My Name Is Not Ed Tug

by Amy Nielander

Overview

A sweet, whimsical story about the meaningfulness behind a person's name and the power of accepting people just as they are.

Featured in Children's Book Council's Summer 2022 Showcase: Love Makes the World Go Round

"Names are so important. They are our parents' first gifts to us. They have history and meaning. For some it is the name we choose that embraces the best version of ourselves. Everyone deserves to be called by their correct name. This was simply beautiful."
—Lupe, Bookmarks (Winston-Salem, NC)

"Edimorwhitimormiligimmus Tug is determined to teach his classmates and teacher about the important family stories behind his superlong name."
—Publishers Weekly, Fall Children's Announcements

Edimorwhitimormiligimmus Tug has a very special name that is all his own. But his teacher thinks it's too long and hard to say. One day she shortens it to. . . Ed.

But he loves his name just the way it is. So he comes up with a plan—if he can teach everyone his name, maybe they'll love it too!

Sweet and whimsical, My Name Is Not Ed Tug empowers readers to own their identities and proudly celebrate who they are.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781513134871
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	10/11/2022
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD560L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Amy Nielander is a designer and award-winning children's book author and illustrator who loves to create playful stories for kids. Growing up, she had her name frequently misspelled by others. My Name Is Not Ed Tug is inspired by this experience and by her time volunteering in her children's classrooms. Amy lives near Detroit, Michigan.

Editorial Reviews

10/10/2022

Coming as it does from his grandfather, great-uncle, aunt, and grandmother, the name Edimorwhitimormiligimmus Tug is, to this picture book’s pale-skinned protagonist, “perfect.” When a new child joins the youth’s racially diverse class, though, teacher Ms. Mell uses the opportunity to shorten the child’s lengthy name, writing “Ed” on a name tag and citing: “We don’t want our names to be difficult for the new student, do we? It will be easier for all of us if you just go by Ed.” While he’s initially dismayed over the change (“He felt like his heart had been stung by a giant bee. Twice”), Edimorwhitimormiligimmus Tug employs seven name tags to do the job right, and tells the classmates about his family to help them remember. Though lines about the protagonist bearing the responsibility of gaining respect for his name somewhat undercut the book’s message of acceptance, Nielander employs an aptly shifting color palette that reflects the pain of being asked to change and the joy of being properly acknowledged. Ages 5–8. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"My Name Is Not Ed Tug by Amy Nielander, [is] about a boy named Edimorwhitimormiligimmus Tug, who is frustrated and hurt when his teacher insists on calling him by an abbreviated name."
—Publishers Weekly, Fall 2022 Children's Sneak Previews

From the Publisher