To celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I am creating. a huge list of Asian-Pacific American children’s books. I am going to give a shout-out to all the AAPI children’s book authors and illustrators that I can think of with a book published in the last 18 months. I will be listing them by book genre in the hopes that you, my readers, will check out their books:

• Picture Books by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
• Nonfiction Picture Books by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
• Leveled Readers by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
• Chapter Books by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
• Middle Grade by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
• Young Adult by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

You might notice that I’m not listing any ninja-themed books on my list. Here’s a little analogy of why:

Where I live outside of Boston, nearly every single Japanese restaurant that I have been to, I have discovered has been owned and run by someone who is Asian but not of Japanese descent. One of the restaurants, Genji Sushi, has actually won accolades for best Japanese sushi restaurant.

I went there when I first moved to Boston. They walk the walk; the waitresses wear kimono! If you talk to them in rudimentary Japanese (which my husband and I describe as “sushi bar” Japanese) they look at you blankly. Everyone there was not Japanese. Chinese, yes. Maybe other countries too. But no one spoke Japanese because no one was actually Japanese.

I’ve been to a Japanese sushi take-out with decent food. I thought they were Japanese. It turns out that they are Taiwanese. I’m cool with that. Taiwan was under Japanese rule for 50 years. Koreans commonly run hybrid sushi Korean restaurants. I am cool with that too for the same reason.

But even if you are trained in Japan, if you are not Japanese, you will never get access to the best ingredients like the special rice that Jiro uses or the most sought-after fish, particularly if it is sourced from Japan. That’s just not how the Japanese do business. It doesn’t matter if you are the first to ask or your money is green, they simply won’t give you the same access as a Japanese sushi chef who likely also cultivated this relationship based on a web of interlocking relationships that take generations to build.

I get why Asians who are not of Japanese descent want to run sushi restaurants. There is big money in sushi. It’s mainstream these days. But is this cultural appropriation? When Korean food becomes equally as trendy and accepted, are these same Korean restauranteurs going to like Chinese Americans running soondubu or Korean BBQ restaurants?

So that is how I feel about ninjas. It’s trendy. Ninja-themed books are selling like hotcakes. Just slap on a black mask on a character and have them sneak around. That’s money. But that’s not actually what ninjas are.

Should those who are not of Japanese descent write about ninjas? What if they did their research? Ok, then. Go train as a ninja. This is not a library assignment. But don’t write about ninjas until you do.

Finally, we lost a good one recently. In memory of Yumi Heo (from Publishers Weekly):

Children’s author and illustrator Yumi Heo, creator of more than 30 distinctive books praised for their varying visual perspectives and stylized, often whimsical imagery, died on November 5 after a long battle with cancer.

Heo illustrated several folktales and picture books by other authors, including Henry’s First-Moon Birthday by Lenore Look (Atheneum, 2001) and Sometimes I’m Bombaloo by Rachel Vail (Scholastic, 2001). She also wrote several of her own picture book texts, among them One Afternoon (Orchard, 1994) and Ten Days and Nine Nights: An Adoption Story (Schwartz & Wade, 2009).

p.s. I’m trying to include all AAPI children’s book authors and illustrators with recent books but I know I’ve accidentally forgotten a few. Can you help me out by adding them, their newest book, and what you think of the book in the comments? Thanks so much!

p.p.s. I’ve read most of these books (and I’m now dedicating my TBR pile to AAPI authors first) but for those books that I haven’t gotten to yet, I have used publisher book summaries.

Asian American Book Lists for Kids

• Asian American
• Korean American
• Japanese American
• Chinese American
• South Asian American

p.p.p.s. Darshana from Flowering Minds has a complete list of KidLit from South Asian authors: picture books, chapter books, and YA novels.

