AAPI Heritage Month Books
While we celebrate diverse stories all year long, heritage months are a great time to shine a spotlight on books that feature stories from a particular part of the world. May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, so we are sharing our favorite new books by authors and illustrators with heritage from throughout Asia, including China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and more! These AAPI Heritage Month books include picture books as well as graphic novels and books for older children.
Disclosure: I received complimentary copies of some of the books below for review purposes; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no cost to you.
AAPI Heritage Month Books
Enjoy these AAPI Heritage Month books for kids!
This book tells the very relatable story of a young girl who needs to translate for her immigrant parents. Mia loves her parents, but she’s also embarrassed of them. Her parents, who immigrated from Korea, are still learning English, so Mia is often called on to translate. She works her to learn English so she can help them, but she also burns with embarrassment when other people see her parents as stupid. Things come to a head when Mia and her parents are summoned to a parent-teacher conference. Nervous of her beloved teacher’s reaction, Mia is surprised to learn that her teacher respects how much Mia’s parents have sacrificed for their family in coming to the US. Mia gains a new respect for her parents and comes to see her own duties as translator in a new light. (Be sure to also read my reviews of the author’s previous books, The Ouchiest Words and The Yuckiest Lunchbox).
Buy Mia Moon, Kid Translator on Amazon or Bookshop
This lovely book explores the emotional distances that can exist in families, especially in immigrant families, where the experiences of parents and children can be so different. Bao mostly tunes out her mother when she tells of her childhood in poverty in Taiwan. Bao doesn’t understand Mama, and Mama certainly doesn’t understand her. All Bao wants is what her friends have, and she is frustrated that Mama can’t see that. One day her anger boils over and drives her to steal an All-American doll that she desperately wants. When she is caught, the painful experience opens up the possibility of understanding between mother and daughter. Mama shares about her childhood, and this time, Bao listens. Together, they create a new doll for Bao and begin the process of bridging the distance between them.
Buy Bao’s Doll on Amazon or Bookshop
Prepare yourself for a bedtime book like no other! Author Mia Wenjen incorporates her love of boxing into this energetic look at the athleticism and cunning needed to get a little one down for an afternoon nap. We all know those kids that just won’t go to sleep without a fight. Boxer Baby turns naptime into a literal fight, with moves worthy of a boxing ring, like below the belt foul (poo) and splashy soapy water into her father’s eyes. Will Dad be able to get Boxer Baby down for a nap, or will Boxer Baby be victorious? A fun read that highlights boxing terms that have become commonplace in everyday speech. An tribute not only to the boxing greats but also to the great hands on dads who fight the good fight every day to take care of their children. (Be sure to read my review of another book by the author, Food for the Planet).
Buy Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime! on Amazon or Bookshop
This is the true story of how love can blossom even in the most terrible places. When Tama and her family are relocated to a Japanese internment camp during World War II, it is hard not to focus on the constant worry and fear, the horrible conditions. But there is George, who makes daily visits to the library where Tama works. In its stacks, surrounded by stories of magic and faith and justice, they find love. Written by George and Tama’s granddaughter, this story is a beautiful example of the ability to find love and build a future even in the face of racism and deprivation, reminding us that we all have the capacity for hope inside us.
Buy Love in the Library on Amazon or Bookshop
This is a book that should not exist, about a place that should never have existed. It is the answer to a child’s question about what it is like to grow up in a cage. One of the tragic byproducts of war and violence is that the children of those who flee are often condemned to live in cages, whether they be in literal cages at the US-Mexico border or the caged world of refugee camps. Hmong-American author Kao Kalia Yang spent the first six years of her life in such a camp, and this book is in response to her daughter’s inquiry about that period in her life. It is a tribute to all children trapped in awful circumstances, and how they create imaginative worlds where they can see themselves as birds, able to fly free from the guards and the guns. A poignant book, made even more effect through the evocative illustrations of Hmong-American illustrator Khou Vue.
Buy Caged on Amazon or Bookshop
This sweet story is a wonderful reminder that it’s not only the big moments that make special memories. A young girl’s family begins a memory jar, to capture all of the “big” moments, like winning a 1st place ribbon or running a race. When they go to open the jar at the end of the year, they worry that little Zuni didn’t have any moments to put in the jar. But Zuni surprises them all! She has been tracking her own special moments, like racing with friends and helping her grandmother bake a cake. A great reminder that all moments, big and small, are special and deserve recognition. And I love the memory jar as a fantastic way to preserve those memories!
