75 Brilliant Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (AAPI) Children’s Books

May 1 begins Asian American Pacific Islander American Heritage Month (AAPI month)! To celebrate, you can read these brilliant children’s books with Asian and Pacific Islander representation. 

Not only are the books beautiful and well-written stories, but they also are tools for inclusivity, education, and empathy building. You’ll find picture books, chapter books, middle grade books, and a few YA books, all of which I’ve personally read and reviewed.

Before, during, and after reading, TALK about these AAPI heritage month stories.

Ask children, “What do you have in common with the characters?”

If the culture is new to readers, ask children, “What did you learn about the characters or culture?”

Finally, in the wake of violence against Asian Americans, it’s more important than ever to discuss kindness towards other people, all people.

Model that you are a kind person and help your child know that you want them to show kindness and support towards people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent.

Asia and the Pacific Islands are comprised of many countries and cultures.

To that end, I also have other book lists representing more specific AAPI countries and areas of the world:

• Southeast Asia (Chapter & middle-grade books set in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh)
• India
• Japan
• China
• East Asia (Books set in China, Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Taiwan)
• Muslim Main Characters

Below, you’ll find the following:
(Click to jump to the section you want.)

Children’s Books to Read for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (AAPI)

Picture Books for AAPI Heritage Month

Hot Pot Night! by Vincent Chen
Lyrical, simple, and repetitive language narrates the story of a young boy whose neighbors contribute ingredients and tools to make a hot pot communal meal. This meal brings many people by preparing and sharing a meal. “Hot pot, hot pot, let’s have a hot pot!”

Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dung Ho
“I have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea.” I can’t get enough of this beautiful book. It’s a sensory, lyrical celebration of Asian eyes; a body-positive ode filled with self-acceptance and confidence as a little girl shares her thoughts on who she is and who the women in her family are including her little sister and her Amah. “My eyes crinkle into crescents moons and sparkle like the stars. Gold flecks dance and twirl while stories whirl in their oolong pools, carrying tales of the past and hope for the future.”

Eyes That Speak to the Stars by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dung Ho
The little boy feels sad seeing a classmate’s hurtful picture showing his eyes as two lines. Later, looking at Agong’s wise eyes and Di-Di’s (baby brother) eyes like his, eyes that Baba says rise up to the sky and speak to the stars, the boy feels pride in his powerful, visionary eyes. Empowering and important.

Natsumi by Susan Lendroth, illustrated by Priscilla Burris
In a story rich with Japanese culture and acceptance for individuality, you’ll love Natsumi, a little girl who likes to do everything with exuberance. All other adults tell Natsumi to not be so loud, hard, or fast — but not Grandfather. Grandfather doesn’t scold her. He sees Natsumi’s strengths so he takes her to taiko drumming classes … where she can be herself — loud and fast!

Gibberish by Young Vo
Brilliant, metaphorical illustrations move from cartooney black and white to realistic color to illuminate Vo’s exceptional storytelling. Dat moves to a new country where he doesn’t speak the language– it sounds like gibberish. And gibberish is everywhere–the books and the air. Until someone unexpected drops in– and his new friend Julie helps Dat learn words. One friend makes all the difference. It’s a must-share book that beautifully shows the challenges of language learning.

Ramen for Everyone by Patricia Tanumihardja, illustrated by Shiho Pate
Hiro loves his dad’s ramen. He wants to make his own ramen and share it with his family. But his attempts fail — and with anger, he throws it all in the trash. His dad reminds him that Hiro’s family appreciates his cooking and it doesn’t have to be perfect. So Hiro starts again and customizes his bowls of ramen noodles for each person with things that they like and that Hiro can cook. (Growth mindset!)

Friends are Friends Forever by Dane Liu, illustrated by Lynn Scurfield
It’s hard to move to a new country! When Dandan moves to America, what helps the most is making a new friend; it makes life and learning a language easier. Dandan invites her new friend to celebrate Lunar New Year at her house, just like she used to in China with her best friend there. The new friends eat special food and make red paper ornaments together in a celebration of friendship. Stunning illustrations.

Ten Blocks to the Big Wok by Ying-Hwa Hu
Bilingual in English and Mandarin, this is a playful story of a girl and her dad walking ten blocks through Chinatown, counting things they see like four miniature trees on the fourth block and seven silk fans on the seventh block. When they arrive at the restaurant for dim sum, they count the delicious foods–9 fried wontons, 8 shumai, 7 tofu-shin rolls, and more.

The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Khoa Ld
Kalia’s Hmong family doesn’t have much money but they do have, her grandma helps her see, is beauty, heritage, and love.

‘Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis, illustrated by Kenard Pak
In the tradition of the cumulative poem, “This is the House that Jack Built“, this mesmerizing version shares a Hawaiian cultural tradition of making poi for an ohana’s lu’au. Pak’s atmospheric, stylized watercolor illustrations and Loomis’s lyrical text show the many “hardworking hands, so wise and old, that pick the kalo to make the poi to share with ‘ohana, the loved ones.” Readers see the ohana’s connection to the earth in rain, sun, and mud. Finally, the family gathers at the end of the day together on a beach to eat and celebrate.

Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed, illustrated by Anoosha Syed
Bilal tells his friends all about daal. Together, they carefully prepare the ingredients, then wait as the flavors mix together. While they’re waiting, they play outside. Finally, the daal is ready for more ingredients and the best part of all — eating! This story makes me want to eat daal, too — it’s a savory introduction to this lentil dish from South Asia as well as a warm-hearted example of sharing traditional foods with friends from other cultures. 

The Bath House by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Gracey Zhang
Experience a happy day spent in the bath with your beloved aunties and grandma (baachan); it’s a day that celebrates a Japanese cultural tradition from the author’s own childhood as well as families and female bodies of all shapes and sizes. Yes, this book shows naked bodies with hair and plenty of details. “You’ll all dip your bodies, your newly sprouting, gangly bodies, your saggy, shapely, jiggly bodies, your cozy, creased, ancient bodies. Beautiful bodies.”

Our Favorite Day by Joowon Oh
There’s a beauty in the predictability and minimal description of Papa’s daily routine. He gets up, drinks tea, waters the plants, and eventually goes into town. He gets his favorite lunch–dumplings. But on Thursday, it’s slightly different. In town, he buys craft supplies and gets two orders of dumplings to go. Then, he spends the afternoon with his granddaughter who is just as happy to see him as he is to see her. I love the joy in this relationship! And, I adore the exquisite paper-cut illustrations.

Punky Aloha by Shar Tuiasoa
Grandma sends Punky to get her butter for the banana bread. To help her be brave about going alone, Grandma gives her magical brave glasses. Grandma reminds her to share her aloha, “Be helpful. Be giving. Be brave.” On the way to the market, Punky uses that advice and helps a pig, a bee, and a little boy.

A Morning with Grandpa by Sylvia Liu, illustrated by Christina Forshay
What strikes me immediately about this picture book is the warm-hearted, loving relationship between the grandpa and the granddaughter. Even when the granddaughter does things differently than her grandpa, he is very accepting of her silly ways. And vice-versa. In the end, they both learn from each other during their morning practices of Tai Chi and Yoga. Because it’s about being together, trying your best, and not being perfect.

The Katha Chest by Radhiah Chowdhury, illustrated by Lavanya Naidu
In a beautifully-narrated picture book with rich sensory images and gorgeous illustrations, Asiya looks through her beloved Nanu’s katha chest of quilts. For each treasured katha, she thinks of her female family members and their lives. “A thick white streak runs across another quilt like the white saris Choto Khala has worn since Khalu died. Asiya imagines it is the road to the village where Choto Khala still lives.”

Priya Dreams of Marigolds and Masala by Meenal Patel
When Priya helps her Babi Ba cook rotli, her Babi Ba shares her memories of India…the smell of roasted cumin and masala, the sound of motorbikes whizzing by, the taste of a steaming cup of cha, the feel of the hot sun on your face, views of arches and domes of the buildings, the rainbow of saris, and brightly colored marigolds. Later, Priya makes her Babi Ba paper orange marigolds for their doorway in the U.S. to remind her. I adore the writing, the illustrations, and the story that celebrate India’s culture as well as a close grandparent-grandchild relationship.

Amah Faraway by Margaret Chiu Greanias, illustrated by Tracy Subisak
A visit to a new country feels strange at first… Amah lives in Taipei. Kylie lives in San Francisco. Kylie and Mama fly to visit Amah who shows them around her city. Once there, Kylie feels uncomfortable shopping, eating the different foods, and listening to non-English words but a trip to the hot springs changes everything — and she embraces the parks, the shopping, the Chinese foods, and is having so much fun that she doesn’t want to leave. The book begins and ends in the same way with Kylie and Amah video chatting and a visit on a plane! Love this book ending technique, it feels very satisfying.

My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
Yoon loves writing her name in Korean but her father insists she must write her name in English. Yoon decides she isn’t sure about her name in English and wonders if another name would be better.

My Little Sister and Me by Maple Lam
Today is a big day for this big brother — he gets to walk his little sister home from the bus stop all by himself. As they journey home, you see a caring big brother and sister relationship that ends in a sweet thank you note from little sister to big brother.

