help, Ashanti grew to love her name and feel proud of it. This is such an empowering story. It's perfect for teachers to read during the beginning of the school year when learning lots of new names.
My Name is a Story is a semi-autobiographical story of how singer/author Ashanti grew up with an uncommon name. For many people, her name was too much - too difficult to spell, too difficult to pronounce, too "weird". With her mother's help, Ashanti grew to love her name and feel proud of it. This is such an empowering story. It's perfect for teachers to read during the beginning of the school year when learning lots of new names.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews