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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Fireworks
Burgess, Matthew
Fireworks is a sparkling picture book from the award-winning team of Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien, highlighting the simple delights of a steamy July day in the city as two siblings eagerly anticipate a spectacular fireworks display. POP! As a hot day sizzles into...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

So-Hee and Lowy
Kang, Anna
Paper Book
A Read With Jenna Jr. Summer Pick! From the creators of Theodor Seuss Geisel winner You Are (Not) Small and Christopher Award winner Eraser comes a heartfelt story about the power of friendship. So-Hee is lonely. She doesn't have a brother or sister, nor...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Blue sky morning
Kim, Jihyun (Illustrator)
Paper Book
Named a Best Book of 2025 by The Center for the Study of Multicultural Childrens Literature Eunny and Mama notice the beauty of an ordinary day in this mindful picture book from the creator of The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky. Eunny wakes up slowly. Soon it's time for...

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)

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)

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! This gorgeous DELUXE LIMITED EDITION available...

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 battle of the beasts
Lam, Maple
Paper Book
Percy Jackson meets Dragon Ball in the second book of this adorable, funny, and action-packed graphic novel series! Now the Monkey King and his sidekick Cerberus are bursting into the world of Japanese folklore! Monsters of the East, beware! Sun Wukong (aka the Monkey King...

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)


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