Wishes by Muon Thi Van, illustrations by Victo Ngai
Gorgeous illustrations and lyrical text work together in beautiful harmony to narrate the bittersweet goodbye as a family leaves their Vietnamese village and travels by boat. They get picked up by a bigger boat and eventually arrive at a new city, a new home. It’s an important story arc of sad endings, challenging middles, and hopeful beginnings with room for inference and connection about the themes of family and feelings and the topic of immigration. “The light wished it was brighter. // The dream wished it was longer. //The clock wished it was slower.”

Drawn Together by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat
This beautiful story shows how art brings together two generations separated by language and age. Mostly wordless, this is almost a graphic novel with exquisite artwork in comic-style panels. A boy arrives at his grandfather’s house. He’s frustrated because his grandfather doesn’t speak English. The two eat in silence. Eventually, the boy begins drawing himself as a caped superhero. Excited, his grandfather draws himself as a superhero, too but one garbed in a traditional ceremonial dress. Their connection continues through art — each with his own unique style.

My First Day by Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien
WOW! The illustrations feel alive; they’re detailed, rich, and feel like an immersive cinematic experience. Lyrical, metaphorical writing narrates the story of a young Vietnamese boy who paddles his boat through the waves and into a dark mangrove forest towards his first day of school. It feels a little scary, but as he forges out of the forest, the fish-filled river and colorful sky begin to feel welcoming and friendly. “The sky is a crayon box full of colors for me to take flight–grow my own wings–a dance of storks and new worlds.” Soon, he arrives at school and waves hello to his classmates, also arriving in boats. A gorgeous story that shows one way that kids get to school.

The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar, illustrated by Alea Marley
A relatable story about feelings, moving homes, and finding a friend. Harpreet loves colors and expresses his feelings with the colors of his patkas which are a kind of turban that he wears each day. One of the best children’s picture books of 2019, this beautiful book includes some much-needed representation and addresses the importance of talking about feelings.

Sumo Joe by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Nat Iwata
Introduce your kids to two Japanese traditional martial arts — sumo and aikido in this story about a brother who likes sumo and a sister who prefers aikido. While the rhyming text is minimal, it is also full of rich vocabulary (with a glossary in the back). Sumo Joe and his friends playing sumo in the living room. Until Aikido Jo comes home. Then the siblings face-off and end with a pillow fight. It’s such a fun story that is sure to get your kids up out of their chairs to imitate the martial arts moves.

A Gift for Amma: Market Day in India by Meera Sriram, illustrated by Mariona Cabassa
A little girl excitedly explores the market to find her Amma a gift. She notices the colors — orange saffron and marigolds, white jasmine and goats, pink lotus flowers and sweets…I love how many senses the author engages from sights to sounds and tastes and smells. “Tumeric yellow like sunshine dust, Plenty of powdery spice at home. A yellow rickshaw pedals by — Ding-a-ling! I scoot to the side.” Beautiful illustrations perfectly illuminate the celebration of the market’s colors and the girl’s excitement.

The Sound of Silence by Katrina Goldsaito, illustrated by Julia Juo
You will adore the magical illustrations in this picture book that celebrates Tokyo, and one boy’s search for silence. He notices the sounds around him, the train, the bamboo groves, and more …until he realizes that “ma” is a silence inside of him.

Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang, illustrated by Charlene Chua
Amy can do a lot of things, but she can’t make bao very well. Amy watches the dough rise and her dad rolls the dough while Amy’s dad makes the filling. Amy tries to make her own bao, but she tries and tries, and she just can’t. Then Amy has a great idea — to make Amy-sized pieces. Perfect! They get boiled and taste delicious. Want to make bao? There’s a family recipe in the back. Read this yummy introduction to Chinese dumplings and creative problem solving.

Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers by Rajani LaRocca, illustrate by Chaaya Prabhat
To celebrate the Raksha Bandham holiday, Bina makes bracelets for her brothers meant to keep them safe. First, she surveys her brothers’ preferences for colors. Then, she makes bracelets with their favorite colors in patterns by problem-solving. Gorgeous artwork and likable main characters make this math-infused story a fun way to learn.

Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon by Kat Zhang, illustrated by Charlene Chua
The kids at Amy’s school draw western-looking dragons and when they say her (Eastern-looking) dragon doesn’t look like a dragon. At home, her grandmother tells her stories about dragons that bring down the rain, fly without wings, and are wise and just. Not only that, she lets Amy and her friends play with a dragon costume that they bring to school to show her classmates what Eastern dragons look like.

Under My Hijab by Hena Khan, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel
The significant women in this girl’s life wear hijabs and also, sometimes don’t. They inspire her with all that they do and who they are. It’s an important slice-of-life story featuring strong, inspiring Muslim women.

