Asian American Children’s Books celebrate not only Asian culture, but Asian creators as well. Throughout the month of May we celebrate Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders!
Throughout the month of May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! There are a multitude of Asian American children’s books on the shelves, and these phenomenal stories shed light on culture, immigration, and celebration.
Though AAPI Heritage Month is a time to honor AAPI cultures across America, it is so much more than that. With Asian Americans subjected to a record number of hate crimes due to the coronavirus, sharing these stories helps combat bias and harmful stereotypes.
Make a commitment to read Asian American children’s books all year round.
While we love reading Asian American children’s books during May, one thing is for certain: these stories, as well as those featuring or created by Pacific Islanders, should be cherished all year long! When we make these books a regular part of storytime, we normalize differences and showcase the beauty of all cultures.
As if that’s not enough, sharing these books with our children and students ensures all children feel seen and heard in stories. There’s nothing better!
Like all diverse books, Asian American children’s books foster empathy
Finally, reading diverse books with children is a vital component to changing harmful narratives not just in America, but around the world. The reasons for this are plentiful.
First, when we share stories with young readers that feature characters of all races and ethnicities, we convey the message that all people should be celebrated.
Second, reading diverse stories is a wonderful way to show children our connectedness as humans. While people worldwide have undeniable differences, we are also linked by a multitude of similarities that are fundamental to all of humanity.
Lastly, when we share these stories with children, we help bridge divides between us. Young readers become more compassionate and less inclined to feel uncomfortable when they encounter people they perceive as different from themselves.
So what are you waiting for? Grab some of these wonderful Asian American children’s books, and get reading with your little ones!
RELATED: Looking for more diverse books for children? Happily Ever Elephants has you covered!
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This gorgeous book tackles one girls journey as she learns to love her Asian eyes. She comes to realize her eyes are just like those of her family before her. All of their eyes are ones she loves, values, and finds extraordinarily safe and beautiful. What I love the most about this book is the brilliant way Ho weaves Chinese culture throughout the story to bolster the child’s growing confidence in, and love for, her eyes. From lotus flowers to lychees, oolong pools to swords of warriors, the symbols give this story so much richness and a vivid backdrop for understanding the child’s pride in her beautiful eyes. An absolute stunner of a picture book. From illustration to message, it’s all perfectly on point!
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Unhei has just moved from Korea, and being the new kid at school is hard. Even harder? She knows her new classmates won’t be able to pronounce her name. Thus, Unhei decides she will pick a brand new name after her first week of school. Her classmates fill a jar with American names, yet when Unhei tries on names like “Laura” and “Amanda,” they don’t quite fit. After a classmate discovers the true meaning of Unhei’s name, the jar suddenly goes missing. With encouragement from her new friends, Unhei eventually chooses to use her actual Korean name and teaches her classmates its correct pronunciation and significance. This is a wonderful story of immigration, identity, acceptance and friendship.
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This autobiographical book connects past and present as one child comes to understand the nuances of her immigrant parents. Here, a Chinese family drives through Ohio and stops on the side of the road when they spot watercress growing wild. The girl’s parents make the entire family get out of the car, grab bags, and wade in the muck to collect as much as of the snail covered watercress as possible. The girl feels shame and embarrassment, ducking her head as cars pass them on the road so as to hide herself from view. But when her mother shares a memory of her old life in China, the child comes to understand the significance of the watercress— and her heritage too. This book conveys the beauty of immigration, tradition, and how becoming present in your new world never means you have to entirely let go of the old one. Exquisite!
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On a visit to his grandfather, a young boy feels a giant chasm between them because the two do not speak the same language. But when the pair sits down to draw, magic happens. Drawn Together is a testament to the power of art to transcend words. This stunning book beautifully encapsulates the bonds we may form even when we don’t share the same language with loved ones.
