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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Jukebox
Chanani, Nidhi
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
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...
Sea Sirens
Chu, Amy
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...
The revolutionary spirit in France and America
Fačy, Bernard
I am an amazing, adaptable, aspiring Asian girl! Everyone tells me so! Follow a journey of positive affirmations as our young narrator embraces her culture and is proud of her identity. This amazing Asian girl is ready to take on the world and remind readers how awesome they are along the way!
The revolutionary spirit in France and America
Fačy, Bernard
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!
Nana, Nenek & Nina
Ferneyhough, Liza
***ALA Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature honor*** Nina loves visiting her two faraway grandmas-one in Malaysia and one in England. Spot the similarities and differences between their homes in this cozy and beautifully illustrated picture book! Nina lives in...
Jasmine Toguchi, flamingo keeper
Florence, Debbi Michiko
*A fun activity included in every book!* A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2018 Jasmine's best friend, Linnie, has just gotten a puppy. And now Jasmine wants a pet of her own--a flamingo! So when her grandmother sends Jasmine a daruma doll as a surprise gift,...
Ho'onani : hula warrior
Gale, Heather (Children's author)
An empowering celebration of identity, acceptance and Hawaiian culture based on the true story of a young girl in Hawaiʻi who dreams of leading the boys-only hula troupe at her school. Ho'onani feels in-between. She doesn't see herself as wahine (girl) OR kane...
American desi
Gopal, Jyoti Rajan
For fans of Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, this poetic story filled with expressive art empowers South Asian children living in the United States and celebrates being bicultural. Pavadais in bright gold colors Jersey shirts and faded jeans
Samira surfs
Guidroz, Rukhsanna
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
"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...
Ten blocks to the Big Wok : a Chinatown counting book
Hu, Ying-Hwa
This charming bilingual English/Mandarin counting book uses a stroll through Chinatown to introduce readers to the numbers one through ten in Chinese ... and will leave you hungry besides! As Mia and her uncle Eddie travel the ten blocks from their apartment to the Big Wok...
Brown is beautiful
Kelkar, Supriya
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
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
The sequel to the Asian Pacific American Honor winner. Danbi's favourite 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...
Kimchi, kimchi every day
Kim, Erica
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-illustrator...
'Ohana means family
Loomis, Ilima
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...
Calling the wind : a story of healing and hope
Ludwig, Trudy
Inspired by the Wind Telephone in Japan, this poignant story explores the stages of grief, the healing power of hope, and the unbreakable family bonds that connect us all. From the acclaimed author of The Invisible Boy and the award-winning illustrator of One. In a...
Chef Roy Choi and the street food remix
Martin, Jacqueline Briggs
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
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...
You are life
Phi, Bao
"An affirmation for Asian American youth." --Kirkus ReviewsYou are . . . You are . . . You are . . . Every child is bursting with amazing things! This joyful picture book celebrates the wonderful and complex identities of children of immigrants and refugees. Through poetic text, acclaimed author Bao...
Holi hai!
Soundar, Chitra
"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
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...
My bindi
Varadarajan, Gita
In this universal story about embracing who we are and where we come from, a young girl finds the magic and power of wearing a bindi for the first time, in this moving and lyrical picture book debut from Gita Varadarajan. There in the mirror, I see a shining star. My...
Stargazing
Wang, Jen
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
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
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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