Buy Zuni and the Memory Jar on Amazon or Bookshop
Kav knows her grandmother meant well, giving her an extremely long, though beautiful, name. But the young girl would rather just be known by her nickname, Kav. It is so much easier! But then her grandmother reminds her of the meaning of each of her names, honoring her family, her heritage, and the life-giving river that winds through her home. As they journey along the powerful river for the Pushkaram festival that celebrates it, Kaveri comes to appreciate the beauty of her name, taking pride in what was once seen as an embarrassment. Includes back matter about how to proudly state your name (and learn someone else’s name respectfully) as well as notes and poems about the Kaveri River.
Buy My Name Is Long as a River on Amazon or Bookshop
Celebrate out-of-the-box thinking with this ode to one of the world’s favorite crunchy snacks! A young girl is excited to make samosas for her friends, but she can’t reach her grandmother in Pakistan because of the time difference. Noor decides to forge ahead, only to discover she doesn’t have all of the ingredients! Rather than give up, Noor uses her problem-solving skills to improvise a new recipe with what she has on hand. A fun story of creativity and resilience that also pays homage to delicious samosas, including a recipe at the back. Watch my interview with the author.
Buy Awe-Samosas! on Amazon or Bookshop
Her mother’s sari is a source of both delight and embarrassment for Shreya. Her mother’s sari is beautiful and bold, just like her mother, but Shreya hates the stares it receives from strangers. When she asks her mother why she wears a sari (even when no one else does), her mother tells her of how it connects her to memories of her childhood in a faraway home. This connection to her culture grounds her in her new life in a new country. Shreya is still skeptical, until she is separated from her mother when they are out shopping. As she searches frantically for her Amma, Shreya realizes how much her mother’s sari means to her, and the comfort and connection it offers when they are reunited.
Buy Amma’s Sari on Amazon or Bookshop
Noor’s cousin is getting married, which means it’s time for a henna party! Even more magical, Noor learns of the traditions of hiding the name of your loved one in the henna decorations on your hands. But whose name should Noor choose to honor with henna art? As she visits with each family member, she is reminded of the special relationship she has with them. In the end, she comes up with a solution that perfectly represents her close-knit family and the love that surrounds her. A gorgeous ode to family as well as the magic of traditions and the role that henna plays in them.
Buy The Great Henna Party on Amazon or Bookshop
This story of resistance and betrayal is the dramatic tale of the Kohinoor Diamond, woven through with the history of colonization in South Asia. This unique second person retelling brings the story to life for a new generation, imbuing the tale with a sense of intimacy that will evoke outrage in young readers as the famous diamond is stolen through trickery and cut down to match its new owners’ tastes. And still it shines. It is not only a history lesson but also a lesson in resilience, as the diamond continues to dazzle despite the tragedy of its life, encouraging readers to do the same. The beautiful cut paper art evokes the textiles of South Asia at the time, bringing to light another important part of this fraught history. A great introduction to colonialism and the need to rethink whose stories get told and by whom. Watch my interview with the author/illustrator.
Buy And Yet You Shine on Amazon or Bookshop
This colorful ABCs book is a celebration of the unique foods of Iran, including fesenjan, doogh, and tadiq. The focus of the book is on the bold, vivid illustrations, featuring one food per page. The text includes the food’s Farsi name in Persian script and a phonetic spelling in English. Not familiar with all of the foods? Learn more about them in the detailed back matter! A joyous tribute to Persian cuisine and culture.
Buy The ABCs of Persian Food on Amazon or Bookshop
This lovely book celebrates the traditions that connect us to our heritage and to family in far-off places. A young boy explains how much he loves picking sour cherries in the summer with his mother, and the wonderful dishes they make from them: stew, jam, and tea. But just like tree roots, these traditions also connect them back to Afghanistan and his mother’s memories of picking sour cherries with her own mother. With simple text and evocative illustrations, this book is a tribute to family and the roots that connect past and present.
