In this post, I examine My name is Yoon (2003), written by Helen Recorvits and illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska, and look at it through a diversity lens. This book tells the story of an elementary school girl who has emigrated from Korea and does not like the way her name looks written in English, Y-O-O-N, all the letters “standing alone.” In Korean, “the symbols dance together.” So instead of signing her name Y-O-O-N, she tries out words that she hears the teacher use, or that she sees on the playground. One day she signs her name C-A-T, another day C-U-P-C-A-K-E. On a double page spread, Yoon imagines that everyone will like her if her name is CUPCAKE.
The day she writes CUPCAKE on her paper, she comes home and tells her parents about a new friend from the playground and she sings a song to her parents in English. This is the turning point of the book, and the next day, Yoon is excited to write “Yoon” on her papers at school. This book expresses how hard it is to move to a new country, something I identify with, as I changed schools and countries at least three times as a girl. While I attended American Schools abroad, there was always a culture shift on the playground, and the desire for friends after moving to a new place.
However, I wanted to know why a woman from Rhode Island chose to write a book about a child moving to a new country from Korea. Cultural appropriation is a new term for some of us, and I was curious. The author did not have a listed email, and my only clue was that the photographer of the author photo shared the first name of the girl in the book.
I went down an Internet rabbit hole. I found a young man whose name is Yoon Kim and who was a photographer in art school. His art school was in Rhode Island, was there a connection? Yes, but not the connection I hoped for. This was NOT the photographer of the publicity photo. However, this Yoon had a similar story to the book’s Yoon, and with permission, I share some of his words here:
I’m sorry to say that I am not affiliated with the character Yoon in Ms. Helen Recorvits’ beautiful book. However, I have read the book as it was gifted to me a couple of years ago by a Korean adoptive family based in Baltimore, whom I have the fortune to call my dear friends.
I spent a few years of my childhood in Baltimore, and one of my most cherished memories is going to Barnes and Noble with my mother and sister after school. My mother made sure that reading and literature were a close part of our lives, and thanks to her many wonders and wisdom, I went from not speaking a word of English to devouring the entire Magic Tree House series in a single week.
In junior high…I [was] grateful to have found solace through the school librarian, Ms. Florio, who had the kindest smile and manners. I would approach her to talk about everything from cooking to homework to family.
With these childhood memories in mind, I find it so special that you found me online and connected with me. I am now back home in Seoul, South Korea with my family, working as an ordinary office worker at a healthcare company. I hope you are happy and well wherever you are. Thank you again for contacting me.
What a wonderful connection! I still didn’t know why the book was dedicated to Yoon, or anything more about the author’s intention, but I was still curious. I wanted closure, and I still wanted to write about this beautiful book. Online, I found a woman that seemed to match the author’s approximate description and location, and wrote her a letter. Postal mail is not always a quick way to contact someone, so my life continued, I forgot about the post, and went on with my life.
But one day, an email arrived!
Thank you for your kind words about my Yoon books and for asking about the Yoon character.
I once had a friend from Korea who shared with me her culture and her experiences here as a young child. She inspired me to create MY NAME IS YOON, YOON AND THE CHRISTMAS MITTEN, and YOON AND THE JADE BRACELET.
There is a Korean proverb words have no wings but can travel a thousand miles. And my three Yoon stories are amazing examples.
So finally I have my answer. I am not a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) specialist nor will I attempt to play one here. I know there are questions people have about the trio of Yoon books. I acknowledge that. However, there is the childlike enjoyment of this book that speaks to me because it mirrors an experience I had. And that is where I leave you, dear reader.
Connect: Are there books you love which may be problematic? I would love to hear your stories in the comments below.
This post relates to the following ALSC Core Competencies:
I. Commitment to Client Group
1. Demonstrates respect for diversity and inclusion of cultural values, and continually develops cultural awareness and works to address implicit bias in order to provide inclusive and equitable service to diverse populations.
IV. Collection Knowledge and Management
OliP
I just went down that same rabbit hole, I was excited, hoping the author had some personal connection to Korean culture. I am disappointed that she states she “knew” someone who was Korean. I have not read the books yet but was planning on using My Name is Yoon for a grad school project. It is starting to smell like cultural appropriation and profiting off it so I am turned off the idea.