Mommy Doesn't Know My Name

by Suzanne Williams, Andrew Shachat (Illustrator)

This loving and humorous story depicts frustrated Hannah, who tries to get her mother to call her by her real name rather than the pet names she uses.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Humor, Relationships, Love

36 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

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Reviews

[Anne Frisbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating given by my 6 year old daughter. I also like this book.

[Hannah Parks · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Mommy Doesn't Know My Name," by Suzanne Williams is a story which reflects a common fear of young children- that because their parents call them by pet names, they do not know or respect their real names. The story follows Hannah, who is called pumpkin, chickadee, mouse, and many other names by her mother throughout the course of the story. Hannah is both amused and concerned by this. She visualizes herself with a pumpkin head or a beak, but also makes it very clear to her mother that she is Hannah. At the end of the book, mommy hugs Hannah and says goodnight using her real name.

This book has the potential to connect to children in and out of the classroom. It has vibrant and engaging illustrations, funny comparisons, and points out some of the absurdities of the English language. In the context of a lesson, this book could be used to introduce the concepts of comparisons, metaphors, and other elements of literature used within this book. It bridges the gap between difficult language and relatable content. This book could also be used to show how illustrations work with the text to form a complete story and provide insight into the characters thoughts and desires.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a title like that, I thought this would be a book explaining Alzheimer's to little kids.

Oh, boy -- I'm up for that!

But -- no such luck. The little girl Hannah is having a nervous breakdown because her stupid mother can't realize that Hannah is unable to comprehend metaphors.

See, parents? IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT.

The art was much better than the text. Andrew Sachat even added a little family dog, which looked like a Chihuahua/Jack Russell mix. Sometimes, there seemed to be nods to Maurice Sendak -- especially when the mother calls Hannah a monster and a little devil. Nice picture of Hell, there.

Sleep tight, kids -- IF THAT'S WHO YOU REALLY ARE.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl complains that her mother doesn't remember her name. What is happening is that her mother calls her pet names, such as, chickadee, pumpkin, little monster, monkey, and others, when her name is really Hannah.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with Name Storytime.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. Will make both kids and mamas smile.

[rjpence15 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute and funny!

[Camila · Rating 5 out of 5]

My cousin is learning to read so we read this together, we really liked it and she loved the illustrations.

[Sa Ho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah did not like her mother calling her by pets name such as Alligator, Monkey, Pumpkin, etc. She just wanted her mom called exactly her real name. This book reminded me about the time when my son was a little kid. One day he told me, "Mom, you should call me by my real name; my friends are confused and laugh if you call me by my nick name Tieu Ngo (meaning in English is small horse)."
This book has a message for the parents, relatives, and adults that respect and understand children' feeling are important. It also teaches children self awareness.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good enough book. We all have nick names and pet names for our kids, but Hannah, doesn't like being called, pumpkin, alligator, monkey etc! Cute enough...but I got a little tired of "My name is Hannah" I wish the mom would have said, I know...it is a pet name because I love you. It says it a little at the end but I don't think hit the point hard enough!

[Raevin Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book has a good message to children and parents that we all have a name even when we are called by our nickname a lot. This book allows children to get involved in the book, because they know what is coming next. Also this book is very humorous to children with the different animals and things in which the little girl Hannah pictures herself as being.

[Missun Raine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is one I can relate too. We all have pet names our parents call us. Mine is pumpkin. I also have names for my children and they usually don't want to be called them either just like Hannah. Hannah could not get why her mother called her all but her name. This book is very sweet and shows a great bond between mother and daughter.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever we call Carmen, princess, she says, "I'm not a princess, I'm Carmen." It reminded me of this book. I used it in the past to introduce studying idioms to 5th graders.

Carmen caught on quickly to the pattern of how the little girl responds & would say that part herself.

[Genevieve Arhin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It shows the relationship between a mother and her daughter and how she calls her different names depending on the circumstance but always with love and also about how the child is always correcting her mother.

[Dinah Akrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a great book for teaching social and emotions. Self esteem to be precise. Some children gets confused when different nick names are used for them. Their names make them unique.
It is for adult use.

[Bernadette Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this one was adorable!! Love how the author nailed it on this one, coming from a child's perspective. Never thought before how children may be bothered by all of the 'pet' names they are called throughout their childhood....and it's happened to most of us :)

[Jasmin Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I think it applies to most children because they usually have nicknames that they are called. some children may not like them but its maybe that they don't understand that we don't say them because they are that thing but because we mean it in a sweet way.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My name is Hannah, and I used this book to help my pre schoolers remember my name during our first story time together. The kids still remember my name. When I read, "My name is ___!" They loved shouting out, "HANNAH!" This is a very easy book to make interactive.

[C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun, cute, and quick read about something that almost all aunts, grandmothers, godmothers, and motrhers are guilty of doing: calling our children by pet names.

[KarenMLISt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book to teach literal kids about figures of speech that parents & adults use to when talking to children.

[Ebone Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah's mom has many endearing nicknames for Hannah. Hannah thinks of the things her mom is calling her and doesn't identify with them because it is not her name.

[Valenza Whitaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to read to young children. Mommy was showing Hannah love by calling her sweet and cute pet names.

[Christina Monroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. This book is a great choice for teaching children self awareness. This is also a great book for repetition and predictions.

[Connie Lyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

In school we are told to use students real names instead of pet names. Children don't understand pet names even if it was intended to be a loving gesture children like to hear their real names.

[Kemar Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Book has great illustrations that accompany it. Fun book to read as well as a good book for child's social emotional development. Great book.

[Ra'Shanda Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's s good message to children that everybody has different names that there parents call them but it's also good to call them buy there own names

[Shelby Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a cute and simple book to read to the class and a great book to get children involved throughout the story

[R.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little story about identity and naming from a child's perspective. Really well done.

[Barb Hegreberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Famly favorite!!!

[Eliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A current fave at our house. Makes me laugh every time.