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Yoon and the Christmas Mitten
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.
Distinctive and glowing pictures with brushstrokes echoing Renoir accompany this charming story that rings true and reaches deep.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 7, 2015
I happened upon this book while I was in the library looking for more books to share with my students that would broaden their understanding of wintertime celebrations by introducing them to a wider range of perspectives and experiences. I was excited when I picked up Yoon and the Christmas Mitten, having read My Name Is Yoon before. But after reading the book (while standing in the library stacks) I was disappointed. I really felt like the story was pushing an assimilationist ideal. I absolutely understand Yoon’s desire to fit into ‘normal’ life in her new home in the United States and the ways that her desire could result in conflict – with her parents and with the cultural norms around her. I had expected that at the end of the story, with the support of her parents and maybe even her school community, that Yoon would develop a new sense of understanding and pride for the cultural traditions she brought with her from Korea and an internal strength to have that pride amidst a community that celebrates different traditions. A story like that would be a great tool to help reinforce with children the diverse range of experiences and traditions so common in our contemporary society. I wanted a story that gave strength to those struggling to feel that they belong in a context where they are not the norm while also teaching those who are in the majority (in this case, those who celebrate Christmas) to have an awareness that not everyone celebrates as they do and that part of being a welcoming community member is honoring the experiences of others. There was such potential in Yoon and the Christmas Mitten to validate the statement of Yoon’s mother – that “We are not a Christmas family” – and to show the ways that their family does celebrate – through their rich New Year’s traditions. But those things didn't happen. Yoon got to use her 'Christmas mitten' as a stocking, Santa Claus came (which felt like a move of desperation on the part of her parents to bring their daughter comfort in a foreign and challenging context), and Yoon was overjoyed. But in the end, Yoon's parents still don't see themselves as a 'Christmas family' and what rifts might this cause between parents and child as they continue their life in the United States? To me, the text was an example of the generational conflict so common among immigrant families and it was emotionally difficult for me to read. All in all, I was disappointed. And as a result I did not check out the book and will not share it with my students -- who include children struggling with this exact challenge. I want the non-religious and immigrant children in my classroom to know that the cultural traditions of their families are as valid, welcome, and wonderful as those of other students who abide by more mainstream Christian and/or Jewish traditions.
December 10, 2016
I was torn between annoyance at Yoon's teacher for being totally insensitive to the presence of a non-Christian child in her class, admiration for the lovely artwork, and exasperation at the confusion the story could cause. Young kids won't get that Yoon's parents arranged the gifts from Santa; they'll just be thinking, "See? Yoon was right! All you have to do is hang up a stocking and get gifts! What is this not-a-Christmas-family nonsense?"
December 19, 2020
A lovely illustrated story about a Korea family living in the US and struggling how to blend the American and Korean cultures of Christmas...
July 19, 2018
Yoon and the Christmas Mitten is a children's picture book written by Helen Recorvits and illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska, which is a book about a girl named Yoon whose family has moved from Korea to America and about incorporating new traditions of their new home with those from their old home – this tradition – Christmas. It is the sequel to My Name is Yoon.
Recorvits' text is rather simple and straightforward. It conveys a story about Yoon and how she and her family cope with living in a new country and incorporating their new traditions. It is a quaint book that chronicles the struggles with an immigrant family trying to balance keeping the traditions of their birth country while trying to incorporate new ones. Swiatkowska's illustrations are simply wonderful and are beautifully rendered and accentuated the text extremely well. It is reminiscent of oil paintings and created a wonderful atmosphere.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Yoon is excited about learning about Christmas at school, but when she comes home, she is told that Christmas is not a part of her culture. The more Yoon shares about the joys about Christmas – the more adamant her parents reiterates that Christmas was not a part of their culture. On Christmas Eve, she pins a red mitten in place of a stocking by her blanket. Yoon's father comes in and they have a moment, where Yoon pointed out that while they are Korean – they are also Americans and should celebrate their holidays too. In the end, Yoon gets a present from Santa Claus – a new red dress and a candy cane in her mitten stocking.
I'm rather divided about this book – it's a wonderful book about accepting and learning about new cultures and customs. I remember a similar moment with my immigrant family, but we handled it radically different. I was taught that our customs are just as important and wonderful as our adopted country's traditions and we celebrated both (well more if we include the other winter holidays), by celebrating with our neighbors and similarly we shared our holiday traditions with them. It was a lesson that enriched many at home with my family, on the playground with my friends, and the classroom at school and never once did I feel that I had to celebrate the same customs and traditions to feel accepted.