I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne, illustrated by Julia Kuo
A little girl remembers times with her beloved Popo…visiting the park, celebrating New Year’s Day, and looking at the globe to see where they are in Taiwan and where the girl will be moving, San Diego. She moves to the U.S. and thinks of Popo during her days, talks to her on video calls, and returns for a short visit. Even when Popo is gone from this world, she visits the little girl in her dreams and their love endures.

This Is Not My Home by Viviene Chang, illustrated by Eugenia Yoh
Lily’s mom moves them back to Taiwan to care for her Ah Ma and Lily has trouble adjusting. She misses home. But when her mom explains that Taiwan is her home and her people, she asks Lily if it can be both their homes. Lily’s new friends and her mom help her feel at home and happy in her new location.

Kunoichi Bunny by Sara Cassidy, illustrated by Brayden Sato
I love the art and the story in this charming and relatable wordless picture book. Follow along as a little girl, and her beloved stuffed animal bunny go on an adventure. Her Kunoichi Bunny gets dropped and found all over the city, including on the sidewalk, at the park, and on the bus. Then, finally, back at home, her dad washes the bunny.

A Different Pond by Bao Phi, illustrated by Thi Bui
A young boy wakes up early to go fishing with his dad. As they fish for their dinner, Bao helps his dad build a fire and put the fish in a bucket. While they’re together, Bao’s dad recalls fishing in his home country of Vietnam. The blue-black illustrations and precise prose help us feel the stillness of the early morning hours and the strong bond between father and son. Later that night, the entire family gathers together to eat the morning’s catch.

Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country by Kelly Yang, illustrated by various artists
An inspiring tribute to Asian Americans who said yes to belonging and thriving in this country despite prejudices. Each page in this brilliant AAPI Heritage book features a person who made a difference whether it was leading, telling stories, cooking, or going to space, along with the person’s name, title, and a gorgeous illustration from one of the many artists. 

Crouching Tiger by Ying Chang Compestine illustrated by Yan Nascimbene
This story captures a common story of feeling embarrassed about being different. When Vinson’s grandpa from China visits, Vinson is embarrassed. However, Vinson learns grandpa is a martial arts master and starts to see him as someone to be proud of. The elements of Chinese culture like tai chi and clothing give readers some important cultural insight.

Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by Natasha Yim, illustrated by Grace Zong
My daughter thinks this story is SO MUCH better than the original Goldilocks and the Three Bears because in this story of a young Chinese girl named Goldy, Goldy returns to the scene of her crime to apologize and help fix things. Isn’t that a better ending?

Written in poems, this is a beautiful but bittersweet story about siblings Gracie and Jake moving away from the home that they once knew, saying goodbye to family and favorite things, and traveling to a new, colder home. Throughout, Gracie shares her feelings and her observations as well as her wonderful imagination. The text is simple but meaningful. Wonderful!

Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrations by Ebony Glenn
The little girl feels loved, safe, brave, and imaginative when she plays dress-up with her mommy’s colorful khimars which are headscarves. Her playful joy with the scarves celebrates her family’s culture and beliefs.

A Sari for Ammi by Mamta Nainy, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat
An Indian girl shares about her beloved hard-working parents — her Abba dying threads and her Ammi weaving the threads at the loom into saris. The girl wishes her Ammi could own one of the beautiful saris that she makes instead of selling them. So, she and her sister work hard to make enough money to buy a sari for her Ammi. Use this as a mentor text for personal narrative, voice, and kindness.

Watercress by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin
The girl’s family stops on the side of the road to gather watercress. She’s embarrassed and mad because she hates being poor. Later that night, while eating the watercress, her mom shares about her childhood in China and how her younger brother died from starvation. The girl feels bad for being embarrassed about her earlier perceptions. With a new understanding of her history and the value of having enough food, she eats the bitter, delicate watercress.

The Paper Boat: A Refugee Story by Thao Lam
Cut-paper collage art in black, white, and pink depicts the wordless journey of a family’s escape from Vietnam, beginning with the girl’s life in war-torn Vietnam where they travel by boat towards safety. In a parallel story, a group of ants escapes onto a paper boat on the same river. Both experience bad weather, thirst, and hunger before finally arriving somewhere new. Masterfully illustrated and conceived, this book will prompt discussion and build an understanding of the hardships of migration.

Grandpa Across the Ocean by Hyewon Yum
A little boy initially only notices their differences when he visits his grandpa in Korea. He notices their different language and the different smells and foods. But when he makes a mistake, his grandpa kindly gives the boy a peach. That shifts the boy’s attention. Now the boy finds all the things that they have in common — laughter, singing, their appearance, chocolate. When it’s time to leave, the boy can’t wait to visit again.

