Children's Book Suggestions | Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2025

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 2024 Picture Book and Chapter Book lists, browse the library catalog, or search for the name of a country or ethnic group.

More great books are honored annually with the Asian/Pacific American Literary Award (APALA).

P.S. Stay tuned for our Southeast Asian Heritage Month book list, coming August 2025!

Updated April 17, 2025
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
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Eyes that weave the world's wonders
Ho, Joanna
Paper Book
"Ho now creates a beautiful book about family: what makes individuals and what connects us to one another. This book is a perfect addition to any children's shelf, whether aimed at families, adoption, multicultural stories, or topics of love and ­acceptance." --School Library...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Home in a lunchbox
Mo, Cherry
Paper Book
**WINNER OF THE CALDECOTT HONOR** Cherry Mo's stunning debut is about a young girl who immigrates to America and finds home in an unexpected place. When Jun moves from Hong Kong to America, the only words she knows are hello, thank you, I don't know,...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Gigi and Ojiji : perfect paper cranes
Iwai, Melissa
Paper Book
A Children's Book Committee Best Book of the Year! "A cheery, gentle lesson on the importance of "practice makes ­perfect." --School Library Journal (starred review) A Geisel Honor-winning series! Gigi loves the Japan Day Festival! When Ojiji volunteers at the origami booth,...

Early Reader (Level 3)

Magnolia Wu unfolds it all
Miller, Chanel
Paper Book
A Newbery Honor book and instant New York Times, USA Today, and indie bestseller! Award-winning author and artist Chanel Miller tells a fun, funny, and poignant story of friendship and community starring Magnolia Wu, a ten-year-old sock detective bent on...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Summer at Squee
Wang, Andrea
Paper Book
From Newbery Honor-winning author Andrea Wang, a new middle grade novel about a Chinese American tween who attends a Boston-based Chinese cultural overnight camp--and the many ways it transforms her. Phoenny Fang plans to have the best summer ever. She's returning to...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Finally heard
Yang, Kelly
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling author of Front Desk comes the sequel to Finally Seen "that tackles tweenhood and technology woes head-on" (School Library Journal, starred review) when Lina tries to navigate social media, only to discover not everything online is...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Unhappy camper
LaMotte, Lily
Paper Book
"Moments of humor captured through playful anime-like facial expressions and gestures propel the plot forward in whimsical fashion." --The Horn Book "With compassion, the story teaches the benefits of embracing one's identity... A worthy addition to any middle or high school...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Gigi Shin is not a nerd
Lee, Lyla
Paper Book
This first book in a sparkling middle grade series "reminiscent of Ann M. Martin's Baby-Sitters Club books" (Kirkus Reviews) follows a young Korean American girl who starts a business with her best friends to support her artistic dreams. Jiyoung "Gigi" Shin loves to create...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

The spindle of fate
Lim, Aimee
Paper Book
When Evie Mei discovers that her recently passed mother was the head of a guild of magical weavers, she enters the Chinese netherworld to try and bring her back in this middle-grade debut. AN EDGAR AWARD NOMINEE Twelve-year-old Evie Mei Huang...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

The magic paintbrush
Zhang, Kat
Paper Book
In the second book of this epic fantasy series, eleven year old Amy's malfunctioning paintbrush accidentally paints a portal to a mythical world! But when she discovers that the paintbrush is running out of power, Amy must undergo a Trial to prove her worth as the guardian of the magic paintbrush...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Uprooted : a memoir about what happens when your family moves back
Chan, Ruth
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of New Kid and A First Time for Everything, a joyful and tearful debut middle grade graphic memoir about one girl being uprooted when she moves to Hong Kong, a place where her family fits in but, for her, it's nothing like home. Ruth Chan loves...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

The squad
Soontornvat, Christina
Paper Book
Break out your pom poms! The highly anticipated, stand-alone companion to the instant #1 bestseller The Tryout promises even more cheer, higher stakes, and relatable middle-school drama. Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier. "Raw, candid, moving, and full of heart." -Betty C....

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Made in Asian America : a history for young people
Lee, Erika
Paper Book
"Powerful. . . . Made in Asian America isn't just about the past. It's about the history being made right now by young people, inspired by the Asian Americans who came before them to ensure that our stories are not only heard, but also remembered." --Paula Yoo, The New York Times...

Children's Nonfiction (Age 10-14)

My lost freedom : a Japanese American WWII story
Takei, George
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A CALIBA GOLDEN POPPY AWARD WINNER * A moving, beautifully illustrated true story for children ages 6 to 9 about growing up in Japanese American incarceration camps during World War II--from the iconic Star Trek actor, activist, and author of the New...

Children's Nonfiction (Age 6-9)


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