Summary:
It's Suki's first day back to school and she desires to wear the kimono her grandmother gave her. Her sisters caution her not to as people might think it's strange. But Suki doesn't mind and wears it to school regardless. Once at school, many kids make fun of her for the kimono. When her new teacher asks her in front of the class about what she did over the summer, Suki enacts the dance she and her grandmother did during their adventures. After the teacher and the whole class applaud her performance, Suki becomes even more confident in herself and her individuality.
Themes:
Stay true to oneself no matter what others think or say. Appreciate the differences of others. It's okay not to look like everyone else.
Personal response:
I really like this book as it reminds me that our quirks are what make us interesting and special. We all tend to hide certain aspects of ourselves out of fear of rejection. However, Suki serves as a great reminder that we don't have to act this way. This book also emphasizes the importance of self-expression. The illustrations in this book are truly excellent and enhance the context.
Recommendation:
This book offers an interesting perspective on not allowing others' opinions to determine how we present ourselves. It can also spark discussions about having pride in one's culture. After reading this book to a class, the teacher could ask students how they can make everyone feel good about their differences, similar to what the teacher did in the story. The teacher could also ask students to think about what makes them different and how they can become more confident in that regard. An activity that could be paired with this story is for students to bring an important object to school and share its significance with the class. This book acknowledges that differences come in various forms and that we should embrace them all. I would highly recommend this book.