Tomatoes for Neela by Padma Lakshmi, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
Experience the smells, colors, and flavors of tomatoes in this flavorful story about a girl named Neela and her mama cooking together. As they do, Amma shares the history of tomatoes and stories of Paati. Their time cooking is joyous and loving. culminating in a warm, savory sauce that they can enjoy all winter.

The Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom by Teresa Robeson, illustrated by Rebecca Huang
Gorgeous collage-style artwork helps the author share female scientist, Wu Chien Shiung’s, inspiring life. Even though girls weren’t typically educated in the early 1900s, Chien Shiung’s parents believed in education for girls, helping her by opening a school for girls. Chien loved learning, especially math and physics. Eventually, she moved to the United States where she made significant scientific breakthroughs — and was dubbed “The Queen of Physics.”

Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist by Julie Leung, illustrated by Chris Sask
Because he was never given credit for his work, this biography feels redemptive in the telling. It’s an interesting life story about a man who first immigrated illegally from China as a child. He worked hard, becoming an artist who worked for Walt Disney Studios. His vision of the backgrounds for Bambi inspired the entire movie’s design. Unfortunately, he wasn’t given credit.

How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi, illustrated by Yao Xiao
Written by one of the world’s youngest and best climbers, Ashima shares her experiences with climbing difficult “problems”–what climbers call the boulders they climb. This personal narrative focuses on a growth mindset of perseverance and facing challenges with grit.

Sunday Funday in Koreatown by Aram Kim
Yoomi’s disappointed with the reality of her day when her expectations are dashed. There’s no kimbop, no first choice book, and she spills on her shirt. Her discouragement shifts as her dad helps her find an alternative choice plus, she gets excited with the arrival of her grandma.

Easy Chapter Books (Ages 6 – 9) for AAPI Heritage Month

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Unhei tells her new American classmates that they can pick out her name. But what name will she pick? Or will she find the importance in her own Korean name? This sweet book helps show kids the value in each person’s heritage and their given name.

My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder by Nie Jun
Four sweet stories of Yu’er and her grandpa show their warm bond and Yu’er’s adventures around their Beijing neighborhood. The first story is about Yu’er’s desire to compete in the Special Olympics. Other stories include defending herself from bullies with the help of a new friend as well as a magical old mailbox that transports Yu’er through time. This is a beautifully illustrated book of stories that feels nostalgic and heartwarming.

The Year of the Book by Andrea Chang
Growing up is challenging and in the first novel, The Year of the Book, Anna turns to books for company while she learns how to make friendships in real life. The subsequent books in the series are just as realistic and well-written. I highly recommend them.

Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business by Lyla Lee, illustrated by Dung Ho
Mindy and her dad recently moved to Florida after her mom’s death. When the other kids at school make fun of her seaweed snacks at lunch, Mindy and her new friend Sally start a snack business to save money for a puppy.  This doesn’t go as planned yet it’s a big learning experience showing Mindy to be herself and be proud of her Korean-American culture.

Ninja Kid: From Nerd to Ninja by Anh Do
Nelson is a nerdy and likable main character who wakes up on his 10th birthday with perfect vision and… ninja moves! (How cool is that?) His mum and grandma explain that like his missing fisherman dad before him, Nelson is the last ninja in the world — and he’s destined to save the world. Action-packed, funny, appealing illustrations, and likable characters, you’ll love this book from start to finish…then want to read the entire series.

Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look
Second-grader, Alvin Ho, is afraid of everything, especially school. A school he’s quiet but at home, he’s Firecracker Man, a superhero. His fears will be relatable to many children who also are facing fears every day.

Jasmine is jealous that the older kids in her family have important jobs on the mochi-making day — she wants to do what the older boys and men are doing, pound the mochi rice. Her understanding father figures out a way for Jasmine to join in. And even though it didn’t work out how she wanted, her family is proud of her and decides it’s okay to break some rules like who gets to pound the rice. You’ll love how Jasmine’s Japanese-American culture and warm family community shine throughout.

Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqui, illustrated by Hatem Aly
Yasmin is an exuberant girl who is interested in everything from exploring to building to fashion. Each book in this series shares short stories from Yasmin’s life, all in chapters with lively, full-color illustrations. Each story shows Yasmin as a creative problem solver even when things get hard. Her Pakistani American culture is embedded throughout the story such as the foods Yasmin’s family eats like naan or how she calls her father Baba.

Katie Woo’s Neighborhood by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Laura Zarrin
Short stories about cheerful, positive Katie, a girl who visits the dentist, bakes cupcakes, visits a farm, and rescues a kitten.

Power Forward by Hena Khan
Filled with Urdu and Pakistani culture, this is a short beginning chapter book about a boy who loves basketball. Unfortunately, he skips violin lessons and lies to his parents in order to go to extra basketball practices. Zayd learns some hard lessons both about honesty and communication with his family which, in the end, makes his life better.