It is in that same manner that I wished that the text could have and should have elevated Yoon’s customs more and have her in the end appreciate both cultures and customs and that her Korean traditions and customs are just as important and fun as her adopted country's traditions. It could have been a learning experience for her class and in turn the reading audience.
All in all, Yoon and the Christmas Mitten is a quaint children's book about an immigrant family learning to accept and welcome new customs and cultures, while trying to keep their own. I just wished it was executed better.
Recorvits' text is rather simple and straightforward. It conveys a story about Yoon and how she and her family cope with living in a new country and incorporating their new traditions. It is a quaint book that chronicles the struggles with an immigrant family trying to balance keeping the traditions of their birth country while trying to incorporate new ones. Swiatkowska's illustrations are simply wonderful and are beautifully rendered and accentuated the text extremely well. It is reminiscent of oil paintings and created a wonderful atmosphere.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Yoon is excited about learning about Christmas at school, but when she comes home, she is told that Christmas is not a part of her culture. The more Yoon shares about the joys about Christmas – the more adamant her parents reiterates that Christmas was not a part of their culture. On Christmas Eve, she pins a red mitten in place of a stocking by her blanket. Yoon's father comes in and they have a moment, where Yoon pointed out that while they are Korean – they are also Americans and should celebrate their holidays too. In the end, Yoon gets a present from Santa Claus – a new red dress and a candy cane in her mitten stocking.
I'm rather divided about this book – it's a wonderful book about accepting and learning about new cultures and customs. I remember a similar moment with my immigrant family, but we handled it radically different. I was taught that our customs are just as important and wonderful as our adopted country's traditions and we celebrated both (well more if we include the other winter holidays), by celebrating with our neighbors and similarly we shared our holiday traditions with them. It was a lesson that enriched many at home with my family, on the playground with my friends, and the classroom at school and never once did I feel that I had to celebrate the same customs and traditions to feel accepted.
It is in that same manner that I wished that the text could have and should have elevated Yoon’s customs more and have her in the end appreciate both cultures and customs and that her Korean traditions and customs are just as important and fun as her adopted country's traditions. It could have been a learning experience for her class and in turn the reading audience.
All in all, Yoon and the Christmas Mitten is a quaint children's book about an immigrant family learning to accept and welcome new customs and cultures, while trying to keep their own. I just wished it was executed better.
August 24, 2024
While the events that take place in this Christmas title happen frequently in classrooms across the U.S. it is harmful to promote the dominant culture's holidays as "the way". Yoon, newly immigrated to the U.S. from Korea, is enchanted with the idea of Christmas when, day after day, her teacher reads Christmas stories to the class. Yoon finds the stories and their cultural customs delightful and returns home each day sharing them with her family, hoping to 'enlighten' her traditional Korean family. When her parents tell her, "We are not a Christmas family. We are Korean." Yoon, disheartened, defensively hugs her Christmas book and retreats to her room where she reads it in private, creating a potential divisiveness (that her teacher could have prevented) with her parents.
Later, after several days of hearing Christmas stories, Yoon tries to bridge cultures, telling her parents that having moved to the U.S. they are now both American and Korean. This, her parents feel, is wise and they go along with her desire for Christmas customs, and on Christmas go to her room and leave a Christmas gift.
The problems with this book are many:
1. There is a sense that the "right way", the American way, is embrace Christmas. This then dismisses children whose families are not in agreement. This is why so many classrooms avoid Christmas altogether rather than embrace multiple cultural holiday celebrations without Christmas being the dominant culture's 'right' one.
2. The Korean parents are the ones who must bend and conform. The teacher and the students (who , for example, later explain that the candy cane Yoon's parents ~~ or supposedly Santa ~~ left in her mitten is not the North Pole but is candy to be eaten thus laying ignorance at Yoon's feet, and claiming their own superior knowledge), do nothing to
3. Yoon's dismissiveness at her mother's beautiful embroidery in favor of her evolving embrace of Christmas customs seems also to be dismissed by the author. A perfect opportunity here for a REAL conversation between parent and child...
4. ...which leads to that topic: The author handles the parents' decision to simply shut Yoon down and only respond repeatedly, "We are not a Christmas family." is a form of cancel cultural because the author could have offered both an important learning discussion between parents and child and, more importantly, a place to include that conversation for the child reader of this book.
I am the only reviewer apparently that does not like the illustrations. To me they seem stereo-typical but I am not Korean so should not make that judgement.
Later, after several days of hearing Christmas stories, Yoon tries to bridge cultures, telling her parents that having moved to the U.S. they are now both American and Korean. This, her parents feel, is wise and they go along with her desire for Christmas customs, and on Christmas go to her room and leave a Christmas gift.
