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
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Fireworks
Burgess, Matthew
Paper Book
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)

What if we...
Chang, Vivienne
Paper Book
A USA Today Bestseller! In this charming sibling bond picture book, a young boy fights boredom by imagining all the adventures he could have, but forgets that he has a built in adventure partner with right by his side. It's only...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

The jade bracelet
Dinh, Hà
Paper Book
When the girls at school show off their shiny new bracelets, newly arrived immigrant Tien is embarrassed by the plain jade bracelet she wears as a symbol of her Vietnamese heritage. Although Tien loves the Vietnamese traditions her family celebrates, more than anything she wants...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Broken
Fang, X.
Paper Book
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)

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)

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)

Tiger, don't worry!
Ma, Daishu
Paper Book
The adorable duo are back! In this heart-warming tale of friendship, responsibility and courage, Mei and her exuberant friend Tiger eagerly try to help make tea, but their efforts lead to broken tools and panic! Fearing being scolded, they run away, but Mei soon realises the importance of...

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
Paper Book
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)

Yelp! yeti! : chaos in Kathmandu
Pradhan, Sneha
Paper Book
Dev and his pet cat, Tuna, spot a Yeti in the city, but no one will believe them! A fun-packed action and adventure graphic reader set in Nepal, for young comic fans. Dev and his pet cat, Tuna, are ready for a summer of sleepovers, endless games...

Bridging Graphic Novel (Grades 2-4)

The nine moons of Han Yu and Luli
Glaser, Karina Yan
Paper Book
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)

Theo Chang is not a cat
Jung, Mike
Paper Book
Meet the kids in Mrs. Z's wacky and wonderful third grade class! Theo Chang is thrilled his family adopted a new cat, but the cat is less thrilled about his new home. Can Theo find a way to befriend the kitty before his family gives up and takes him back to the shelter? ...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Your turn Marisol Rainey
Kelly, Erin Entrada
Paper Book
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 (Standard Edition)
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)

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
Paper Book
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)

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 Vale
Wen, Abigail Hing
Paper Book
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ABA Regional Bestseller "Ambitious . . . themes of family, friendship, and personal integrity shine." --Kirkus Reviews "A highly engaging journey of connection and transformation and an innovative...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Don't Cause Trouble
Chung, Arree
Paper Book
★ "Real life" inspired Chung's graphic novel debut, which uses vibrant, vivacious, full-color panels."--Booklist, starred review "Perfectly capturing the experience of navigating middle school as the child of immigrants, this heartfelt and funny title is a must-have for...

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)

A line can go anywhere : the brilliant, resilient life of artist Ruth Asawa
McAlister, Caroline
Paper Book
A sweeping picture book biography about influential Japanese-American sculptor Aiko Ruth Asawa and her childhood spent in an incarceration camp, by award-winning author Caroline McAlister and rising star artist Jamie Green. Growing up on a dusty farm in Southern California,...

Children's Nonfiction (Age 8-12)

Giving thanks with halmoni : celebrating Chuseok, the Korean harvest festival
Choi, Kathleen
Paper Book
Excitement is building for Chuseok, the biggest Korean holiday of the year, and Halmoni wants to share it with her granddaughter and her friends. With a dearth of picture books about Chuseok, this book should be a welcome addition to the literature about the celebration. Su...

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)


Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.