Dumpling Days by Grace Lin
Pacy’s family visits Taiwan for her grandmother’s 60th birthday. It’s her first time visiting and she struggles with the language and meeting other kids.

Playful writing, whimsical illustrations, and rich Pakistani-American culture…One of the best things about Omar is his HUGE imagination! He uses his imagination to deal with moving, starting a new school, bullying, and racism.

Middle Grade Books with Asian and Asian American Representation

Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte, illustrated by Ann Xu
A beautiful graphic novel about food, a close-knit, multigenerational family, finding your place in a new culture and country, and staying proud of your heritage…Cici moves to the U.S. from Tawain and wants her A’má to come, too. She hopes to win the grand prize in a cooking contest and use the money to buy her A’má a plane ticket. Cici wants to cook American food like her cooking contest partner…She learns from Julia Child but in the end, Cici returns to her Tawainese roots to win the contest.

Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai
Pie in the Sky is an insightful, funny, and poignant look at the struggles of immigrating to a new country (Australia) and the difficulties of learning English along with growing up and grieving the loss of a father. Jingwen’s observations and wit make him a likable main character and the illustrations capture the depth and flavors of his experiences. Like Jingwen says about his new beginnings and sad losses, it’s a story that is both salty and sweet. The charming illustrations totally capture the brother’s personalities, too!

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
This Newbery Honor book shares the story in verse of a girl, Hà, who is fleeing Vietnam with her family and immigrating to the southern United States. Ultimately, her immigration transition is difficult yet sometimes funny.

After moving from China to the U.S., Mia and her parents have struggled but find a live-in job at a motel where they end up working around the clock for very little pay. Mia helps out by working at the front desk. She befriends the weekly tenants and uses her English skills to write letters advocating people in tough spots. Not only is this a memorable coming-of-age immigrant story but it also shows the determination and hard work of immigrants like Mia’s family.

Finally Seen by Kelly Yang
This middle-grade masterpiece explores the complexities of human beings, the importance of books as mirrors and doors, the challenges of immigration, the realities of racism, and how to confront book banning. Lina’s lived with her Lao Lao for the last five years but she moves to join her dad, mom, and little sister in LA, leaving her beloved Lao Lao. Lina is surprised that her family is struggling financially. She feels embarrassed when she speaks English (so she stops speaking,) and she feels hurt when a classmate writes mean things about her on the bathroom wall. A kind ESL teacher and librarian share graphic novels and encourage Lina to write her own graphic novel to send to Lao Lao.

Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang
Feng-Li’s parents take her and her two siblings from Taiwan to the United States for a vacation…but not really. Her parents get the three kids settled and then return home on their visitor visas. The kids live in the U.S. where they go to school and live independently with the teenage sister in charge. But it’s difficult learning a new language, living without adults, changing your name, siblings bickering, budgeting money, and missing their parents.

Brother’s Keeper by Julie Lee
Based on her grandmother’s escape from North Korea, this historical fiction story captures the fearful culture of North Korea, the marginalization of females, and the bond between siblings. As war erupts between North and South Korea, Sora and her family decide to flee from North Korea while they still have a chance. But she and her little brother are separated from their family. As they continue south, they experience death, kidnapping, starvation, killings, and winter’s brutal cold. Amazingly, the two make it to the south where they’re reunited with their family but it’s a bittersweet ending.

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
This book is so sad and beautiful! Katie’s sister, Lynn, helps her make sense of the prejudice and challenges their Japanese-American family faces in Georgia in the 1950s. When Lynn gets ill, Katie tries to emulate her sister’s positive outlook.

Soul Lanterns by Shaw Kuzki
An important, multi-layered story of a Japanese girl’s understanding of Hiroshima, grief, family, and the healing power of sharing stories. When Nozomi’s art teacher, Mr. Yoshioka, leaves the school due to sickness, she and her friends plan a festival in his honor called “Hiroshima: Then and Now.” They interview people close to them about their experiences during the bombing. As the kids learn about their family and neighbor’s lives and deaths, their stories impact the way they view life.

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman
Set in India, Viji her sister run away to the big city. They live with two brothers under a bridge, scrabbling to survive by collecting trash. Unfortunately, Viji’s sister Rukku gets a terrible cough and fever. What happens next will almost destroy Viji. She wonders how prayers and faith can coexist with misery and pain. Ultimately, it is the kindness of her new family that helps her see more in the future than misery. It’s an honest, eye-opening story that reveals the plight of many homeless children in India and yet, finds a way to be hopeful, too.

