My Name is Sangoel

Author/Illustrator: Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed/Catherine Stock

Plot Summary: Sangoel is a living in a refugee camp in Sudan when he emmigrate to the U.S. with his mother and sister. He is sad to leave the country of his birth and overwhelmed when they arrive in the United States. He begins to attend school but proudly keeps in name despite the other students' and teachers' inability to pronounce it. He helps them along by creating a pictograph on his t-shirt - a picture of a sun and a picture of a soccer goal - San Goal. This is also a nice ice breaker for him.

Comments: This would be an especially great book to read to a class with immigrant students from countries like Sudan or Somalia. There is a brief explanation in the back that puts the story in a factual context.

Extensions:
1. Students can examine their own names and make pictograms as Sangoel and his classmates did in the story.

2. Students can take their names and make acrostic poems with sentences beginning with each letter of their name. The sentences would describe things about them.

3. Compare and contrast customs introduced in the book with our American customs. For example, Sangoel sleeps on the floor rather than in his bed, he speaks in a language called "Dinka," they learned how to use forks, as well as the telephone and television.


4. Read the book to seventh graders in their study of Africa. Although it is a children's book, it brings to life many of the issues they may study in class or read about in the news. They could relate to Sangoel and his place in the family as the oldest child, a soccer player, and a boy who is proud of his name.

Themes/keywords:
communication, names, personal, immigrants, refugees, Sudan, Sudanese Americans

Age/Reading Level: Interest Level K-3; Reading level - 2.3(ATOS - 3.2)

Standards:

SS7G1, G2, G3, G4 - Geographic Understandings of Africa including selected features, environmental issues, population distribution, and diverse cultures. Many of these form the basis of conflicts in Africa.

Expeditionary Learning Design Principle - Diversity and Inclusion

Publisher's Info: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Grand Rapids, Michigan 2009

ISBN-13: 978-0-8028-5307-3

ISBN-10: 0-8028-5307-2

Awards/Review Sources:

School Library Journal 08/01/09	Publishers Weekly 06/29/09
Booklist 08/01/09	Kirkus Review 06/15/09

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