110 Asian Pacific American Children’s and YA Books:

Picture Books by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

No Kimchi for Me by Aram Kim

Yoomi hates kimchi which is served at every Korean meal. It’s too stinky for her. Her brothers think she’s a baby because she can’t eat so she’s determined to overcome her eating aversion. She tries different ways to make it more palatable and finally, Grandma helps her come up with the perfect solution. This book rings true to me. My kids have overcome their kimchi aversion (too spicy!) using this same method! Recipe and backmatter in the back for adventurous eaters only! [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Sumo Joe by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Nat Iwata

This is my debut picture book, but not the first picture book that Nat Iwata illustrated (though his first that came out). This is also the graphic designer’s first picture book! [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Bear and Chicken by Jannie Ho

Bear finds Chicken frozen in the woods and revives Chicken at home. As he sets about boiling water for their lunch, Chicken panics and makes a run for it. It turns out that Bear is not making chicken soup, Bear is VEGETARIAN! This is a gentle and humorous story about overcoming bias. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

A Different Pond by Bao Phi, illustrated by Thi Bui

A Vietnamese boy and his father go fishing in the middle of the night. This is not for recreation; it is for feeding their family. His father works several jobs. His mother also works. The boy also takes responsibility for his siblings when his parents are at work. This is a dignified portrait of new immigrants and how hard they work to get established in a new country. Despite working around the clock, the family is grateful for what they have and for their time together. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Let Me Finish by Minh Le, illustrated by Isabel Roxas

A boy is trying to finish his book, but disruptions plague him. A fun and funny picture book! [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Drawn Together by Minh Le, illustrated by Dan Santat

A language and generation gap keep a grandson apart from his grandfather, but art draws them together in this heartwarming adventure. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Sorry, Snail by Tracy Subisak

Ari was having a bad day and she took it out on a snail. Ms. Snail wasn’t having it and demanded an apology. Ari gave Ms. Snail an apology but it wasn’t a sincere one. Ms. Snail followed Ari to school with her snail friends and demanded a proper apology. Ari realized from the snail attack how bad Ms. Snail must have felt when she whispered mean things to her. Ari took time to create a beautiful chalk drawing and make a proper heart-felt apology. It was accepted and now they both have a new friend. [picture book, ages 3 and up]

After the Fall by Dan Santat

Dan Santat’s latest fractured fairy tale/growth-mindset picture book is both clever and moving. It’s the ambiguous ending that seals the deal for me though. The genius of this story is taking something that is well-known and finding a spin that is both inspiring, provocative and cleverly original. The growth mindset message is right on target as well. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Where Are My Books by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Spencer loves to read. He reads a book every night. But one morning his favorite book goes missing, and in its place is a tulip. Spencer searches high and low, but he can’t find his book.

The next morning another book is missing, a nut in its place. And the morning after that, another book is missing.

What is happening to Spencer’s books? When he finds out, Spencer devises a surprising solution that will delight readers (and librarians) everywhere. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Danny’s Hawaiian Journey by Patrick Landeza, illustrated by Edna Cabcabin Moran

A young boy who has never been to Hawai‘i learns about his Hawai‘ian heritage. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

A Child’s Book of Poems by Gyo Fujikawa

I have always loved Gyo Fukikawa’s sweet multicultural depictions of children. I grew up reading her Mother Goose picture book. It was probably the only time I saw Asian characters in a book. [picture book, ages 3 and up]

A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin

Grace Lin’s first picture book in eight years is a delightful bedtime story celebrating her favorite holiday: the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. She also expresses herself in a different artistic style in this love letter to her daughter who kept asking for more stories about the moon.  Enjoy with a mooncake that you purchase or bake yourself like Little Star’s mom. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

The Tale of the Lucky Cat by Sunny Seki

The waving cat at Japanese restaurants and stores might be familiar but perhaps this Japanese folktale of how the Maneki Neko (The Cat That Invites Good Luck) is new to you. It’s new to me and I’m half-Japanese!

Long ago in Japan, a kind but poor toymaker named Tokuzo traveled from village to village to sell his toys. He happened to see a cat running from a dog who ended up in a terrible accident.

Tokuzo took the cat home and nursed it carefully but the cat died. He carefully buried the cat, said his goodbye, and went on his way. A storm started, and Tokuzo took shelter under a tree. Suddenly he saw a waving cat that looked exactly like the cat he rescued. Puzzled, he went to the cat. An instant later, lightning struck the very tree he stood under. Was this the very same cat who had died?

He told many people about this mysterious cat and ended up asking a wise old man, a master craftsman for advice. Tokuzo decides to create a statue of the cat to share his good luck. The statue, made of clay, ends up being as a waving cat, very much like the ones you see today!