The problems with this book are many:
1. There is a sense that the "right way", the American way, is embrace Christmas. This then dismisses children whose families are not in agreement. This is why so many classrooms avoid Christmas altogether rather than embrace multiple cultural holiday celebrations without Christmas being the dominant culture's 'right' one.
2. The Korean parents are the ones who must bend and conform. The teacher and the students (who , for example, later explain that the candy cane Yoon's parents ~~ or supposedly Santa ~~ left in her mitten is not the North Pole but is candy to be eaten thus laying ignorance at Yoon's feet, and claiming their own superior knowledge), do nothing to
3. Yoon's dismissiveness at her mother's beautiful embroidery in favor of her evolving embrace of Christmas customs seems also to be dismissed by the author. A perfect opportunity here for a REAL conversation between parent and child...
4. ...which leads to that topic: The author handles the parents' decision to simply shut Yoon down and only respond repeatedly, "We are not a Christmas family." is a form of cancel cultural because the author could have offered both an important learning discussion between parents and child and, more importantly, a place to include that conversation for the child reader of this book.
I am the only reviewer apparently that does not like the illustrations. To me they seem stereo-typical but I am not Korean so should not make that judgement.
December 4, 2017
Yoon has recently moved to the US from Korea. At school she learns about some of the American Christmas traditions such as Santa, hanging stockings, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer and so on. She comes home and excitedly tells her parents about Santa. They explain that she is Korean and they "are not a Christmas family." They would celebrate the new year with friends. She would wear her red dress (which she says pinches and pops) and they'd have a nice dinner. On Christmas Eve, she despairs that Santa would not find her. But perhaps if she sings a song, he'll find his way to her home.
I LOVE the illustrations in this book. I love that her parents maintain their culture but ultimately also allow her to experience parts of the American culture as well. This is a lovely book!
I LOVE the illustrations in this book. I love that her parents maintain their culture but ultimately also allow her to experience parts of the American culture as well. This is a lovely book!
April 9, 2021
I didn't realize Yoon had more adventures. In this one, she learns about Christmas and tries to get her parents to celebrate but they say it's not part of their Korean tradition. On one hand, I remember how we wanted to do just what everyone else did to fit in. On the other hand, certain things are forced upon us to the detriment of our individuality. I'm glad Yoon was able to get a taste of both worlds.
December 30, 2018
A clear message about what it's like for students of other cultures/religions that move to the United States and hear the message of Christmas and Santa. They want to celebrate, but clearly it is not part of their religion/culture. The story of family struggles when you want to be "American", but are from another country.
December 13, 2023
I love adventures that Yoon takes us on.
I do not think this book pushed traditional American Christmas on the Korean child. In most schools Christmas in younger grades is talked about and celebrated. I loved the story about how Yoon wanted to be an American since this is now her home. The way the parents who were at first against this taught her that she could still be American and Korean!
I do not think this book pushed traditional American Christmas on the Korean child. In most schools Christmas in younger grades is talked about and celebrated. I loved the story about how Yoon wanted to be an American since this is now her home. The way the parents who were at first against this taught her that she could still be American and Korean!
February 4, 2017
Compelling story about a Korean girl who recently moved to America and tries to embrace Christmas customs, much to her parents' dismay. Could lead to some interesting conversations with students about holiday celebrations, immigration, culture, etc.
October 15, 2017
This book is about a little girl who gets a book about Christmas from her teacher. She’s excited to show her parents the book. She then realizes that they don’t celebrate Christmas. She is determined to convince her parents that they can become a Christmas family.
March 11, 2023
Yoon, a young Korean American girl wants to celebrate Christmas with Santa Claus. Her parents say Christmas is not our holiday, but New Years is. A nice blend of the two cultures celebration and Yoon returns to her school talking about her New Year and the Christmas mitten.
January 27, 2021
Nice story about a1st generation Korean immigrant's experience of her first Christmas in America. The resolution between her and her parents is beautiful.
December 11, 2023
An adorable story about learning to embrace new cultures in your new home <3
December 10, 2010
Yoon, is a little girl who came to the United States from Korea. It is a country "far away", she says as she narrates this sweet holiday story.
Yoon's teacher reads a story about Mr Santa Claus, and how he brings presents on Christmas Eve. This is something new to Yoon, so when he teacher lets her bring home the book to share with he family, she is thrilled. He parents, however, are NOT so thrilled. They tell Yoon, "We are not a Christmas family", adding that their holiday is "New Year's Day". Yoon is mad at her parent's reaction and cannot understand why they do not like Santa Claus, or Christmas.
