Summary
The Boy who Tried to Shrink his Name is a story about a young boy named Zimdalamashkermishkada. Zimdalamashkermishkada starts attending a new school and feels the need to shorten his name. He thinks his name is too long and he has trouble introducing himself to other students. He decides to shrink his name down to Zim, but soon realizes that it doesn’t feel right. He eventually meets a new friend, Ellie, that accepts him and gives Zim the confidence to finally use his true, long name.
Theme(s):
Friendship, Acceptance, Identity
Personal Response
I really enjoyed this book because it teaches children about being unique and accepting others special qualities that make them different. I like how to the book uses similes to help the readers understand how the character feels. For example, the book begins by saying that the boy’s name, Zimdalamashkermishkada, trips him up everyday like untied shoelaces. It is a sweet story that encourages readers to celebrate their unique identity and to be proud of who they are without having to change.
Teaching Ideas
Some teaching ideas can be sequencing events in the story or having a discussion about what happened throughout the story. Also, you can use this book to discuss similes and have students create their own. A writing activity can include finding out what your name means and what makes you special. Another writing activity could be to write about a time a friend helped you. Lastly, create a drawing that represents your unique qualities.
Recommended Reading Level
Birth-PreK, Grade 01, Grade 02
