The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name

Perfect for fans of Alma and How She Got Her Name and Your Name Is a Song, author Sandhya Parappukkaranand illustrator Michelle Pereira’spicture book The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Nameencourages readers to take up space and support each other with respect and kindness.

When Zimdalamashkermishkada starts at a new school, he knows he’ll have to introduce himself to lots of new people. He trips over his long name and decides to shrink it down to the shorter, simpler Zim. The nickname works fine for introductions, but deep down, it doesn’t feel right. It’s not until a new friend sees him for who he truly is that Zimdalamashkermishkada finds the confidence to step proudly into his long name.

The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name is a warm and uplifting story that encourages young readers to celebrate their authentic selves and that proclaims no one should ever have to shrink themselves to fit in.

“This sensitive book will make an excellent lead-in to age-appropriate discussions about difference and belonging.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (Starred Review)

Sandhya Parappukkaran left her job as a food technologist so she could put her feet up and read. Then she rediscovered her passion for children's books. Her stories are inspired by her multicultural experience and include scrumptious food from her Kerala Indian heritage. Parappukkaran resides in Brisbane with her family. Michelle Pereira is an illustrator who spent her childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, and now lives in Melbourne, Australia. She graduated from Monash University with a bachelor of communication design. She has worked with a range of clients such as Penguin UK, Netflix, the New York Times and Marie Claire.