DADS READ: “ALMA and How She Got Her Name” by Juana Martinez-Neal
JER: “ ALMA and How She Got Her Name ” by Juana Martinez-Neal touches on family history and cultural norms in different countries. At first, Alma is frustrated with a name that she felt was “too long”, but after she learns the intention and meaning behind each name she feels a greater connection to her ancestors and feels inspired by their legacies. This book resonates with me personally, since I also felt a deep connection to my ancestors and relatives as Mallory and I started thinking of names for our children. My oldest daughter, Lake Marie, has Mallory’s last name - “Lake” - and her grandmothers middle name - “Marie”. Our youngest daughter Ejler Rae has her great grandfather’s first name - “Ejler” and her great grandmothers nickname - “Rae” (my great grandmother was named “Anna Rebecca” after each of her grandmothers: “Anna” and “Rebecca” - whom, unfortunately, happened to [be very jealous of] each other. To avoid any jealousy over being called by either grandparen...