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

Mindy Kim and the yummy seaweed business

Lee, Lyla

Paper Book

Fresh Off the Boat meets Junie B. Jones in this first novel in an adorable new chapter book series about Mindy Kim, a young Asian American girl who is starting a snack business! Mindy Kim just wants three things: 1. A puppy! 2. To fit in at her new school ...

An elementary school students starts a seaweed snack business and helps her classmates learn to love a new-to-them food, perfect for fans of The Baby-Sitters Club. (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)

The tryout

Soontornvat, Christina

Paper Book

Could anything be more mortifying than trying out for cheerleader in front of your whole grade? This hilarious, highly relatable story will make you laugh, cry, and cheer! Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier. An Instant #1 Bestseller! "A captivating middle...

Based on a true story from the author's childhood, this novel about trying out for the middle school cheerleading squad is a perfect fit for friends of Smile and Real Friends. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Front desk

Yang, Kelly

Paper Book

An empowering story of empathy, courage, and hope, based on the author's real-life experience immigrating to the US as a child and working at the front desk of the motel where her parents work. Ten year-old Mia Tang moved to the US for a better life, a freer life, but...

Mia, an aspiring writer and recent immigrant from China, helps her parents run an Anaheim motel in 1990s LA. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Prairie lotus

Park, Linda Sue

Paper Book

Prairie Lotus is a powerful, touching, multilayered novel about a girl determined to fit in and realize her dreams: getting an education, becoming a dressmaker in her father's shop, and making at least one friend. Acclaimed, award-winning author Linda Sue Park has placed a young half-Asian...

A biracial Asian girl who longs to be a dressmaker settles in a small South Dakota town inspired by the Little House on the Prairie books. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Maizy Chen's last chance

Yee, Lisa

Ebook

NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER * NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST * ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR YOUTH LITERATURE Twelve year-old Maizy discovers her family's Chinese restaurant is full of secrets in this irresistible novel that celebrates food, fortune, and family. NAMED...

After her grandfather falls ill, a young teen from LA spends a summer in the Midwest helping out at her grandparents' restaurant and learning more about her heritage. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Unsettled

Faruqi, Reem

Paper Book

A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year · Kid's Indie Next List · Featured in Today Show's AAPI Heritage Month list · A Kirkus Children's Best Book of 2021 · A National Council of Teachers of English Notable Verse Novel · Jane Addams 2022 Children's Book Award Finalist · 2021...

In this novel in verse, a Pakistani girl struggles to adjust to life in America after her father gets a new job in Peachtree, Georgia. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Stargazing

Wang, Jen

Paper Book

Stargazing is a heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel in the spirit of Frizzy and Mexikid, from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Jen Wang. Moon is everything Christine isn't. She's confident, impulsive, artistic . . . and though they...

Compulsive rule-follower Christine is drawn to impulsive, artistic Moon, but Moon's free-wheeling ways are related to a burgeoning health crisis. (Children's Graphic Novels Grades 3-5)

Keep it together, Keiko Carter

Florence, Debbi Michiko

Paper Book

Fans of Wendy Mass and Lisa Greenwald are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sweet story about first crushes, friendship drama, and finding the courage to stand up for yourself.Seventh grade is supposed to be a game changer. And Keiko thinks she's got it covered, especially with Audrey and Jenna...

Keiko finds herself stuck in the middle between two best friends, one who throws herself headlong into makeup and dating and one who doesn't. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Pahua and the soul stealer

Lee, Lori M.

Paper Book

"I love the adventures Pahua has in this book. I also love the sense of humor, the clever plotting, and the fantastic cast of characters. But most of all I love Pahua- her courage, her kindness, and her love for family."--NYT best-selling author Rick Riordan Winner...

A Hmong teen discovers she's a legendary shaman warrior when she rescues her brother's spirit from the underworld in this Rick Riordan Presents fantasy adventure. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

That thing about Bollywood

Kelkar, Supriya

Paper Book

Bollywood takes over in this "effervescent" (Booklist) and magical middle grade novel about an Indian American girl whose world turns upside down when she involuntarily starts bursting into glamorous song-and-dance routines during everyday life. You know how in Bollywood...

An Indian American middle schooler refuses to acknowledge her difficult feelings around her parents' divorce until she begins spontaneously breaking out in Bollywood-style song and dance routines to express her feelings. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Living with Viola

Fung, Rosena

Paper Book

"unforgettable . . . will shake middle grade readers to the core"--School Library Journal, starred review "Beautifully illustrated, relatable, and genuine." --Molly Brooks, creator of Sanity & Tallulah "Everyone needs to buy this book now. ...