Buy Sour Cherries: An Afghan Family Story on Amazon or Bookshop
A child and their grandmother spend a day visiting museums. But at each exhibit, the child sees something that reminds them of their grandmother and all the stories she collects. These she carries with her in objects like her clothing, her necklace, a tea cup, a ring. The child begins to see the pathways and memories that each represents, of her life in Tibet and the journeys she has taken since then. They come to understand that their grandmother is like a museum, too, sharing her stories with a new generation.
Buy My Momo-la Is a Museum on Amazon or Bookshop
This early chapter book follows the adventures of Sanya, an eleven year old just starting at a new school. Throughout the book, Sanya learns lessons about friendship, bullying, and fitting in. Most of all, she learns that real belonging is a feeling that comes from within. A light hearted book that stars a diverse heroine in very relatable storylines. My daughter, who also recently started at a new school, especially loved this book. She could easily see herself in the Sanya’s shoes but also enjoyed learning elements of Desi culture. The book teaches about personal growth and inclusivity in gentle ways that are easily understood by this age group.
Buy Sanya’s New Starts on Amazon or Bookshop
This graphic novel is a fresh look at ancient tales – and how they might interact. The Monkey King knows he is the mightiest of beasts, but what he really wants to be is a god. So he makes a deal with the gods: They will make him a god, too, but only after he saves the world! His first mission is to Greece, where he encounters creatures from Greek legends. But will he be able to make it through the labyrinth and defeat the monster? A really fun read that does an incredible job of imagining a supernatural world where gods and beasts from all traditions freely interact, battle, and generally terrify (and sometimes save) humanity.
Buy Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Monster and the Maze on Amazon or Bookshop
Ever wonder what happens to missing socks at the laundromat? One summer, Magnolia Wu and her friend Iris set off on an adventure to reunite missing socks with their mates. Over the years, Magnolia has collected a number of lone socks at the laundromat her family runs. With the encouragement of her new friend Iris, Magnolia sets off on a quest that takes them throughout New York City, meeting interesting people and making surprising discoveries. A fun middle grade adventure about friendship and community, as well as a tribute to the many Chinese laundries that are part of the fabric of urban life in the US.
Buy Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All on Amazon or Bookshop
I cannot emphasize enough how much my daughter loves this graphic novel. It is permanently stashed in our car so that she can read it over and over on car rides. She was drawn in at first, of course, because the story centers on a boba café with cats, two of her favorite things in the world. But it is also an adventure story about a mixed race heroine who is herself fleeing from a difficult time at home. When she visits her grandmother in San Francisco for the summer, Aria is hoping for a break from friendship drama, but instead she discovers a mystery. Why will her grandmother never let her help make the boba, and where does she sneak off to at night? Aria’s discovery of the truth (a monster with an insatiable appetite for boba) only raises more questions about how to stop the monster once and for all. A page turning read that also deals sensitively with issues of cyber bullying.
Buy Super Boba Café on Amazon or Bookshop
Phoenny Fang is sure that this year, Chinese summer camp will be the best one ever. Her squad will finally be on top – except that they are broken apart on the first day, and there are lots of new campers to deal with. Phoenny does her best to be welcoming, but she soon learns that the activities that help her feel connected to her heritage make others feel excluded, especially those that are adoptees. Phoenny and the other campers must dig deep to discover what being Chinese-American really means and how to create community and connection out of diverse experiences. A thoughtful, heartfelt book from Newbery-Honor winner Andrew Wang about identity, belonging, and the power of community.
Buy Summer at Squee on Amazon or Bookshop
This graphic novel takes readers to the Shinto underworld during the festival of Obon. Anzu, still grieving her grandmother, doesn’t feel much like celebrating Obon, so she wanders away from the festivities, following a strange, stray dog. When she slips and falls, she awakes in Yomi, the underworld she remembers from her grandmother’s stories. She tries to remember to the human world, but she must face strange creatures and the queen of Yomi herself. Can she break a curse to free other lost children and reach the gate back to her world before sunrise? A breathtaking adventure full of suspense, supernatural creatures, and plenty of plot twists. It is also a story about family and self-acceptance, and the power of knowing where you come from.
Buy Anzu and the Realm of Darkness on Amazon or Bookshop
What are your favorite AAPI Heritage Month books for kids?
Related Posts:
AAPI Heritage Month: Massive Booklist
AAPI Podcasts for Kids: Dorktales
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: New Children’s Books