This story reminds us that all acts of kindness matter.

Bilingual Japanese folktale in Japanese and English! [Picture book, for ages 4 and up.]

Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung

In the beginning, there were three colors . . .

Reds,

Yellows,

and Blues.

All special in their own ways, all living in harmony―until one day, a Red says “Reds are the best!” and starts a color kerfuffle. When the colors decide to separate, is there anything that can change their minds?

A Yellow, a Blue, and a never-before-seen color might just save the day in this inspiring book about color, tolerance, and embracing differences. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

 I am (not) Scared! by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weyant

A silly, fast-paced read-aloud about friends braving the amusement park together. (These two remind me of Mo Willem’s Elephant and Piggie– but for a younger crowd.) This a great text to encourage younger children to explore and identify their feelings. [picture book, ages 3 and up]

Tea With Oliver by Mika Song

Peach Heaven by Yangsook Choi

The white peaches grown in Puchon are the best in all of South Korea, and a rare treat for a little girl who lives in the town. She dreams of a peach orchard where she can play and eat as much of the delicious fruit as she wishes. Then one day, after weeks of heavy downpours, the sky begins to rain peaches. Yangsook finds herself in peach heaven – until she remembers the farmers who have lost their harvest, and decides she must help them. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Morning with Grandpa by Sylvia Liu, illustrated by Christina Forshay

Mei Mei s grandpa is practicing tai chi in the garden, and Mei Mei is eager to join in. As Gong Gong tries to teach her slow, graceful movements, Mei Mei enthusiastically does them with her own flair. Then Mei Mei takes a turn, trying to teach Gong Gong the yoga she learned in school. Will Gong Gong be able to master the stretchy, bendy poses? Winner of the LEE & LOW New Voices Award, this title celebrates, with a lively spirit and humor, the special bond between grandparent and grandchild and the joy of learning new things together. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Down By The River by Andrew Weiner, illustrated by April Chu

One beautiful autumn day, Art sets out with his mother and grandfather for a fishing trip. Fishing days are Art’s favorite. He loves learning the ropes from Grandpa—the different kinds of flies and tackles and the trout that frequent their favorite river. Art especially appreciates Grandpa’s stories. But, this time, hearing the story about Mom’s big catch on her first cast ever makes Art feel insecure about his own fishing skills. But, as Art hooks a beautiful brown trout, he finds reassurance in Grandpa’s stories and marvels at the sport and a day spent with family, promising to continue the tradition with his own grandkids generations later. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Pizza Day by Melissa Iwai

On a sunny, summer day, a young boy and his father assemble the ingredients for a homemade pizza. From gathering fresh garden herbs to rolling out the dough for a crust to spreading on sauce and cheese, this picture book leads young chefs step-by-step through the process of making a favorite meal. [picture book, ages 2 and up]

An Eagle’s Feather by Minfong Ho

An Eagle’s Feather is based on a story of hope written by the Philippine Eagle Foundation to raise awareness and care for the critically endangered, majestic Philippine Eagle, the national bird of the Philippines. A joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Philippine Eagle Foundation, this story was written into this book by Minfong Ho, award-winning author of Hush! A Thai Lullaby. Illustrator Frances Alvarez beautifully captures rural Philippine culture and the powerful spirit of this powerful bird with powerful, evocative art in this very special book designed to capture attention for the plight of this incredible creature both in the Philippines, as well as on the world stage. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

The Nian Monster by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Alina Chau

Use this charming picture book to celebrate the Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year. It explains the customs in this fun adventure pitting  Xingling’s wits against the Nian Monster. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

My Freedom Trip: A Child’s Escape from North Korea by Frances and Ginger Park, illustrated by Debra Reid Jenkins

This haunting picture book tells the difficult story of a young girl who leaves North Korea to meet her father on the other side. While she makes it across to safety at the 38th parallel, her mother is not able to get out in time. [picture book, ages 5 and up]

The Crane Girl by Curtis Manley, illustrated by Lin Wang

This book is a kind of Japanese Rumplestiltskin folk tale about friendship and the power of kindness. [folk tale picture book, ages 6 and up]

