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megatsunami's review
4.0
My daughter LOVES this story, which tells of a little Korean-American girl starting her first day at school where she doesn't know anyone and doesn't speak much English. Touches on both universal themes (starting out in a new situation) and also lightly on issues of racism (a mean child squints his eyes to make fun of Sumi). The illustrations are beautiful, although I think it would not be clear to a child that Sumi and her mother are Asian. That's not necessarily a bad thing in general - I like that they do not have a stereotyped "Asian" look - but it feels like it doesn't fully illustrate the message of dealing with racism.
tcbueti's review
4.0
Sumi's mother teaches her the key phrases, "Hello, what is your name?" and "Hello, my name is Sumi"; armed with those and a sympathetic and supportive teacher, Sumi makes it through her first day in a new, "not-so-lonely, not-so-scary, not-so-mean class".
I like how the author conveys how much a person can glean from body language and facial expressions, how an experience can vary from moment to moment, and how simple it can be to make someone feel welcome. There is an incident with a boy who makes teasing faces and noises to other kids; after the teacher speaks to him he changes his behavior. It might be interesting for students to imagine what he was thinking, and what she said to him.
I like how the author conveys how much a person can glean from body language and facial expressions, how an experience can vary from moment to moment, and how simple it can be to make someone feel welcome. There is an incident with a boy who makes teasing faces and noises to other kids; after the teacher speaks to him he changes his behavior. It might be interesting for students to imagine what he was thinking, and what she said to him.
nikimarion's review
4.0
A picture book by a Korean immigrant about an immigrant!! Thank you, Viking editors in 2003!
Sumi's first day of school in the US is equal parts lonely and scary, because Sumi can only say, "My name is Sumi" in English. But some languages are universal, and, with the help of a supportive teacher, Sumi survives her first day of school ever and makes her first friend.
Sumi's first day of school in the US is equal parts lonely and scary, because Sumi can only say, "My name is Sumi" in English. But some languages are universal, and, with the help of a supportive teacher, Sumi survives her first day of school ever and makes her first friend.
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