Turtle Knows Your Name

by Ashley Bryan

A small boy with a very long name is challenged by his grandmother to find out her real name

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 1989

About the author

Ashley Bryan was an illustrator, children's author, and poet.

Ashley Bryan (1923–2022) grew up to the sound of his mother singing from morning to night, and he shared the joy of song with children. A beloved illustrator, he was named a Newbery Honoree for his picture book, Freedom Over Me. He also received the Coretta Scott King—Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, was a May Hill Arbuthnot lecturer, a Coretta Scott King Award winner, and the recipient of countless other awards and recognitions. His books include Freedom Over Me; Sail Away; Beautiful Blackbird; Beat the Story-Drum, Pum Pum; Let It Shine; Ashley Bryan’s Book of Puppets; and What a Wonderful World. He lived in Islesford, one of the Cranberry Isles off the coast of Maine.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upsilimana Tumpalaredo struggles, first to learn his own name, and then to teach it to his friends, in this Caribbean folktale, retold by award-winning African-American artist and author, Ashley Bryan. When none of his contemporaries can remember it, calling him "Long Name" instead, Upsilimana Tumpalaredo takes to playing with the animals, only to discover that they too refuse to address him properly, mooing and bleah-bleahing instead. Only Turtle knows his name, but then, Turtle knows all the names - something that proves very useful, when Upsilimana Tumpalaredo's Granny demands that he discover her name (Mapaseedo Jackalindy Eye Pie Tackarindy), if he wants his dessert...

I adore turtles, so I was probably guaranteed to enjoy this folktale, but even if that weren't so, I think Turtle Knows Your Name would still have engaged my interest. The rhythm and rhyme of the text itself, the fun names - sure to appeal to young reader/listeners who've struggled with their own complicated names - and Ashley Bryan's appealing pastel-shaded illustrations, all combine to create a winning picture-book! My only complaint is that I'm not entirely sure of this story's provenance. Apparently, it is originally found in Elsie Clews Parsons' Folk-Lore of the Antilles, French & English , published in 1936. But where in the Antilles? The Virgin Islands, Trinidad? I wish I knew...

[Trevinia Turner(EDUC378)]

Text to text connection:

This book reminded me of a book that I read for week one's goodreads, "your name is a song". Both of the characters in the books must go through a journey to learn to embrace and love their name. All of their peers have trouble remembering and correctly pronouncing their names, but the two characters realize that their names have rhythm and that they can create a song from their name. Their names are Upsilimana Tumpalerado and Kora-Jalimuso. Singing their name brings them much joy and solves their issue of others not remembering their name.

[Octavia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously Question to have ever read another picture book celebrating culture to be more rhythmically Precious!

'Freedom Over Me' was my initial read by this newfound author for me at the time. That book was so Enchanting to me a children's picture book and I was just frozen speechless for quite some time. Ashley Bryan became a such an Intriguing historical person and I had to research immediately. To learn of the Ashley Bryan Center, to see his art and learn of his Awards, etc. . Well, there's just not any words of Expression. Then, for that book to be short-listed in 2016 for the Kirkus Prize and received the Newberry Award.

Now, to open the pages of this Gem. Again, I haven't the words to even Express my Gratitude to him for such an Expressive piece of Literary Art 💛🩷💙.

"The villagers clapped and sang:

"Long Name came
And asked your name,
So we told him, and it's true,
Granny is our name for you."

The turtle! 🐢 🏖 🐚

♡ Granny and Grandson ♡

* Highly Recommended


** Top Five of 2025 ** 🩷✨️

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

a beautifully illustrated folk tale

[Nathaniel Mccombs · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Turtle knows Your Name” by Ashley Bryan is about a young African boy (Upsilimana Tumplerado) who has a hard time learning his long complicated name but with help from his patient grandmother, (she has the same problem with her name) he learns his name and is able to say it. Once he has said his name, his grandmother takes him to the ocean to do a name dance, which is a ritual in their village. Every child that pronounces their name the first time receives a trip to the ocean so the name turtle can hear the child’s name and know it forever. After being able to pronounce his name and perform the ocean dance, the young boy goes to play with children in his village such as Zamba, Danddo, and Brashee. Although, after meeting multiple children they can’t pronounce his name either so they call him “Long Name”. The next day, the boy decides to play with animals after realizing the success of the turtle (the turtle pronounced his name correctly); maybe the animals would know how to pronounce his name. Unlike the turtle, all of the other animals don’t know how to say his name. Eventually, the young boy returns home for dinner but can’t get dessert until he finds out and pronounces his grandmothers name correctly. After asking the adults in his village what his grandmothers name is he ventures to the one magical person who would know his grandmothers name. The turtle! After finding out his grandmothers name (Mapaseedo Jackalindy Eye Pie Tackarindy) he returns home again says her long name and receives dessert.

This is an international book; the story originated in the West Indies. The story is retold by the author Ashley Bryan using African names and references (like food, names, language, clothing, traditions). Bryan also writes some of the book, specifically the dialogue of the young boy, asking the citizens of the village and animals about their names in poem and song form. This is a great aspect of the book.