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Yoomi cannot wait to go to Koreatown with Dad! But what happens when the perfect day goes awry? Yoomi may have had to wear a different shirt than she planned, and she didn’t have the seaweed for a kimbap breakfast, but she managed to keep an open mind and have fun nonetheless. In Koreatown, Yoomi and Daddy read Korean books, visit Grandma, and even eat delicious Korean treats like patbingsu and tteokbokki. What does Yoomi learn? Even days that begin with imperfection can become perfect after all!
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This is such a fun read-aloud, and one my younger students simply adore! Amy Wu wants to make the perfect bao, yet every time she tries, they are too big, too small, or too… leaky. One day, however, she wakes up determined to get the job done right. With her parents on one side and Grandma on the other, Amy discovers the trick to cooking the perfect Chinese buns. Fun, tasty and tenacious, we love Amy’s perseverance and dedication to perfecting her recipe! For more fantastic children’s books about food, check out the link!
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This is a beautiful story about the immigrant experience and about one child learning to find beauty in her appearance and identity. Mei is the hopes and dreams of her ancestors, blazing a unique path in the unknown as she becomes both a teacher and translator to her parents. Her story of one of loneliness and one of hope, shining a light onto the value that comes from our differences and the way so many children serve as bridges to their immigrant communities. A golden gem!
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This 2018 Caldecott Honor Book brims with hope, tradition and authenticity. Bao tells the story of going on early morning fishing trips with his dad. But these weren’t “typical” trips. Instead, the fishing was for food rather than fun, and as soon as they finished, Bao’s father had to rush to work. This tale of an immigrant family beautifully weaves together a father’s life in Vietnam and a son’s role as the youngest child in a family of refugees.
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It’s rainy season in the Mekong Delta, and a young Vietnamese boy is set to embark on a journey to his schoolhouse. It’s his first time making the trip alone, and he’s intimidated. After all, he’s got giant waves and eerie mangroves to contend with, even before he walks in the door! Though the child is nervous about the unknown, he is reassured to know he is not alone. The boy’s resilience and determination carry him to school, a place where another new journey – for education and knowledge – begins.
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Danbi is excited to begin her new school in America, but she’s also nervous. And when she arrives on her first day, everyone stares. Poor Danbi feels like she can’t do anything right in her new class! Despite her nerves, she eventually uses her brilliant imagination to open up her world to her classmates. With a little bit of inventiveness and a whole lot of creativity, Danbi comes to lead her class in a parade, settles her nerves, and even has some fun along the way.
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When a young boy arrives from Korea, he is delighted to find a beautiful plum tree in his backyard. He knows this glorious tree will always provide comfort when he feels homesick for Korea. But one day, the tree falls down in a storm. While the boy and his friends let their imaginations run wild and the tree becomes home to many adventures, the boy must eventually say goodbye to the tree when its remains have to get taken away. Before long, however, a new tree is planted and brings with it a renewed sense of hope – and friendships, too.
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This is the gorgeous story of a young boy named Daniel whose parents work in an office building as night janitors. One night Daniel must go with them to work because his babysitter cannot come. Daniel is frustrated when he arrives, sneezing, confused, and bothered by the mess his parents have to clean up. But when his parents take him on an adventure through the “Paper Kingdom,” complete with dragons and kings and thrones, Daniel’s imagination runs wild right along with that of his mom and dad. One day, Daniel decides, he may become the ruler of the Paper Kingdom himself to make sure his parents don’t have to clean up more messes. Tender, touching, and a wonderful book about essential community helpers that we fell in love with on the very first read!
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In this delightful story, readers meet Laxmi, a little girl who never gave much thought to the tiny hairs above her lip. Until, that is, the day a boy on the playground tells her she would make a perfect cat since she already had whiskers. His comment devastates Laxmi, who suddenly can’t stop seeing all of her body hair. Laxmi’s mother helps her recognize that hair grows everywhere, not just on top of one’s head, and that all people, no matter their gender, have body and facial hair. I love the way Mom addresses Laxmi’s concern by showing her how much pride can be found in the hair above her lip (called her “mooch,”) and how many strong women before her celebrated their facial hair. The tone is always positive, it never dismisses or diminishes Laxmi’s frustration, and it empowers not just Laxmi, but all children, to embrace their unique characteristics.
