Children's Book Suggestions | Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2026

A few of our favorite books about Asian & Pacific Islander Americans past and present published in 2024. For more book ideas, check out our Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month book lists from 2025 and 2024 (picture books and chapter books), browse the library catalog, or search for the name of a country or ethnic group (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.).

More great books are honored annually with the Asian/Pacific American Literary Award (APALA) and in our South Asian Heritage Month book lists (published in August).

Updated January 30, 2026
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
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A Pond, a Poet, and Three Pests
Adderson, Caroline
A funny new fable about artistic creation and chasing fame, imagined by award-winning author Caroline Adderson, and inspired by one of Japan's most famous haikus, "The Old Pond." Bashō, a 17th-century poet on an evening walk, stops to rest next to a murky old pond. Here, readers may...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Broken
Fang, X.
A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book! * Join Mei Mei on her hilarious and emotional journey in this dramatic and tenderhearted picture book about guilt and forgiveness, from the acclaimed creator of We Are Definitely Human. When...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Big enough
Linke, Regina
Paper Book
From the creator of the beloved webcomic The Oxherd Boy, comes this dazzling, gorgeously illustrated picture book about a little boy who learns he is big enough to do big things.    Little Ah-Fu has a big imagination, but he can't imagine being...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Every peach is a story
Masumoto, David Mas
Paper Book
In this poignant debut picture book from authors and farmers Nikiko Masumoto and David Mas Masumoto, with illustrations by award-winning artist Lauren Tamaki, little Midori discovers that every peach on her Japanese American family's farm is a sweet reminder of those who've come before

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

I Dance
Ranola, Diana
An easy-to-read book for girls and boys who love to dance. Perfect for kindergarten and first grade readers. I dance with a hat. I dance with a fan. I dance like a duck. I hop.  Fun pictures show dancers in authentic poses and beautiful...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

One of a kind
Fang, Vicky
Paper Book
Ava Lin's quest to earn the most kindness tickets in her first-grade class--and claim a coveted reward--leads to unanticipated results in this second chapter book in Vicky Fang's funny and heartfelt series. Ava Lin is six and a half years old, and this year she's in first grade....

Bridging Fiction (Grades 2-4)

The big splash
Ahn, Angela
Paper Book
Julia and her swim team struggle with a new strict coach, but she is determined to make a big splash regardless in this buoyant illustrated chapter book for ages 7 and up. For fans of Mindy Kim and Jasmine Toguchi. Julia is dismayed to learn that Coach Marissa has to leave the...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

The nine moons of Han Yu and Luli
Glaser, Karina Yan
NEWBERY HONOR-WINNER INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER * INDIE NEXT PICK * FIVE STARRED REVIEWS! Named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, ALA Booklist, Publishers Weekly<...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Your turn Marisol Rainey
Kelly, Erin Entrada
Horn Book Fanfare Two-time Newbery Medal winner Erin Entrada Kelly's alter ego--the effervescent Marisol Rainey--returns in this illustrated school story about overcoming stage fright and taking your turn that is just right for fans of Ramona, Clementine, and Ivy & Bean.<...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

The gate, the girl, and the dragon
Lin, Grace
Paper Book
A New York Times and IndieBound bestseller! A Boston Globe Best Book of the Year! A Kirkus Best Book of the Year! A BCCB Best Book of the Year! From award-winning and bestselling author...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Chef's secret
Yang, Kelly
Paper Book
The New York Times bestselling Front Desk series continues! Jason Yao has a secret . . . actually, lots of secrets! For one thing, it's hard being a professional chef, helping to run a motel, and being a regular kid! And now that Mia Tang is officially his girlfriend,...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Lu and Ren's guide to geozoology
Hsieh, Angela
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli and The Tea Dragon Society, this beautiful graphic novel follows a girl who learns more about friendship and family as she journeys across the fantastical land of Lirrin to tend to its majestic animals. Lu dreams of being a great adventurer,...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Chickenpox
Lai, Remy
Paper Book
This hilarious and heartwarming contemporary middle-grade graphic novel is about eldest sister Abby, who is sick of being trapped at home with her FOUR younger siblings as they all suffer from the chickenpox--for fans of Guts and Allergic. All big sister...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

The many misfortunes of Eugenia Wang
Yan, Stan
In this "unique, amusing, and compulsively readable" (School Library Journal, starred review) debut graphic novel, a girl born on a day considered unlucky in Chinese superstition starts to wonder if she really is cursed when she's troubled by visions of...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Rick Kotani's 400 million dollar summer
Brown, Waka T.
Paper Book
Oregon Book Award-winning author Waka T. Brown hits a home run in this middle grade novel about a baseball-obsessed twelve-year-old who moves to Oregon to help his grandfather--an elusive old man with a shrouded past--but ends up learning unexpected truths about his family and how...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

A study in secrets
Florence, Debbi Michiko
Paper Book
Only Murders in the Building meets Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library in this "intriguing, fast-paced" (School Library Journal) novel about a girl pulled into a mysterious treasure hunt at her new boarding school. Ever since her mom passed away, twelve-year...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Dreamslinger
Kim, Graci
Paper Book
Amari and the Night Brothers meets Pokémon in this thrilling start to Graci Kim's brand-new fantasy series where dragons and phoenixes roam the skies of Seoul; meals magically appear based on your mood; and dreams literally come to life Fourteen-year-old Aria Loveridge...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

The best worst summer of Esme Sun : a novel
Shang, Wendy Wan Long
Paper Book
Award-winning author Wendy Wan-Long Shang dives in to the deep end of sportsmanship, prejudice, and the power of friendship in this funny, heartfelt story about two very different girls and one shared passion: swimming. Esme Sun absolutely does not care about winning shiny...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Don't cause trouble
Chung, Arree
Twelve-year-old Ming Lee hopes middle school will be the fresh start he needs. But stepping into school with the same bowl haircut his mom insists on giving him, and wearing the extra-discounted thrift shop clothes she buys him doesn't quite make for the first day of his dreams...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Fresh start
Galligan, Gale
Paper Book
Outstanding Comics Award for Children Honor Book * Asian/Pacific American Award Honor Book From New York Times bestselling author Gale Galligan comes a funny and vibrant semi-autobiographical middle-grade graphic novel about friendship and belonging. Ollie Herisson's...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Outsider kids
Tang, Betty C.
Paper Book
Can one spoiled cousin upend three kids' hard-won happiness? Find out in this hilarious, big-hearted, high stakes companion to the award-winning bestseller Parachute Kids! Perfect for fans of School Trip, A First Time for Everything, The Tryout, and The Squad...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

My Vesak : day of Buddha
Kumari, Priya
First picture book on a Buddhist Holiday published in the United States My Vesak: Day of Buddha (also known as Buddha Purnima) is an inspiring picture book that brings to life the global celebration of Vesak, honoring the Buddha. Young readers are introduced to the origins...

Holiday Book (Age 4-8)

The moon rabbit : a celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival
Wong Nava, Eva
Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with a luminous read-aloud about the joys of family, sharing stories, and keeping tradition alive across generations. "See that, Mama? See the rabbit?" I say, spotting the shadows on the moon's face. "Yes, my precious. It's...

Holiday Book (Age 4-8)

Clear and bright : a Ching Ming Festival story
Robeson, Teresa
Paper Book
In this story about the Ching Ming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, a young girl and her Chinese-American family come together to share memories of the past over a delicious feast. In the spring, Lily and her relatives gather for the Ching Ming Festival to honor their beloved...

Holiday Book (Age 4-8)


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