My Name Is Wakawakaloch!
by Chana Stiefel
illustrated by Mary Sullivan
Date: 2019
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library
In this lighthearted picture book, the intrepid, determined, and savvy Wakawakaloch learns to embrace what makes her special while lifting up her neanderthal community. Perfect for fans of Vera Brosgol and Emily Hughes.
No one can pronounce Wakawakaloch’s name. Why couldn’t she be called something simple... like Gloop? That’s a name you can find on a T-shirt! But after a visit with her tribe’s elder, Wakawakaloch discovers what her name means, and how powerful names can be. Gloop may be easy to say, but the girl who helps her friends embrace differences and wear their names proudly? Her name is Wakawakaloch!
(synopsis from Goodreads)
I don't really like this. While the predicament is funny (and relatable for some kids) and the pictures are sort of cute (especially the ones on the endpapers), the broken English is annoying and the historical accuracy is non-existent.
If you want to write a story about cavemen who can't correctly use pronouns, write a story about cavemen. Do not write a story about Neanderthals and then make half of them of non-European descent. (Also, don't put dinosaurs in there. That should be a given.)
It's obviously fiction (cavemen didn't have laptops, as far as I know), but it's inaccurate and potentially confusing. There was no need to get so specific and call these folks Neanderthals--an ancient group that was strictly European--when they're simply generic cave people.
Also, don't make your characters "wink" their speech. That's not even physically possible, and it just sounds silly.
Ugh. (No, that's not a name of a character in this book. I'm just summing up how I feel about this one.)
Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 1/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5
Enjoyment: 2/5
Overall Rating: 2 out of 5 ladybugs
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