Sign-In
Cart
The Day My Name Felt Too Heavy: A Heartwarming Story About Identity, Heritage, and Learning to Carry Your Name with Pride (Ages 4-8)
Paperback
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Feb 4 2026
Pages: 26
Weight: 0.14
Height: 0.07 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
What do you do when your name feels like a heavy backpack you can't take off?
For Tobi, school mornings always begin with a stumble. When the teacher reaches the end of the attendance list, the room goes quiet. O-lu-wa... T-tobi... oh dear, the teacher whispers. Tobi feels every eye in the classroom turn toward her, and she wishes she had a light name-a name like Kim or Jo that flies like a bird.
Tobi's name, Oluwatobiloba, feels like a secret code that her tongue just can't master. But when she shares her feelings with her Grandma, she discovers that her name isn't a burden-it's a song, a history, and a gift.
Through Tobi's journey, children will discover:
The Meaning of Heritage: Learning that names often carry the stories and hopes of the ancestors who gave them.
The Power of Self-Worth: Understanding that a name is a reminder of one's strength, roots, and inherent value.
The Beauty of Diversity: Celebrating the unique rhythms of different cultures and languages.
The Courage to Speak Up: Watching Tobi find her voice to teach others how to say her name with the respect it deserves.
Join Tobi as she learns to unpack the syllables of her name and realizes that she doesn't need a lighter name-she just needs to know the magic of the one she already has.
This book is a perfect tool for:
Promoting Cultural Pride: Helps children from diverse backgrounds feel seen and celebrated.
Building Empathy: Encourages classmates to be patient and respectful of names that may be unfamiliar to them.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Provides a mirror for children struggling with feelings of being different or out of place.
Also in
General Juvenile Fiction
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book Two the Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book Two)
Riordan, Rick
Paperback
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book One the Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book One)
Riordan, Rick
Paperback
Anne of Green Gables, 3-Book Box Set, Volume I: Anne of Avonlea; Anne of the Island; Anne of Green Gables
Montgomery, L. M.
Paperback
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Sea of Monsters, The: The Graphic Novel
Riordan, Rick
Venditti, Robert
Paperback
Mary Anne Saves the Day: A Graphic Novel (the Baby-Sitters Club #3): Full-Color Edition
Martin, Ann M.
Paperback
Dog Man: Big Jim Believes: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #14): From the Creator of Captain Underpants: Volume 14
Pilkey, Dav
Hardcover
Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2: From the Creator of Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Kinney, Jeff
Hardcover
Investigators: Agents of S.U.I.T.: Sew Much Trouble
Green, John Patrick
Hastings, Christopher
Hardcover
Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy: A Graphic Novel (Wings of Fire Graphic Novel #1): Volume 1
Sutherland, Tui T.
Paperback
Dog Man: Big Jim Begins: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #13): From the Creator of Captain Underpants: Volume 13
Pilkey, Dav
Hardcover
Cat Kid Comic Club: Collaborations: A Graphic Novel (Cat Kid Comic Club #4): From the Creator of Dog Man: Volume 4
Pilkey, Dav
Hardcover