The cover art of the story is magnificent. It would attract any reader’s (child or adult) attention. The cover art has a bright yellow background that holds a vast amount of bright vivid colors and contains the magical turtle. The title page is an amazing portrait of the turtle in the ocean which contains the turtle writing the little boys name in shells at the bottom of the ocean. The illustrations are also by the author (Bryan). Throughout the book, the illustrations depict an African tribe, setting, and the traditions. The illustrations also are composed of the same color scheme as the cover art. The pictures are very gorgeous, mesmerizing, vibrant, delightful, and enlighten. They contain so many bright colors like pink, yellow, purple, blue, orange, lime green. These pictures do help tell the story but they are so beautiful and bright that they take away from the story. I would stop reading the text just to stare in amazement at the illustrations. The text is written well really lengthy for a children’s book but the pictures over power the text. Lastly, when the grandmother and the child encounter animals Bryan writes the sounds the animals are making above the pictures of the animals.

I would recommend this book to any aged reader from fourth to fifth grade. This would be a great read aloud book to begin different cultures. This book displays an abundance of the African culture. This book would also be a fun read aloud book because in certain places in the plot the animals have sounds written. Bryan’s illustrations alone would captivate any reader’s attention. The text also offers some interactive songs and poems to teach the class.

[Brooke Devarennes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Subgroup: Grandparents as parents

Genre: Fiction- Folktale

Topics: importance of names in Afro-Caribbean culture, embracing differences, Caribbean food and culture

Synopsis: A little boy is raised by his grandmother, Granny, and has an extremely long name; “Upsilmana Tumpalerado.” His Granny is teaching him that it is important to remember someone’s name even if it is lengthy. They dance a name dance song at the beach and the turtle listens and remembers Upsilmana’s name. None of the boy’s friends can remember his name and call him “Long Name.” This bothers him so he goes to all of the animals searching for one of them to say his name. Turtle is the only one who remembers Upsilmana Tumpalerado and who also knows Granny’s real name. The boy cannot have dessert until he finds out what Granny’s real name is so he goes to turtle to ask. Upsilmana Tumpalerado learns to appreciate his own name after he realizes that his Granny’s name is “Mapaseedo Jackalindy Eye Pie Tackarindy” which was much more difficult than his own.

1) Bryan, A. (1989). Turtle Knows Your Name. New York, NY: Atheneum Macmillan Publishing Company.

[JoAnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is basically about a boy who is challenged by his grandmother to find out her real name. In the process, he finds a much shorter way to say his own name; his name being Upsilimana Tumpalaredo. He has a very hard time making friends but after he spends time with his grandmother and come up with a chant, it is easier for him to be accepted. This cultural folktale uses the chant to help children be more familiar with their names. The chant is: “Upsilimana Tumpalaredo, That’s my name. I took my time to learn it, Won’t you do the same?” The illustrations are very creative and brilliant. I would use this book with students to help them become more familiar with their background cultures. Maybe do a family background and get the parents involved by having them answer questions about themselves and their child; then make a class report on all the backgrounds and cultures.

[Leah Gerber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about a boy who is challenged by his grandmother to find out her real name. The boy’s name is Upsilimana Tumpalaredo and he has trouble meeting new friends so his grandma and him come up with a chant. The chant is “Upsilimana Tempalaredo, that’s my name. I took my time to learn it, won't you do the same?” The illustrations are very creative, bright, and definitely elaborate on the story. It could be used in the classroom because children would love this book because some, with difficult names, can relate to it and the chant is catchy and fun. It also shows vulnerability and how to be confidence with yourself and your background. I love the relationship between the boy and his grandmother. This book is an easy read for elementary students. It could be read independently or together as a class.


Bryan, A. (1989). Turtle knows your name. New York: Atheneum.

[Elizabeth Lauver · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Turtle Knows Your Name, by Ashley Bryan, is a very interesting and different type of book. I really liked the different type of storyline involving a turtle that knows every single person in the village specifically their names. I thought this was really neat because my name is really long and for some students in my daycare it is hard for them to pronounce, so I could personally relate to this book while reading it. I thought that it was a very important detail that the turtle made the boy practice the names when he came to ask the turtle a question about a name. I will definitely be incorporating this book into my classroom, I feel that in a high diversity school this book would be very beneficial as well.

[Remi · Rating 5 out of 5]

vibrant, energetic and uplifting. The charm and warmth was not a surprise considering the author/illustrator. I have read other Ashley Bryan books and I am continually reminded of the warmth a person can transmit through a book. The colors and rhythm communicated through the paintings and smiles of the characters makes for a comforting and inspiring read every time. The diversity of the stories he chooses to retell and themes presented make for an interesting and creative read. I am also often left hungry from his mouthwatering descriptions of traditional food.

I would recommend this for ages 2-6. The illustration and happiness is wonderful for a variety of ages.

[Anna Baker]

This book will be good for talking about repetition as a literary device

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lively, festive and vibrant folktale from the West Indies.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think this would work as a read aloud, but as a one-on-one it would be cute.

[Elizabeth]

The illustrations are soft and lovely -- and I really appreciate the soft, warm, gentle, colorful, inviting, illustrations of Black bodies given how they're often portrayed in media.

Given the amount of discourse about white folks who can pronounce names Tolkien made up (not to mention Italian, Russian, etc. names) but can't bother to learn how to pronounce e.g. Quevenzhané Wallis' name, I can imagine a lot of kids really appreciating this story about a kid with a very long name which most everyone didn't want to bother to remember.