The next day Yoon and her classmates make popcorn balls to take home and to hang on the trees for the birds. Yoon's mother is upset because she does not like birds or squirrels. Yoon then begins to tell her mother about Santa's reindeer, but again she is stopped mid way when her mother says, "we are not a Christmas family". But, Yoon does not give up that easily, she begs her parents to allow her to leave out her bright red mitten on the night before Christmas. Her parents reluctantly agree, and she attaches the red mitten to the corner of her bed before she goes to sleep. When she wakes up she finds something special was left for her after all.
Yoon and the Christmas Mitten was a very sweet and touching story. It was the perfect type of book that would allow teachers and parents to discuss the holiday and how it is celebrated by people of other cultures. The watercolor illustrations by Gabi Swiatkowska was just lovely and the way they are drawn depicts what a young child who is different from most others in school, might be feeling or experiencing. Well done and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Yoon's teacher reads a story about Mr Santa Claus, and how he brings presents on Christmas Eve. This is something new to Yoon, so when he teacher lets her bring home the book to share with he family, she is thrilled. He parents, however, are NOT so thrilled. They tell Yoon, "We are not a Christmas family", adding that their holiday is "New Year's Day". Yoon is mad at her parent's reaction and cannot understand why they do not like Santa Claus, or Christmas.
The next day Yoon and her classmates make popcorn balls to take home and to hang on the trees for the birds. Yoon's mother is upset because she does not like birds or squirrels. Yoon then begins to tell her mother about Santa's reindeer, but again she is stopped mid way when her mother says, "we are not a Christmas family". But, Yoon does not give up that easily, she begs her parents to allow her to leave out her bright red mitten on the night before Christmas. Her parents reluctantly agree, and she attaches the red mitten to the corner of her bed before she goes to sleep. When she wakes up she finds something special was left for her after all.
Yoon and the Christmas Mitten was a very sweet and touching story. It was the perfect type of book that would allow teachers and parents to discuss the holiday and how it is celebrated by people of other cultures. The watercolor illustrations by Gabi Swiatkowska was just lovely and the way they are drawn depicts what a young child who is different from most others in school, might be feeling or experiencing. Well done and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
December 7, 2015
Young Yoon and her family have arrived at December and experience their first Christmas holidays in the States. Yoon's class is abuzz with Christmas traditions like stockings and Santa while her home is filled with preparations for New Year. Whenever Yoon expresses a desire to follow Christmas traditions, her parents tell her that they don't celebrate Christmas since they are Korean. They tell her to get excited for the upcoming New Year celebrations which are part of their culture. Spoilers, her parents eventually blend the two holidays which allow Yoon to feel part of the excitement her classmates have for Christmas while also giving her a way to share Korean New Year's traditions with her new friends. Christmas, in this book, is viewed as completely secular with her parents rejecting the holiday due to it being part of a different culture not part of a different religion. When reading this book to a group of students, I feel you'd have to know your audience. The books shows how everything can work out by compromising your strict beliefs in what is "you" and what is "other" and embracing the dominant culture around you. Children from families who will never participate in Christmas due to religious reasons may see this resolution as the one their parents should or could take. Maybe an invitation for interesting discussions! But potentially a frustrating experience for students. In my home, though, I'd love to show kids how they can identify with the holidays of multiple cultures simultaneously since we are a multinational family often living abroad.
March 13, 2011
This is a sequel to "My Name is Yoon" and I was very excited to read it. I enjoyed it a lot, but after I read another review of it here on Goodreads I am now starting to think differently - I realized after reading someone else's review that the Korean traditions are not kept as alive as they could be in America, and that Yoon is becoming part of the mainstream holiday traditions that so many other Americans share without enriching in her own. She does still take part in her traditional New Year's celebration, but she craved to be part of Christmas so badly that she was not very proud of her own celebration. I loved the original "My Name is Yoon" and am wondering if I should choose to only keep that book in my classroom, not this sequel. Yet, this book did leave me remembering two things that I admire: it is written in first person, which is not very frequent in a children's book - I think this is a great effect so that children can imagine themselves in this character's shoes. Also, it made me think harder as a teacher as to how I will approach religion in the classroom and how it can affect students: will they be confused, hurt, pressured? It definitely left me with things to think about.
February 19, 2013
"Yoon and the Christmas Mitten" is once again about Yoon and now she is trying to convince her parents that she want to celebrate Christmas just as everyone else at school does. After Yoon comes home and asks her parents if they could celebrate Christmas, Yoon's parents respond, "No, that is not our Holiday!" After asking her parents over and over again, Yoon was starting to loose hope in celebrating Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Yoon wished that Mr. Santa Clause would stop by her home. When Yoon woke up the next morning, she saw a new red dress and red and white stick! She could not believe Santa stopped by her house. Yoon wore the dress and brought the stick to school, only to find out that it was a candy cane.
