Asian Pacific Islander Books for Kids

May is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month – Books to Read! 

May is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage month, and an opportunity to celebrate the history and culture of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the U.S. We have compiled a list of children’s books featuring Asian characters, written by Asian authors, and/or illustrated by Asian artists. 

The books in this list are delightful, uplifting titles that will educate and amuse your little ones. From picture books for you to read during your bedtime routine to chapter books for your older kids to explore on their own, these are our favorite books featuring Asian Pacific Islander characters that you should add to your kid’s library.

Elementary Resources:

• Ako Si Kaya (I am Kaya) by Sheena Floresca
• Always Anjali by Sheetal Sheth
• The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
• No Kimchi for Me by Aram Kim
• Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho
• Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand
• A Fish for Jimmy by Katie Yamasaki
• Good Fortune: My Journey to Gold Mountain by Li Keng Wong
• Journey for Justice: The Story of Larry Itliong by Dawn B. Mabalon 
• Juna’s Jar by Jane Bahk
• Bee-bim- Bop! by Linda Sue Park 
• Drawn Together by Minh Le
• The Tale of the Lucky Cat by Sunny Seki
• Peach Heaven by Yangsook Choi
• A Map into the World by Kao Kalia Yang
• The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Middle School Resources:

• Front Desk, Three Keys, and Room to Dream by Kelly Yang
• Unsettled by Reem Faruqi
• Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
• We Belong by Cookie Hiponia Everman
• Danny Chung Sums It Up by Maisie Chan
• A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata
• Under the Broken Sky by Mariko Nagai
• Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
• Step Up to the Plate Maria Singh by Uma Krishnaswami
• Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai
• The Stone Heart (The Nameless City) by Faith Erin Hicks and Jordie Bellaire