Book Lists

Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Voices and Stories

Books for AANHPI Heritage Month and Beyond

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage (AANHPI) Month, an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of people of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander descent. This month and every month, we encourage you to uplift the voices of AANHPI creators and celebrate the rich, important stories they tell.

Click on “Learn More” for additional information and available resources for the corresponding title.

Featured Titles for All Ages

Bing's Cherries

Bing's Cherries

Livia Blackburne

A modern American tall tale woven by a girl and her father about Ah Bing, the Chinese immigrant behind the Pacific Northwest’s most delicious cherries.

The House That Floated

The House That Floated

Guojing

A stunningly beautiful picture book from a critically acclaimed artist that follows a family who lives in a house by the sea as water levels start to rise.

Jeong Is Jeong

Jeong Is Jeong

Jessica Yoon

“What is Jeong?” a little girl asks her grandma, and so begins a lyrical journey of discovery, kindness, and understanding in this ode to Korean American language and culture.

Many Things At Once

Many Things At Once

Veera Hiranandani

In this poignant picture book about family and belonging, the child of a Jewish mother and a South Asian father hears stories about her family history. Sometimes she doesn’t feel Jewish enough or South Asian enough, but comes to realize you can feel–and be–many things at once.

AN ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD WINNER

Momo Sees the Sea

Momo Sees the Sea

Avani Dwivedi

Dive into an underwater hide-and-seek adventure! Part of the new Seuss Studios line of Beginner Books inspired by never-before-seen sketches by Dr. Seuss, this whimsical story invites readers to seek out the magic that’s hidden in the world around them.

Navigating Night

Navigating Night

Julie Leung

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.

Noodles on a Bicycle

Noodles on a Bicycle

Kyo Maclear

A vibrant historical picture book about Tokyo’s bicycle food deliverers, or demae, who balanced towering trays of steaming hot noodles on their shoulders while navigating crowded city streets.

A CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK • A Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book • A BOOKPAGE, KIRKUS REVIEWS, AND HORN BOOK BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Nunu and the Sea

Nunu and the Sea

Isabella Kung

In this whimsical picture book, a misunderstood girl with overwhelming emotions creates an origami boat and journeys to sea where she can feel free. Fans of Where the Wild Things Are will adore this fantastical tale of big feelings and boundless imagination.

BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Ritu in the Sun

Ritu in the Sun

Moniza Hossain

A lyrical picture book about one little girl’s experience with colorism—and a celebration of that which can make us see things anew: light and love.

We Always Had Wings

We Always Had Wings

Jess X. Snow

A stunning, mythology-inspired ode to the places and people who came before us as a girl embarks on her first visit to her mother’s hometown in China for Lunar New Year.

Gracie Wei #1: You're a Winner, Gracie Wei

Gracie Wei #1: You're a Winner, Gracie Wei

Kristen Mei Chase

Meet Gracie Wei—a go-getting fourth grader who’s determined to win it all at her school’s spelling bee competition! A charming new chapter book series for fans of Ivy and Bean or Dory Fantasmagory.

Casting April

Casting April

Wendy Lu

Twelve-year-old April is a talented performer who is determined to land the starring role in the school play, but no one believes she can do it because of her tracheostomy tube. A heartwarming story of friendship, identity, and the importance of chasing your dreams.

Next Stop

Next Stop

Debbie Fong

Middle schooler Pia is dealing with grief as she finds herself on the biggest adventure of her life–a bus tour stopping at weird and wacky roadside attractions. Inspired by a real life road trip and touching on tough topics, but filled with warmth and humor– Next Stop is a “remarkable debut.” (The Horn Book) about family, friendship, and moving on.

BOOKPAGE AND HORN BOOK BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
• A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST MIDDLE GRADE BOOK OF THE CENTURY

Exclusion and the Chinese American Story

Exclusion and the Chinese American Story

Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn

Until now, you’ve only heard one side of the story, but Chinese American history extends far beyond the railroads. Here’s the true story of America, from the Chinese American perspective.

When Tomorrow Burns

When Tomorrow Burns

Tae Keller

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Three middle school students embark on a quest to find a book that may just save their lives in this spectacular novel about fate and friendship–from the Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Trap a Tiger.

We Are Big Time

We Are Big Time

Hena Khan

SWISH! Cheer courtside for a Muslim teen in this graphic novel—inspired by a true story—as she joins an all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team and learns that she’s much more than a score.

Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic

Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic

Patricia Park

A Korean American former child actress decides to branch out and stand out in order to pursue her newfound love — stand-up comedy. Here’s another hilarious novel from the author of Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim and What’s Eating Jackie Oh?

The Dragon and the Sun Lotus

The Dragon and the Sun Lotus

Amélie Wen Zhao

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The epic sequel to The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, continuing the dark and opulent fantasy saga of demons, dangerous magic, and forbidden love as Àn’yīng fights to save her kingdom from destruction.