Up Down Inside Out by JooHee Yoon

The illustrations utilize just two colors but still manage drama and excitement. The storyline takes common sayings and adds in odd-looking characters. There’s more visual interest with pages that flip up and die-cut pages that flip over. Kids will enjoy learning about common sayings accompanied by quirky illustrations. [picture book, ages 6 and up]

A Huge List of AAPI Children’s Books: Nonfiction Picture Books by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Secret World of Butterflies by Courtney Sina Meredith

Did you know that butterflies taste with their feet, do a dark red poo when they come out of their chrysalises, and that some drink the tears of crocodiles? How does the world look to them, do they ever sleep, and how are some of them able to fly so high? This book, covering all sorts of international butterflies, will open your eyes to these magical creatures around us. [nonfiction picture book, ages 3 and up]

Cook Island Heroes by David Riley, illustrated by Michel Mulipola

Cook Islands Heroes presents inspirational stories of achievers who have Cook Islands ancestry. It includes:
•legends like Ina, Maui, Ngaru and Ru
•historical figures such as Pa Tuterangi Ariki/Sir Thomas Davis, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, Mautara, and Margaret Matenga
•contemporary heroes like Lima Sopoaga, Mīria George, Dr. Kiki Maoate, Kevin Iro, and Teremoana Rapley
Readers will be inspired as they discover the challenges these figures faced and overcame, to be among the greats in their chosen fields.
David Riley, the author of Cook Islands Heroes, is a high school teacher based in South Auckland, New Zealand. Illustrations by Auckland-based artist Michel Mulipola help bring the stories to life.
This is the fourth book in a series on Pacific heroes. The first book, We Are the Rock, focussed on Niuean achievers. It was followed by Samoan Heroes and Tongan Heroes. [nonfiction chapter book, ages 8 and up]

Pa and the Dolphins by Jillian Sobieska

“A True Story of Pa, Rarotongan Hero and His Return Journey to Tahiti”. Pa and the Dolphins is a wonderful children’s book based on actual events. The story follows Cook Island legend Pa Teuruaa who was the first person to successfully swim from Rarotonga to Tahiti, to connect to his ancestors.” [picture book biography, ages 4 and up]

Grand Canyon by Jason Chin

This spectacular picture book about the Grand Canyon won a Caldecott Honor and Silbert Award, both well deserved. Explore the Grand Canyon and learn about the ecosystem, trails, and more in this riveting nonfiction adventure. [nonfiction picture book, ages 6 and up]

Fred Korematsu Speaks Up by Laura Atkins and Stan Yogi, illustrated by Yutaka Houlette

Combining Fred Korematsu’s story with a history of that time including photographs and side panels puts his heroism into context. This is an extremely well-done book with a cover that does not do it justice. I gifted my copy to Dr. Eugene Gu, a civil rights activist in Tennessee who also facing racism. [nonfiction picture book, ages 8 and up]

Chef Roy Choi  and the Street Food Remix by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and  June Jo Lee, illustrated by Man One

Yukari Reads on Instagram gave me the heads-up on this one.

Chef Roy Choi calls himself a “street cook.”
He wants outsiders, low riders,
kids, teens, shufflers and skateboarders,
to have food cooked with care, with love,
with sohn maash.

“Sohn maash” is the flavors at our fingertips. It is the love and cooking talent that Korean mothers and grandmothers mix into their handmade foods. For Chef Roy Choi, food means love. It also means culture, not only of Korea where he was born but the many cultures that make up the streets of Los Angeles, where he was raised. So remixing food from the streets, just like good music—and serving it up from a truck—is true to L.A. food culture. People smiled and talked as they waited in line. Won’t you join him as he makes good food smiles? [picture book biography, ages 4 and up]

Silent Days, Silent Dreams by Allen Say

James Castle was born two months prematurely on September 25, 1899, on a farm in Garden Valley, Idaho. He was deaf, mute, autistic, and probably dyslexic. He didn’t walk until he was four; he would never learn to speak, write, read, or use sign language.