A graphic novel that explores anxiety and mental illness from the perspective of a Chinese Canadian middle schooler. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Measuring up

LaMotte, Lily

Paper Book

An ALA Top 10 Graphic Novel of 2021 · A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection · Fall 2020 Kids Indie Next List · Featured in Today Show's AAPI Heritage Month List · Amazon Best Books November Selection · Cybils Awards Finalist · An NBC AAPI Selection · Featured in...

A young cook and recent immigrant from Taiwan enters a cooking competition, where she hopes to use her Taiwanese culinary skills to win enough money to visit her grandmother. (Children's Graphic Novel Grades 3-5)

More to the story

Khan, Hena

Paper Book

From the critically acclaimed author of Amina's Voice comes a new story inspired by Louisa May Alcott's beloved classic, Little Women, featuring four sisters from a modern American Muslim family living in Georgia. When Jameela Mirza is picked to be feature editor of...

A retelling of Little Women starring a Pakistani Muslim American family living in modern-day Georgia. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The last fallen star

Kim, Graci

Paper Book

Riley Oh can't wait to see her sister get initiated into the Gom clan, a powerful lineage of Korean healing witches their family has belonged to for generations. Her sister, Hattie, will earn her Gi bracelet and finally be able to cast spells without adult supervision. Although Riley is desperate to...

A Korean American girl attempts to include her adopted sister in the family's magic with disastrous results. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Lei and the fire goddess

Maunakea, Malia

Paper Book

"Lei and the Fire Goddess blends preteen angst and beloved Hawaiian moʻolelo in a way that hasn't been done before." --Auliʻi Cravalho, actress and voice of Disney's Princess Moana Curses aren't real. At least, that's what twelve-year-old...

A Hawai'ian teen whose lost interest in continuing her family's storytelling traditions must lift a family curse after insulting the volcano goddess, Pele. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Inside out & back again

Lai, Thanhha.

Paper Book

Inside Out and Back Again is a #1 New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor Book, and a winner of the National Book Award! Inspired by the author's childhood experience as a refugee--fleeing Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama--this coming-of-age debut novel told...

A novel in verse inspired by the author's childhood, when her family settled in Alabama in 1975 following the Vietnam War. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Ghost book

Lai, Remy

Paper Book

Perfect for fans of Spirited Away, Coco, and Ghosts comes a spooky fantasy graphic novel about the friendship between a girl who can see ghosts and a boy who is stuck between the worlds of the living and the dead. An Indie Bestseller! An Amazon,...

A girl who can talk to ghosts befriends a spirit during Hungry Ghost month in this funny graphic novel from Chinese Australian author Remy Lai. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Troublemaker

Cho, John

Paper Book

An instant New York Times bestseller! An Indiebound bestseller! An Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book! Troublemaker follows the events of the LA Riots through the eyes of 12-year-old Jordan...

A Korean American middle schooler experiences the 1992 LA riots while crossing the city to help his dad at their family store in Koreatown. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

When you trap a tiger

Keller, Tae

Paper Book

WINNER OF THE NEWBERY MEDAL * WINNER OF THE ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE * #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A PARADE BEST KIDS BOOK OF ALL TIME * A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST MIDDLE GRADE BOOK OF THE CENTURY Would you make a...

A young teen girl learns about her family history through the power of stories when she goes to stay with her aging halmoni. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Shakti

Sindu, SJ

Paper Book

A fierce, feminist, and fun middle grade fantasy graphic novel about a twelve-year-old Indian American girl named Shakti who must learn the power of her ancestral magic if she wants to save her family and town from a dangerous curse. Written by Stonewall Honor Book recipient and Lambda Literary...

After an attempt to use ancient magic to stop a group of bullies accidentally curses her town, an Indian American tween must make peace with herself in order to save it. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Mabuhay!

Sterling, Zack

Paper Book

An Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (APALA) Honor Book An Eisner Award Nominee From rising star Zachary Sterling comes a humorous and heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel that celebrates food, family, and folklore. Can two kids save the...

Two teen who are less than enthused about helping with their family's Filipino food truck find themselves cursed by monsters from Filipino folklore. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

A sky of paper stars

Yi, Susie

Paper Book

A Sky of Paper Stars is a heartrending middle-grade graphic novel by Susie Yi about a girl's ill-fated wish to fit in, perfect for readers of Stargazing and Pashmina. All Yuna wants is to belong. She wants to go to sleepovers, have a smart...

A Korean American girl struggling to fit in with her classmates navigates grief while mourning the death of her grandparents. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Finding Junie Kim

Oh, Ellen

Paper Book

For fans of Inside Out and Back Again and Amina's Voice comes a breathtaking story of family, hope, and survival from Ellen Oh, cofounder of We Need Diverse Books. When Junie Kim is faced with middle school racism, she learns of her grandparents' extraordinary strength and...

Learning about her Korean family history helps a bullied middle schooler gain confidence. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

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

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