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat (ages 10+)
In this memoir, Dan describes a transformative trip during the summer before high school that helped him grow from awkward and insecure to confident and outgoing. The trip gave the students lots of freedom. He tries beer and cigarettes. He meets a cute girl and finds the courage to get to know her, even sharing a kiss. He falls in love with the cultures and languages, too. Readers will probably want their own European experiences, too. Although, I hope that the kids would be better supervised than Dan was!

Dream, Annie, Dream by Waka T. Brown
Annie is a Japanese American girl who loves theater and basketball. Due to racism and influential parents, she’s not cast in the role she deserves in the summer production and now the school play. Surprised by what’s happening, Annie begins to see the prejudice all around her that she’s never noticed. She almost gives up her dreams until a chance arrives to write a play of her own.

Lou and her mother live in San Francisco with her grandmother. Lou’s worried when her mother says that they need to move somewhere more affordable so Lou makes it her mission to build a tiny house on the land her architect father left her, hopefully before they are forced to sell it. Readers will enjoy the close-knit Filipino family’s lives as well as Lou’s determination.

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
Lily, her sister, and their mother move in with her Halmoni (Korean for grandmother) but it’s not the same as before. Now her grandmother is sick at night and reveals to Lily that she stole stories from the tigers and they’re hunting her to get them back. Lily tries to make a deal with the tiger to save Halmoni, she doesn’t want her grandmother to die. This book celebrates Korean culture and storytelling and is about coming to terms with death and illness and knowing yourself so you can write your own stories.

New From Here by Kelly Yang
When the coronavirus hits Asia, Knox’s mother brings him and his two siblings to California and safety, leaving his dad behind for his work in Hong Kong. In California, Knox struggles with ADHD and adjusting to a new school. He befriends another kid whose restaurant-owning parents are facing racism and declining customers. Money is tight after his mom loses her job, too. Good writing with a lot of dialogue that shows the sibling, parent, and other relationships, read this if you want a slice-of-life story about a close-knit family’s experience during the quarantine with Asian-directed racism.

Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier by Ying Chang Compestine and Vinson Compestine
If your kids aren’t interested in Chinese history, they will be after reading this novel. Ming lives in rural communist China with his father, who finds artifacts for the museum. A discovered terra-cotta soldier comes to life and befriends Ming. They must work together to protect the soldiers and Emperor Qin’s tomb. The authors weave in historical photos and information throughout the story.

When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park
In a time when Korea is occupied by Japan, the Korean language, their folktales, and all Korean culture are forbidden. Then World War II arrives and the Japanese expect that the Koreans will fight for Japan. Sun-hee is shocked that her brother, Tae-yul, enlists to misdirect the soldiers’ interest in his uncle. The plot is filled with themes of injustice, resistance, courage, and family during a difficult historical time period of occupation.

Jameela is one of four girls in a Pakistani-American family and she’s passionate about journalism but in her enthusiasm, she hurts a new friend when she writes something he isn’t comfortable sharing with the world. While she digests these hard-earned lessons, she learns that her beloved little sister has lymphoma. Khan skillfully weaves a story of family, culture, community, and social justice.

Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies by Stacey Lee
Winston is tricked by shop owner, Mr. Pang, into accepting an enchanted broom and dustpan. But when things start to go missing at Winston’s house, including his little sister who is replaced by a soulless changling, Winston and his friends must frantically search San Francisco for Mr. Pang’s shop and his sister’s soul. But Mr. Pang is a master of evasion–he has magical chi and can become a magpie and fly away. Talk about an exciting and unique adventure!

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
A Newbery medal winner! The setting is 12-century Korea. Orphaned and homeless, 13-year-old Tree-ear years to become a potter like Min. But when Min takes Tree-ear as his helper, Tree-ear is discouraged at his master’s temper and the back-breaking work. He decides he’ll prove his worthiness by getting a royal commission. He’ll make a journey filled with challenges and arrive at his destination with only a single shard to showcase Min’s pottery.

Excellent! Before Tai’s Vietnamese grandmother dies, she gives him her Jade ring. He wears it and discovers that he’s a Green Lantern who must protect the earth from evil like Sinesteo. Not long after, he discovers that the rich guy trying to take over the neighborhood for redevelopment turns out to be a Yellow Lantern working for Sinesteo. The pacing and storyline are excellent. I love the message that difficultly can also be overcome with mental strength, creativity, and drawing. Lots of action, intrigue, and humor! Great for fans of DC,  superheroes, and art.

A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser
From the author of the Vanderbeeker series, Karina Yan Glaser creates a powerful, hopeful story with complex, three-dimensional characters about grief, family, community, and homelessness. When their family becomes homeless after her dad dies, June helps her little sister and non-functional mom get settled at Huey House. Despite the shock of their new situation, June finds kindness from many of the people at the shelter including a music-loving boy named Jeremiah and Abuela who helps June find viola lessons.  Through many ups and downs including helping Jeremiah get music lessons and grieving for her dad, June discovers that home isn’t a place and family isn’t always blood.

Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat
In a Thai-inspired world where caste determines your future, Sai’s new job as a mapmaker’s assistant is far beyond her station, which is why she can’t wait to join the Mapmaker on a sailing quest to find a new continent and maybe, find herself a new home. During the trip, the Mapmaker reveals his past hubris of mapping and claiming already-inhabited lands which their war-hungry country would then use and destroy. Meanwhile, Sai is slowly is lured into believing the lies of the captain’s manipulative stepsister who eventually leads a murderous mutiny and disaster.

Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend by Katie Zhao
Winnie is trying to navigate middle school and her parent’s high expectations when an old family cookbook unlocks her 6th sense, shaman powers, and the spirit of her LaoLao (grandmother) who enters their pet bunny. LaoLao tells Winnie that she’s a shaman meant to fight evil spirits and send them back to the spirit world, but Winnie is not interested — she has too many demands from her parents plus she wants to beat her nemesis in piano and Chinese school. Unfortunately, he’s the other shaman and they’ll need to work together when demons attack, so she reluctantly embraces her powers and her new partner.

Last Gamer Standing by Katie Zhao
(ages 8 – 12)
Reyna Cheng has her reasons for playing in the video games tournament as a male character called TheRuiNar, the biggest reason being that males are more accepted and not harassed like female players. But just as she’s on track to win the tournament’s big prize to help pay her mom’s hospital bills, someone discovers the truth. She’ll have to decide if she should give in to the blackmailer’s demands or reveal the truth of her identity.

Pahua and the Soul Stealer by Lori Lee

Pahua has always seen spirits, including her best friend who is a cat spirit she names Miv. When she accidentally releases an angry bridge spirit who steals her little brother Matt’s soul, she knows she must fix what she did or Matt will die. She travels to spirit realms to find Matt and the angry spirit along with Miv and an irritable shaman-in-training girl who helps guide them and saves her more than once. Journeying to save her brother involves a lot of almost-dying, cool Hmong mythology world-building, and the chance to grow into herself. I loved Pahua’s character–her devotion to her brother, her kindness and compassion, and her bravery. Excellent.

AAPI Heritage Month Young Adult Books

Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang &  Sonny Lieu
This is an origin story of the Green Turtle, a 1940’s masked Asian-American superhero. I loved everything about this man who is a reluctant vigilante! His overbearing mother pushes him to become a hero and is disappointed in him, thinks him a failure. There’s a cool element of Chinese mythology (the turtle spirit) that comes into play, affecting Hank, who steps up to fight the Chinatown gangs, a hero at last.

The Boy Who Became a Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story by Jim Di Bartolo
You don’t have to love martial arts to enjoy this engaging biography about the martial artist and movie star legend Bruce Lee. From his birth in San Francisco to life in Hong Kong during and after the Japanese occupation, then his move back to the U.S., you’ll meet a troubled kid who manages to work as an actor like his father. Because of the racism against him for having mixed-race heritage as well as having a dad who worked for the hated Japanese, Bruce leaves his home in Hong Kong for the U.S. There, he’s a more settled man who opens up several martial artist studios, falls in love, and becomes a movie star. Lee’s life is fascinating and the author does a great job with all the historical references.

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, & Steven Scott, illustrated by Harmony Becker
Both history and memoir of WWII when the US government declared war on Japan and subsequently forced anyone of Japanese descent, including children, into detention camps…George’s family leaves behind a two-bedroom house in Los Angeles, taking only what they can carry. They are transported first to a cramped, smelly horse stable and then to a bare-bones, overcrowded barracks surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. When World War II ended, leaving the camps isn’t A happy ending for any of the detained families. As you can imagine, they have nothing– no jobs nor bank accounts and are returning to a world of prejudice. A must-read book for AAPI Heritage Month!

Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution by Ji-li Jiang
Recognized for excellence in writing, this true story of 12-year-old Ji-li’s life in the 1960s shows readers the personal destruction that China’s leader, Mao Ze-dong, inflicted on families with his Cultural Revolution. Ji-li believed in China’s Communist party until her family was persecuted and her father imprisoned. She struggles to make sense of her new reality. Soon, she’ll be forced to choose between her family and her country.

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition) by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick
This is a powerful, well-told personal story from the wise, self-reflective perspective of Malala Yousafzai. Malala draws readers in with her accounts of daily life in Pakistan — the sounds, smells, sights, and habits. After she is shot for her blog writing in support of educating females, she’s taken to England for recovery and safety. The confusion and contrast between the countries and cultures really stand out during this time. But what is even more striking is Malala’s hope, positivity, and belief in what she stands for.

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