Yet, today Castle’s artwork hangs in major museums throughout the world.  The Philadelphia Museum of Art opened “James Castle: A Retrospective” in 2008. The 2013 Venice Biennale included eleven works by Castle in the feature exhibition “The Encyclopedic Palace.”  And his reputation continues to grow. [picture book biography, ages 8 and up]

Surfer of the Century by Ellie Crowe, illustrated by Richard Waldrep

Among Duke Kahanamoku’s many accomplishments is his invention of the now-ubiquitous flutter kick used in freestyle (or Australian crawl) swimming. As a young, untrained swimmer, Duke set records that officials refused to acknowledge. He would go on to win Olympic medals in Sweden and again in Belgium and Paris, but it was his contribution to surfing that he is best known for. As the Father of Modern Surfing, Duke introduced Hawaii’s sport of the ancient Kings to the world and remains a testament to the aloha spirit. [picture book, ages 7 and up]

Earthwaves by Michael Smith, illustrated by Gayle Garner Roski

There aren’t enough books about Pacific Islander seafarers who, thousands of years ago, charted the Pacific Ocean with superior navigation skills that relied on observation of the nuances of the natural world. Akela and his grandfather set off on a long journey across the sea to trade with friendly islanders. It’s a dangerous journey where Akela can learn navigation from his Grandfather and also about the larger world around them including other explorers that come with bad intentions. [advanced picture book, ages 8 and up]

The Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations: Holiday Poems by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong

This latest book in The Poetry Friday Anthology series offers 12 poems per month and 12 poems with the theme of “Birthdays and Baby Days” PLUS “Take 5!” mini-lessons for teaching and sharing skills and standards such as the CCSS and the TEKS. In addition, each poem is linked to a picture book recommendation and other poems in the book for text-to-text connections. Choose your favorite celebrations for each month! [poetry anthology, ages 4 and up]

A Huge List of AAPI Children’s Books: Leveled Readers by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Lily’s New Home by Paula Yoo

Leveled readers are not my favorite books to read. The simplicity of the words often leads to boring stories. I prefer Paula Yoo’s picture book biographies of Olympic diver Sammy Lee and Hollywood star, Anna May Wong. There are very few diversity easy readers though, so it’s a nice addition to a very shortlist. [easy reader, ages 4 and up]

A Huge List of AAPI Children’s Books: Chapter Books by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Jasmine Toguchi series by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic

Jasmine Toguchi goes through friendship and sibling issues with spunk, humor, and heart in this perfectly paced early chapter book series starring a Japanese American. Fans of Clementine and Ivy and Bean will love this series. [early chapter book series, ages 6 and up]

Alvin Ho: Allergic to The Great Wall, The Forbidden Place, and Other Tourist Attractions by Lenore Look

My son and I love this hilarious series about a boy with a few phobias and his motley crew of interesting friends. [easy chapter book, ages 6 and up]

Sherlock Sam series by A. J. Low

This new series features a boy who lives in Singapore, solves mysteries, and loves food. It’s a good combination for me! With humor provided by an annoying older sister, my son can relate to Sam! [easy chapter book, ages 6 and up]

A Huge List of AAPI Children’s Books: Middle Grade by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

 A Mystery at Lili Villa by Arathi Menon

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“Tam is spending the summer in Elathor, Kerala, India with her aunt and uncle. Damodar Ammavan and Sheila Ammayi are very busy physicians who have a driver to take them back and forth from the hospital. Tam and her cousins, Arj and Mira, are looked after by some of the household staff, including Pitamma, a cook who makes delicious snacks for them. When the house is broken into and Ammayi’s gold jewelry is stolen, the children decide to style themselves as investigators and solve the mystery. There is all manner of suspects, including the driver, a fisherwoman who is mean to their cat, the woman who takes care of the cows at the villa, Dumdumchecchi, a young man they call Well-Cleaner Mani, Fan-Fixer Faekkku, and the homeless Pottan. The local police, headed by Thombu, don’t seem to be taking the case seriously, but the children are determined to figure out the crime. While doing so, they get to meet a variety of people in the area and learn more about them. This is the start of a series, with the next book being The Mystery at the Mumbai Turf Club.” [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

