AAPI Books for Kids

There is joy in seeing yourself reflected in books and there is knowledge in reading other’s stories. This list is a selection of books featuring characters and cultures of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Updated June 25, 2026
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Buffalo and Erie County Public Library Buffalo and Erie County Public Library
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AAPI Books for Kids

There is joy in seeing yourself reflected in books and there is knowledge in reading other’s stories. This list is a selection of books featuring characters and cultures of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

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The yellow áo dài
Bui, Hanh.
Paper Book
Lovingly illustrated by Minnie Phan, Hanh Bui's debut picture book, The Yellow Áo Dài, is a warm story of family, identity, and remembering those who came before. Naliah is excited to perform a traditional Vietnamese Fan Dance at her school's International Day. When she...
When Cherry Blossoms Fall
Goldsaito, Katrina
Paper Book
Celebrate springtime and the beauty of life with this hopeful and inspiring picture book. "We wait for so long, and when they finally come, the petals fall so quickly. Mono no aware, ne?"   "What does that mean, mono no aware...
Gwei the hungry ghost
Lee, Emeline
A picture book about a lonely ghost who learns to share and is finally fulfilled through friendship. Gwei the ghost is absolutely famished, but unlike the other ghosts in the cemetery, he won't eat just anything. Luckily, it's Ghost Festival month: the one time a year when...
Navigating Night
Leung, Julie
Paper Book
A girl guides her dad on his route delivering Chinese take-out food in this touching picture book -- written by an APALA award winner and illustrated by a Caldecott Honor winner -- that celebrates the unique bond between immigrant parents and their children. Every night, a girl...
My footprints
Phi, Bao, 1975- author.
Paper Book
Every child feels different in some way, but Thuy feels "double different." She is Vietnamese American and she has two moms. Thuy walks home one winter afternoon, angry and lonely after a bully's taunts. Then a bird catches her attention and sets Thuy on an imaginary exploration. What if she could...
Bilal cooks daal
Saeed, Aisha
Paper Book
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2019 An Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book 2019 Six-year-old Bilal introduces his friends to his favorite dish--daal!--in this charming picture book that showcases the value of patience, teamwork,...
Mango memories
Singh, Sita
Paper Book
Here is a completely captivating picture book that celebrates family, tradition...and mangoes! Every summer, the branches of a little girl's favorite tree droops heavy with mangoes. And this year, she is finally old enough to help her family harvest them. Her...
A garden in my hands
Sriram, Meera
Paper Book
This touching picture book celebrates the custom of applying henna for special occasions through a mother and daughter who share family memories and stories. The sweet smell of henna, and stories we carry, fill us with pride of a faraway home. There's a...
Watercress
Wang, Andrea
Paper Book
Caldecott Medal Winner Newbery Honor Book APALA Award Winner A story about the power of sharing memories--including the painful ones--and the way our heritage stays with and shapes us, even when we don't see it. While driving through Ohio in an old...
Snow angel, sand angel
Yamanaka, Lois-Ann
Paper Book
A celebration of home, family, and finding beauty in your heritage, beautifully illustrated by the artist behind Anti-Racist Baby. Claire has been surrounded by the deep blue waves of Hapuna Beach and the magnificent mountains of Hawai'i all her life, but has never,...
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https://librarian.syndetics.com/syndeticsunbound/lp/944.1309/list/8097

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