2023
WISE Score
Amazon
A vibrant, essential read for every kid who’s ever had their name butchered on the first day of school.
4.3
4.3View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
This book is a gem. Anoosha Syed manages to take a common, painful experience—having your identity flattened by a mispronunciation—and turns it into a colorful lesson in confidence.
It’s not preachy or boring, which is the death knell for modern picture books. Instead, it feels like a real conversation. If you’re looking for something that builds 'soft skills' like empathy and self-respect while still being a fun read, this is a no-brainer for your home library.
Perfect for the 4 to 8 crowd. It’s a staple for kids starting preschool or kindergarten, but even 2nd graders will find the message of self-advocacy useful.
It is a warm, emotionally grounded story about a child’s first day of school. It models a healthy mother-daughter relationship and a classroom environment that, while imperfect, is ultimately supportive and inclusive.
The 'candy-colored' illustrations by Anoosha Syed are vibrant and visually stimulating for young kids. While it's a 'real-world' story, the way it visualizes the 'feeling' of a name and cultural pride is creatively handled.
It’s a picture book for 5-year-olds. There is zero objectionable content. The only 'conflict' is a teacher mispronouncing a name, which is handled with grace.
This is top-tier social-emotional learning. It teaches kids how to advocate for themselves politely and helps peers understand the weight of identity and heritage. It’s a masterclass in empathy for the K-2 set.
Most "starting school" books focus on the generic fear of the unknown—will I find the bathroom? Will the other kids be mean? Anoosha Syed’s That’s Not My Name! zooms in on a much more specific, persistent friction: the micro-rejection of having your identity mangled before the first bell even rings.
When Mirha’s name is mispronounced by her teacher and classmates, it isn't just a linguistic slip; it’s a moment where she feels her space in the classroom shrink. The book handles this with a level of sincerity that avoids the usual "just be brave" platitudes. It recognizes that for many kids, especially those from diaspora families, a name is the first piece of home they bring into the world. Seeing that name get flattened can make a kid want to stay invisible.
The real value here is the roadmap for self-advocacy. We tell kids to "speak up," but rarely do we show them the internal mechanics of how to do that when there is a clear power imbalance. Mirha doesn't just suddenly become confident; she has to process the shame first.
If your kid is the type to stay quiet even when they’re uncomfortable, this is a perfect rehearsal tool. It frames the act of correcting someone not as a confrontation, but as an act of help. Mirha isn't being "difficult" by insisting on the right pronunciation—she’s helping her friends know her. It’s a subtle shift in perspective that makes the social stakes feel manageable for a five-year-old.
The illustrations are a massive part of why this works. In a sea of minimalist, muted-tone picture books that seem designed more for a parent’s Instagram feed than a child’s eyes, Syed’s work is unapologetically bright.
If you are buying this as a gift or searching for it on Amazon, be extremely careful with the "Buy Now" button. As the verdict mentioned, there is a very popular 2023 thriller by Megan Lally with the exact same title.
That book involves missing persons and murder investigations. It is a fantastic read for the young adult crowd, but it will absolutely traumatize the preschooler expecting a story about a girl named Mirha. Double-check the cover art; you want the one with the smiling girl surrounded by colorful letters, not the one that looks like a crime scene.
If you’ve already worn out your copy of The Name Jar, think of this as the modern, punchier companion. While older classics on this topic can sometimes feel a bit heavy-handed or focused on the "otherness" of the child, That’s Not My Name! feels like a celebration. It’s less about the burden of a "difficult" name and more about the joy of owning your identity. It’s a quick read, but the "how to use it" potential for parents of kids with unique names is huge. Practice the "correction" lines with them after you close the book—it’s the kind of muscle memory that actually matters on Tuesday morning.
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