The Magic Fish

The Magic Fish

Trung Le Nguyen

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR by the New York Public Library • Kirkus Reviews • Booklist • Publishers Weekly

Tiến loves his family and his friends…but Tiến has a secret he’s been keeping from them, and it might change everything. An amazing YA graphic novel that deals with the complexity of family and how stories can bring us together.

My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser

My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser

Jamie Jo Hoang

Told in dual POV, this gripping companion piece to My Father, the Panda Killer, follows a teenage son who defies his sister’s wishes by searching for more information about their absent mother. Meanwhile, his mother’s poignant backstory reveals her struggle with grief and longing, culminating in her heart-wrenching decision to leave her children.

Nest of Tongues

Nest of Tongues

Randy Ribay

A lyrical, evocative horror about vampires from the Philippines . . . and a hunter on their tail. A brother and sister fight to protect their secrets, their community, and most of all, each other, in this evocative novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Patron Saints of Nothing.

The Summer I Remembered Everything

The Summer I Remembered Everything

Catherine Con Morse

In search of a summer escape from her overbearing family, an Asian-Latine teenager becomes the mentee to a chic elderly woman. But as her mentor’s memory starts to fade, the teenager is confronted with a choice that may jeopardize their friendship.

That Which Feeds Us

That Which Feeds Us

Keala Kendall

A native Hawaiian teen travels to a luxury island resort in search of her missing twin and uncovers the dark side of paradise, in this YA supernatural thriller that’s Mexican Gothic meets She is a Haunting.

Picture Books

A Garden in My Hands

Meera Sriram; illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

Anjali Can!

Sheetal Sheth; illustrated by Lucia Soto

Baba's Peach Tree

Marie Tang; illustrated by Seo Kim

The Big Bath House

Kyo Maclear; illustrated by Gracey Zhang

Bing's Cherries

Livia Blackburne; illustrated by Julia Kuo

The Blur

Minh Lê; illustrated by Dan Santat

Built to Last

Minh Lê; illustrated by Dan Santat

Child of the Universe

Ray Jayawardhana; illustrated by Raul Colón

Everyone Loves Lunchtime but Zia

Jenny Liao; illustrated by Dream Chen

How to Solve a Problem

Ashima Shiraishi; illustrated by Yao Xiao

How We Say I Love You

Nicole Chen; illustrated by Lenny Wen

The Jade Bracelet

Hà Dinh; illustrated by Yong Ling Kang

Jeong Is Jeong

Jessica Yoon; illustrated by Michelle Lee

Mamie Tape Fights to Go to School

Traci Huahn; illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan

Mango Memories

Sita Singh; illustrated by Nabi H. Ali

Many Things At Once

Veera Hiranandani; illustrated by Nadia Alam

My First Day

Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Thi Kim Lien

My Grandfather's Song

Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien

My Lost Freedom

George Takei; illustrated by Michelle Lee

The Name Jar

Yangsook Choi; illustrated by the author

Navigating Night

Julie Leung; illustrated by Angie Kang

Noodles on a Bicycle

Kyo Maclear; illustrated by Gracey Zhang

The Paper Kingdom

Helena Ku Rhee; illustrated by Pascal Campion

Piper Chen Sings

Phillipa Soo and Maris Pasquale Doran; illustrated by Qin Leng

Real to Me

Minh Lê; illustrated by Raissa Figueroa

Ritu in the Sun

Moniza Hossain; illustrated by Mercè López

Snow Angel, Sand Angel

Lois-Ann Yamanaka; illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky

Shoes Off, Please

Helena Ku Rhee; illustrated by Myo Yim

Miles Ahead

Minh Lê; illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao

The Spice Box

Meera Sriram; illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

With You In Spirit

Jenny Liao; illustrated by Lenny Wen

Books for Emerging Readers

Gracie Wei #1: You're a Winner, Gracie Wei

Kristen Mei Chase; illustrated by Basia Tran

Gracie Wei #2: You're the Boss, Gracie Wei

Kristen Mei Chase; illustrated by Basia Tran

Gracie Wei #3: You're So Brave, Gracie Wei

Kristen Mei Chase; illustrated by Basia Tran

Middle Grade Books

Young Adult Books

American Betiya

Anuradha D. Rajurkar

The Notes

Catherine Con Morse

Featured Resources

Learning Through Manga

Themed Collection

Ink Pop

Educators’ Guide

Read Around the World

Themed Collection

Read Around the World

Educators’ Guide

Bing’s Cherries

Activities

My First Day

Educators’ Guide

The Name Jar

Educators’ Guide

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone

Educators’ Guide

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance

Educators’ Guide

When You Trap a Tiger

Educators’ Guide

When Tomorrow Burns

Educators’ Guide

We Are Big Time

Educators’ Guide

Alma Presses Play

Educators’ Guide

My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser

Educators’ Guide

What’s Eating Jackie Oh?

Discussion Guide

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