My Name Is Yoon
Newly arrived from Korea, Yoon is hesitant to write her name in English. She tries several alternative identities before finally finding the courage to write her own name as she settles into her new school life.
My Name Is Yoon by Helen Recorvits is estimated to take about 10 minutes to read aloud (890 words, about 1 sentence a page), and it lands best with children aged 4-6.
Check the book on AmazonAffiliate link
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 10 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 890Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 1Sentence per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary level
- 3/5a few new words
- Best for
- Ages 4-6Our editorial fit
Our review
This is a quiet, gentle book that moves at a slow and respectful pace. It follows Yoon’s emotional journey as she navigates the fear and isolation that can come with a new environment and a new language.
Children will recognize that sense of wanting to be something else entirely to fit in. It is a beautiful, sensitive read for any child facing the daunting task of starting fresh somewhere new.
Before you buy it
This is a quiet, eight-minute read that works better for five-year-olds than it does for three-year-olds.
Themes
- names
- Korean families
- moving countries
- school
- writing
Books like My Name Is Yoon
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read My Name Is Yoon aloud?
About 10 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 890. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is My Name Is Yoon actually for?
Ages 4-6 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 1 sentence a page and vocabulary at 3 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does My Name Is Yoon survive being read on repeat?
Yes, reasonably. It stays bearable through the repeat-request phase without becoming a favourite forever.
Is My Name Is Yoon a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it has a refrain a child can join in with. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise My Name Is Yoon?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 3 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read My Name Is Yoon on their own?
Not yet. At vocabulary level 3 out of 5 and 1 sentence a page, it is a read-aloud book rather than a first solo read. Read it to them now, and hand it over in a year or two.
What themes does My Name Is Yoon cover?
We tag it with names, Korean families, moving countries, school and writing. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