The Comeback: A Figure Skating Novel by E. L. Chen

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“This is on trend with books depicting the experiences of students from different cultural backgrounds and their treatment in school. Maxine sends away from adhesive to try to make double eyelids on herself, thinking she would receive fewer comments about her appearance. She also gets help with her makeup from an older skater who is also Asian. I appreciated that when her teacher finally realized what Alex was doing and saying, the punishment was swift, and apologies were made to both Maxine and her family. The details about skating are excellent, and Maxine’s relationship with Hollie is realistically tentative. Maxine struggles with some of her school work and with time management. The story moves quickly, with a good mix of sport and everyday life.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Cilla Lee-Jenkins: This Book is a Classic by Susan Tan, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte

Cilla is a spunky heroine with relatable problems: a new sibling, best friend squabbles, and being scared of the dark. But she also brings something new to the table that characters like Ramona or Clementine do not. The questions from strangers because of her racial ambiguity, tensions between in-laws perhaps due to her parents’ mixed-race marriage, and how food is the great bridge between cultures. This is not a middle-grade book for just mixed-race kids. This is a book for any kid, but mixed-race kids will especially appreciate Cilla’s perspective.

The sequel to Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire starts with a Chinese New Year celebration in Chinatown. Cilla dresses in red, receives a red envelope, distributes good luck oranges throughout the house, watches a lion dance parade, and eats a mooncake. This is her year to be a big sister, overcome her fears, be more “Chinese,” and participate in her aunt’s wedding as a flower girl.  [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh

I had trouble attaching to this character but I think that it’s just me. Bea was a little too passive for me without a strong enough personality in this coming-of-age middle school story of a girl adrift both at school as her friendships shift and at home, as she becomes a big sister. Some of the story threads didn’t feel realistic to me like the note hiding and discomfort of being a big sister given that the age gap is twelve or thirteen years. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Step Up To the Plate Maria Singh by Uma Krishnaswami

Maria Singh is half Mexican, half Indian battling sexism and racism during WW2 in central California as her teacher forms a new softball team at school despite limited support including Maria’s parents. This mixed-race combination is based on a little-known chapter of American history set in a community whose families made multicultural choices before the word had been invented because of mixed-race laws at the time. Uma Krishnaswami draws the reader into this world such that you feel like you are at an exciting ball game where you scream your head off. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Wing and Claw: Beast of Stone by Linda Sue Park

Raffa Santana is a healer, not a fighter. As a gifted apothecary, he has amazing instincts for unleashing the potential of magical-seeming plants. But his skills have failed to free the animals that the heartless Chancellor captured and turned against the people of Obsidia—directly threatening Raffa’s friends and family.

Now Raffa and his ragtag group of allies are preparing to confront the Chancellor’s armies in battle. Great beasts, small animals, and humans alike will be joining the fight, and Raffa’s heart yearns to prevent injuries—and worse—on both sides of the battle. After all, the Chancellor’s creatures will be fighting against their will. Can Raffa’s instincts for apothecary arts bring a tolerable resolution to an impossibly unfair fight? [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Dawn Raid by Pauline Vaeluaga Smith

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“Sophia lives in New Zealand in 1976 with her family including her father, an autoworker born in Samoa, her mother, a night cleaner who is Pākehā (a white or non-Māori New Zealander), an older brother and sister, and two accident-prone younger brothers. Her dearest desire is to own a pair of Go-Go boots, and she has been given a diary for her 13th birthday in which she chronicles her life. Events range from the exciting (a McDonald’s opening in her town of Porirua) to the mundane (going to school). When she has to write an autobiography and deliver it to her class, she finds that she has a knack for public speaking, even though it makes her nervous. Her older brother Lenny does as well, and he is using his talents to work with his friend Rawiri to fight for Māori rights. He has been involved in a march, and although the family isn’t too happy about it, they are aware that Samoans have also been dealing with problems with the government. There was a large influx of workers from the Pacific Islands after World War II, but now politicians are saying that these people are taking jobs away from New Zealanders. There have been a number of Dawn Raids, as well as street sweeps, aimed at finding people from other countries who have overstayed their visas, and the Polynesian Panthers (who are influenced by the US Black Panthers) are trying to fight against these kinds of operations. When Sophia and her family travel to an uncle’s house for a large family party, several of the family are taken to the police station during one of these raids. Sophia uses this experience as the subject for her speech for a competition. In addition to the political causes of the time, we get a lot of information about popular culture and music, as well as the fantastic fashions of the mid-1970s, which she manages to fund through her job delivering milk in the afternoons. Will Sophia continue to fight for civil rights as the decade continues?” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