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RELATED: We’ve got a fabulous list of kindergarten read-alouds for you on Happily Ever Elephants, so be sure to check them out!
This is the most gorgeous story of a child’s desire to help her elderly neighbor, Bob, find his way back into the world upon losing his wife. Here, a young Hmong American girl finds beauty in the world around her and seeks to share what she finds with others. In the end, she provides an unexpected gift to Bob. She draws a map on his driveway detailing their neighborhood’s beauty, using her heart and attention to detail to help him re-enter the world in case he needs a hand. This is the most tender, moving display of compassion and sensitivity I’ve seen in a picture book in a long time. I simply adore it!
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In this beautiful book, a family (or “ohana”) farms taro for poi as they get ready to prepare for a traditional luau celebration. It is an ode to Hawaiian culture, Hawaii’s beautiful land, and the important connection between the land and the people. While many of us tend to highlight differences when we read diverse books, it’s so easy to discover the similarities we all share, too. Here, I love discussing the underlying commonalities families share upon preparing for important events or celebrations. Even though our actions and preparations may look different, the underlying sentiment is always so similar.
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This lyrical story is based on the author’s childhood experience moving to the United States as a Cambodian refugee. Here, a mother and her child put down roots in a new country. Like the feathery seeds of a dandelion, they eventually blossom in their new home. As the seasons pass, so too does the dandelion grow. This beautiful extended metaphor represents the resilience of refugees who arrive in foreign countries and lean in to their new homes and communities.
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This adorable book is based on stories Meena Harris (Vice President Harris’ niece!) heard as a child about her mother, Maya, and her Aunt Kamala. One day, these young sisters had a big idea – they would turn the empty courtyard of their apartment building into a playground! Not everyone was on board with their plan, however, and the duo had to learn to advocate for themselves. Can the girls turn their dream into reality? This is a wonderful story of persistence and conveys to kids that they have the power to create positive, lasting change in their communities.
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A child and her family emigrate from Taiwan to America, and the girl must leave her beloved grandmother, Popo, behind. She misses her grandmother every day, especially the dreams they share and their special walks together. But despite their distance, the love the two share remains true. When they see each other again, notwithstanding their newfound differences, their connection remains beautiful and oh-so-strong.
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What a fun book about an unconventional family living in a ramble shamble house! Merra, Locky, Roozle, Finn, and Jory love their home, but one day they decide they must “proper” it up. The siblings thus get to work propering up the mud puddles and the chickens and the garden. Once finished, the results aren’t quite what the kids had in mind. And when the littlest sibling goes missing, they realize that maybe their ramble shamble home had been perfect after all.
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A young girl immigrates to a strange new country to stay with her aunt. Everything is unfamiliar, and she is unbearably lonely. Yet when her aunt takes her on a walk one day, she tells the child an old story about a group of refugees who arrived to a foreign land and were greeted by the king. The king did not want to provide them refuge. Due to the language barrier, the king poured a glass full of milk to signify the land was full. Instead of turning away, however, the refugees dissolved sugar into the milk. Their message resonated loud and clear: their presence would sweeten this new land! Upon hearing this story, the child views her new world with a fresh perspective, finding warmth and acceptance in a community where she once saw only emptiness. Every child will find something that resonates here, and the message of hope and kindness amidst new beginnings is one all readers will cherish.
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This fabulous book tells the story of Fatima Khazi who can’t wait for the weekend. Why? Because her family is heading out on their first camping trip! Fatima may not have had the best week at school, but she knows outside she can do anything. From setting up tents to building fires, Fatima happily goes to sleep with the sounds of outside making a beautiful lullaby. We absolutely love the way the family’s experiences in India are interwoven throughout the book! The author is the founder of @brownpeoplecamping, and her debut book is a wonderful ode to family as well as a great effort to diversify outdoor experiences.
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