As a teacher, I would use this book to discuss the importance of holidays and that we do not all celebrate the same holiday. Sometimes, it is important to respect the differences that exist among us and we should give people choices to choose what they want to celebrate and not force it upon anymore.
As a teacher, I would use this book to discuss the importance of holidays and that we do not all celebrate the same holiday. Sometimes, it is important to respect the differences that exist among us and we should give people choices to choose what they want to celebrate and not force it upon anymore.
July 23, 2012
In Yoon and the Christmas Mitten we follow Yoon, from My Name is Yoon, along another conflict surrounding her identity as a Korean American. Her classmates are learning about Christmas in school, and she comes home very excited to tell her parents about the holiday. Her parents said that they are Korean, and they do not celebrate that holiday. Yoon is very disappointed and confused, and she feels left out because all of her classmates celebrate Christmas. Eventually, she challenges her father and tells him that he says they are Korean and American. So, if they are both, why can they not celebrate Christmas? Read the story to find out if Yoon and her family find a way to keep their Korean traditions alive while adapting to American culture and holidays!
September 14, 2012
I loved reading this just as much as I loved the first book! Like the original (My Name is Yoon), this story deals with the adjustments Yoon,a Korean immigrant, has to make to her American school. This story is great because it shows what can happen when two cultures collide. Yoon loves her Korean culture, but is beginning to embrace American culture as well. She sees how Christmas is a big part of the culture at her American school, and she wants to celebrate it even though it is not a Korean custom. This would be a good book for ELL or immigrant students because it shows how one person can be a part of multiple cultures.
January 31, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It made me sad that the little girl was going to have to miss out on Christmas that she kept hearing about in school all the time. I love the point she makes about America being their home now and being American and Korean. I would hope that reading this book to students would help them see that not everyone celebrates christmas and celebrates the same way in America. Everyone is different but that's ok.
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March 5, 2013Yoon is a young Korean child who wants to celebrate Christmas. Yoon must teach her family that they can be korean and celebrate Christmas. This book is a work of fiction.
I think this book is appropriate because it shows students that they can blend two cultures. The illustrator uses detailed pictures that invite closer looks.
Helen Recorvits is a Korean American, she does a great job of showing Yoon's emotions throughout the story.
I think this book is appropriate because it shows students that they can blend two cultures. The illustrator uses detailed pictures that invite closer looks.
Helen Recorvits is a Korean American, she does a great job of showing Yoon's emotions throughout the story.
December 19, 2009
This is a nice story about adjusting to a different culture and adopting customs of your new home. Yoon is Korean, but she is learning about American customs and wants desperately to participate in the Christmas festivities. She wants Santa to visit and bring her a present. It's an interesting tale about Christmas from a foreign perspective.
June 29, 2017
This a wonderful picture book that discusses multi-cultural issues in an immigrant family. A young girl excitedly learns about Christmas at school only to be disappointed that her immigrant parents from Korea insist they are not a "Christmas family". Soon she along with her family learn what it means to be Korean and American. The beautiful illustrations also add to the emotions of the story.
October 3, 2012
Yoon, a Korean American, learns all about American Christmas traditions at school, though her parents insist her Korean heritage will mean that she can't celebrate Christmas. Ultimately, Yoon celebrates both traditions and teaches her classmates about the Koren New Year.
This is a fun story that features a strong personality and a mixture of both traditions.
This is a fun story that features a strong personality and a mixture of both traditions.
April 18, 2011
This book is the story of Yoon, who is from Korea. Her family was not celebrated in Korea. However, her family is getting along with new holiday Christmas in new land America by learning it from Yoon. This book can teach how students have to accept different culture, especially holiday.
December 5, 2012
Yoon wants to celebrate Christmas but her Korean family says they don't celebrate Christmas; they celebrate New Year. I enjoyed this story about bringing cultures together and the gentle illustrations.
September 13, 2016
I had mixed feelings about the whole "shut up and love the damn Melting Pot!" message of the book, but Yoon is a likable character who demonstrates pluck and patience as she grapples with conflicting holiday traditions.
February 4, 2009
Although I think I like "My Name is Yoon" better, this title is still a nice adition to the body of multicultural literature that attempts to humanize cultural displacement and misunderstanding.
March 16, 2016
Yoon tries to find a way to have Santa visit her, but her father insists that her family is Korean and not a Christmas family. Ages 5-10.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews