Meet Elizabeth. She's got an excellent pet duck, a loving granddad and a first name that's just awesome. After all, she's got a queen named after her! So she's really not amused when people insist on using nicknames like “Lizzy” and “Beth.” She bears her frustration in silence until an otherwise ordinary autumn day, when she discovers her power to change things once and for all. In the process, Elizabeth learns about communication and respect --- and their roles in building better relationships with family and friends. The two-toned illustrations reflect the story's energy and sass, and the comic-book-like format makes it easy to follow. The cheeky, retro drawings also keep it real --- depicting the sometimes-feisty Elizabeth as a resolutely normal kid --- whether she's flossing her teeth or feeding her pet duck.

ANNIKA DUNKLEE was born in Uppsala, Sweden, to a Scottish father and a Swedish mother. She is the award-winning author of many books, including My Name Is Elizabeth!, Me, Too! and Me, Me, Me. When she’s not writing, she’s busy eating cheese. She currently resides in Toronto, Ontario with her husband, two teens, a puppy and a cockatiel.

Annika Dunklee's profile page

 

Matthew Forsythe crée des bandes dessinées, des albums illustrés et des modèles pour l'animation. Sa bande dessinée Ojingogo a été en lice pour le prix Eisner à deux reprises, et il était le graphiste en chef de l'émission télévisée Adventure Time. Aux Éditions Scholastic, il a illustré Je m'appelle Catherine d'Annika Dunklee. Pour faciliter ses recherches, Matthew a été de mauvaise humeur tout le long de la création de ce livre. Il habite à Montréal.

 

Matthew Forsythe makes comics and picture books and designs for animation. His comic Ojingogo was noMinated twice for an Eisner Award, and he was the lead designer on the TV show Adventure Time. For research purposes, he was in a bad mood the whole time he drew this book. Matthew lives in Montreal.

 

Matthew Forsythe's profile page

• Winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection, Canadian Children's Book Centre
• Commended, Marion Vannett Ridgway Award
• Winner, Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award, Canadian Library Association
• Winner, Best Books of the Year, Quill & Quire
• Winner, New York Times Notable Children's Books 2011, The New York Times

This debut picture-book offering from Dunklee and Forsythe is close enough to perfect in its tone, pacing and interplay between words and pictures: Wonderful.

Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

Children who have had similar experiences will certainly relate to Elizabeth and may be inspired by her directness.

School Library Journal

Readers who take pride in their names (especially those who have had their names butchered) may be similarly moved to express that ownership vocally.

Publishers Weekly

First-time children's author Annika Dunklee hits the mark with a spunky character who is guaranteed to charm early readers and parents alike.

Quill & Quire

This isn't just a book about one particular name. It's about making it clear to the world who you really are. A lesson some grown-ups could stand to learn as well.

Elizabeth Bird, SLJ.com

The book itself is close to perfect.

The New York Times

My Name is Elizabeth!

Elizabeth loves her name. She loves that it’s nine letters long. She loves the neat things her mouth does when she says it. She loves that there is a queen named after her. But, most of all, she loves that it’s her name to use however she chooses. And she does NOT choose to be called Lizzy, Liz, Beth or Betsy.

In 130 simple words, My Name Is Elizabeth! shows Elizabeth standing up and telling the world politely, but straightforwardly, exactly what her name means to her and what we may call her. As she’s explaining, she is independently dressing for school, flossing, leashing up her pet duck and growing increasingly frustrated as well-meaning people greet her with various nicknames. Elizabeth eventually plants herself atop a hill and announces “My NAME is ELIZABETH Alfreda Roxanne Carmelita Bluebell Jones!! But you may call me Elizabeth.” She speaks and is heard. Her wishes are respected so that, by the time she returns home, Elizabeth is happy to make an exception for the little brother who approaches her, questioning “Wizabef?”

Forsythe’s illustrations are wonderfully distilled down to integral elements and pair beautifully with Dunklee’s text. They convey action, message and a full range of emotion in deceptively simple two-toned drawings. The entire book takes a perfect approach to issues of negotiating one’s own identity and self-esteem. It is highly recommended as an addition to any library or classroom bookshelf — as long as an extra copy is also kept at home.

My Name Is Elizabeth!

Elizabeth really likes her name. She likes that it’s nine letters long and that a queen was named after her! She does not like it when people call her by nicknames. In this story you’ll discover how this larger-than-life little girl puts her foot down and insists on being called by her proper name — by most people anyway.