My Name is a Gift
INCLUDED IN EMPATHY LAB'S 'READ FOR EMPATHY COLLECTION' 2025.
AS SEEN ON MILKSHAKE'S STORY DEN IN MARCH 2025!
LONGLISTED FOR THE DIVERSE BOOK AWARDS 2025!
A heartfelt and touching celebration of the names we're given, told through Zeshan Akhter's lyrical text and paired with Åsa Gilland's stunning illustrations.
When I met Daddy and fitted in his hands, I didn't have a name.
So Daddy and Mummy whispered one in my ear.
My name is the first present I ever got.
It came wrapped in Daddy and Mummy's love.
On the day Sitara is born, she receives a very special gift from her parents - her name. As Sitara grows, some people tumble up her name in their mouths until it's not her name any more. So Sitara learns about the history, tradition and culture that went into choosing her name, giving her the confidence to help others say it right.
This heartwarming story not only teaches us the significance of our names, but it also highlights that trying to say names correctly, or asking if you're unsure, goes a long way. The book also includes a spread for a child to fill in about their own name. Perfect to share with both an individual child or to read aloud with a group who are fans of The Proudest Blue, Every House on Every Street and Julian is a Mermaid.
Zeshan writes uplifting stories about challenges that children experience. Her writing also reflects her love of the natural world. Zeshan studied zoology and has worked in nature conservation for twenty-one years. She lives in Glasgow.
Åsa Gilland (Illustrator)
Åsa Gilland is a Swedish illustrator who lives in Jakarta, Indonesia with her family and two cats in a little house beneath a gigantic bougainvillea tree. She works in a combination of traditional and digital media, drawing her inspiration from the mixture of cultures in the world around her. Her children's book characters reflect the rich diversity of her own lived experience.