Children's Books for AAPI Heritage Month

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Check out some of the books below to celebrate!

Updated April 25, 2023
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I Am a Bold Asian Boy: A Positive Affirmation Book for Asian Boys (Asian Family Series)
Yobe Qiu
Paper Book
I am a bold, beautiful and brilliant Asian boy! Follow a journey of confidence and positive affirmations as our narrator discovers his strength, courage, and cultural identity. This bold Asian boy dreams big and plans to discover the world, all while reminding young readers what makes them so great!
Jukebox
Chanani, Nidhi
Paper Book
Grab some coins for the jukebox, and get ready for a colorful, time-traveling, musical tale about family and courage. A mysterious jukebox, old vinyl records, and cryptic notes on music history, are Shaheen's only clues to her father's abrupt disappearance. She looks to her...
Troublemaker
Cho, John
Paper Book
An instant New York Times bestselller! An Indiebound bestseller! 12-year-old Jordan feels like he can't live up to the example his older sister set, or his parent's expectations. When he returns home from school one day hoping to hide his suspension, Los Angeles...
Sea Sirens
Chu, Amy
Paper Book
Dive into this visually stunning, middle-grade graphic novel about a spunky Vietnamese American surfer girl and her cantankerous talking cat who plunge into a fantasy world of oceanic marvels . . . and mayhem! Trot, a Vietnamese American surfer girl, and Cap'n Bill, her cranky...
Ho'onani : hula warrior
Gale, Heather (Children's author)
Paper Book
Based on a true story, Ho'onani: Hula Warrior is a celebration of Hawaiian culture and an empowering story of a girl who learns to lead and learns to accept who she really is - and in doing so, gains the respect of all those around her.
American desi
Gopal, Jyoti Rajan
Paper Book
Pavadais in bright gold colors Jersey shirts and faded jeans Swapping, changing, feeling seen... Which is the color of me? A young girl longs to know where she fits in: Is she American? Or is she Indian? Does she have to pick or can she be both? With bright,...
Samira surfs
Guidroz, Rukhsanna
Paper Book
A middle grade novel in verse about Samira, an eleven-year-old Rohingya refugee living in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, who finds strength and sisterhood in a local surf club for girls. Samira thinks of her life as before and after- before the burning and violence in her village in...
One day
Ho, Joanna
Paper Book
"An affirming and enchanting love letter from parent to child." -- Kirkus (starred review) "The heartfelt title will be welcomed by new parents as the narrator voices the universal dream of wishing the best in life for their newborn." --Booklist "It's cozy and hopeful...
Brown is beautiful
Kelkar, Supriya
Paper Book
For fans of Hair Love and Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, here is an empowering picture book about recognizing the beauty around you and within you by award-winning author Supriya Kelkar and rising star illustrator Noor Sofi. Brown is beautiful.
The legend of auntie Po
Khor, Shing Yin
Paper Book
A NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST Part historical fiction, part fable, and 100 percent adventure. Thirteen-year-old Mei reimagines the myths of Paul Bunyan as starring a Chinese heroine while she works in a Sierra Nevada logging camp in 1885. Aware of the racial tumult...
Danbi's favorite day
Kim, Anna
Paper Book
The sequel to the Asian Pacific American Honor winner. Danbi's favorite day is here! Thrilled to invite her friends to celebrate Children's Day as she did in Korea, she promises kites, tigers, and magic train rides. But when the reality of a picnic behind her parents...
Kimchi, kimchi every day
Kim, Erica
Paper Book
Whether round and crunchy like a kimchi pancake or pinched and plump like a kimchi dumpling, there are so many ways to enjoy this Korean traditional dish. Explore the different ways to eat kimchi in this fun, rhyming tale that also teaches the days of the week. Korean-American author...
'Ohana means family
Loomis, Ilima
Paper Book
Join the family, or ohana, as they farm taro for poi to prepare for a traditional luau celebration with a poetic text in the style of The House That Jack Built. An American Library Association Notable Children's Book "This is the land that's never been...
Chef Roy Choi and the street food remix
Martin, Jacqueline Briggs
Paper Book
Chef Roy Choi calls himself a "street cook." He wants outsiders, low-riders, kids, teens, shufflers and skateboarders, to have food cooked with care, with love, with sohn maash. "Sohn maash" is the flavors in our fingertips. It is the love and...
Home is in between
Perkins, Mitali
Paper Book
In the timely yet timeless picture book Home Is in Between, critically acclaimed author Mitali Perkins and illustrator Lavanya Naidu describe the experience of navigating multiple cultures and embracing the complex but beautiful home in between. Shanti misses the warm...
Holi hai!
Soundar, Chitra
Paper Book
"Soundar's clear, concise text provides an excellent introduction to Holi and its significance, as well as a beautiful story about love and forgiveness, making it a great choice for reading alone or sharing with family."--Booklist Celebrate the...
Punky Aloha
Tuiasoa, Shar
Paper Book
Meet Punky Aloha: a girl who uses the power of saying "aloha" to experience exciting and unexpected adventures! Punky loves to do a lot of things--except meeting new friends. She doesn't feel brave enough. So when her grandmother asks her to go out and grab butter for...
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...
A boy named Isamu : a story of Isamu Noguchi
Yang, James
Paper Book
Awarded an Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Picture Book Honor, this stunning picture book brings to life the imagination of Japanese American artist, Isamu Noguchi. (Cover image may vary.) If you are Isamu, stones are the most special of all. ...
The dragon path
Young, Ethan
Paper Book
In this action-adventure fantasy, young Prince Sing must overcome monstrous obstacles to help his clan return to their homeland. The Wong Clan must leave their ruined homeland for a better life in the mythical Old Land, but to get there they must follow the dragon path, where their sworn enemies,...

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