The Emperor’s Riddle by Kat Zhang

I really liked this clue-solving adventure set in modern-day China. It’s a “Pirate
Treasure Map Meets Ancient Chinese Hidden Treasure” epic quest that Mia Chen and her older brother must solve in order to find their missing Aunt Ling. Time is running out as her Aunt’s nemesis, Ying, is on the trail too. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Deathstrike: Ultraball #2 by Jeff Chen

The stakes are extreme in the second book of Jeff Chen’s futuristic, action-packed Ultraball series. Win-or-lose turns into life-or-death in this thrilling middle grade adventure tailor-made for sports and sci-fi fans. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan

Winner of the 2019 Costa Children’s Book Award!

In contemporary India, 12-year-old Asha will journey across the dangerous Himalayas to find her missing father and save her family’s home — guided by a mythical bird and a green-eyed tiger who she believes to be the spirits of her ancestors. This is an incredibly unique debut about loss, family, buried treasure, and hope. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Mia Tang has a lot of secrets.

Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.

Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they’ve been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed.

Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language?

It will take all of Mia’s courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams? [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Fly on the Wall by Remy Lai

From Ms. Yingling Reads:

“Henry feels like his family is much too overprotective. He is also hiding a secret from his best friend Phoebe, so when his trip to Singapore to spend time with his father is canceled, he feels a need to leave Australia. To prove that he’s not a baby, he manages to get himself on a flight, with the help of Phoebe, who manages to hide his whereabouts from his older sister, who is supposed to be keeping tabs on him. Told in a mixture of pictures and text, we find out that Henry has started an online webcomic that has lots of views… and which is very mean to the vast majority of the people he draws, including Phoebe. When a boy from school who knows that Henry is behind the comic is on the same plane, Henry’s anxieties ramp up and cause him difficulties during his journey.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

It’s 1947, and India, newly independent of British rule, has been separated into two countries: Pakistan and India. The divide has created much tension between Hindus and Muslims, and hundreds of thousands are killed crossing borders.

Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn’t know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it’s too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha, and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can’t imagine losing her homeland, too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.

Told through Nisha’s letters to her mother, The Night Diary is a heartfelt story of one girl’s search for home, for her own identity…and for a hopeful future. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Five Things About Ava Andrews by Margaret Dilloway

Ava Andrews has two invisible disabilities: a heart condition and severe anxiety. It turns out that her conditions are related; panic attacks cause her heart to stop working. Now, Ava must face starting middle school alone after her best friend Zelia moves across the country. Her comedic writing talents catch the eye of classmates who encourage her to join their Improv Group. Not only are the kids friendly and inclusive, but Improv turns out to be a kind of therapy for Ava’s anxiety. But her new friendships seem to be threatening her old friendship with Zelia. Now, her Improv Group might lose its space to real estate developers. Can Ava and her Improv Group use their performance skills to stop the gentrification?

Improvisation as a means to treat social anxiety? On the surface, it seems like asking someone to learn to swim by throwing them into an ocean. But Improvisation actually does work as therapy for social anxiety and anti-bullying because the performer gets to “practice” social situations and learn that mistakes are ok. The outcomes are risk-taking, self-advocacy, and learning to speak up. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

How To Make Friends with the Sea by Tanya Guerrero

Pablo’s extreme fear of the ocean started when he was very young; ironic given that his father is a famous marine biologist. And now Pablo feels like he has lost his father after his parent’s divorce and his mother moves them from country to country. His fears and OCD are getting worse but his mother doesn’t seem to notice. When they foster Chiqui, a young orphaned girl with a cleft lip, Pablo discovers that he can face his fears to be the big brother she looks up to. It’s time for him to finally make friends with the sea, and use his voice to save his family … one that includes Chiqui. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-Mei by Christina Matula

I’d describe this book as Crazy Rich Asians in middle school, set in Hong Kong. Holly-Mei and her family have relocated to Hong Kong for her mother’s new CEO position. Holly-Mei and her sister now attend a posh private school with Hong Kong’s elite. She still has impulse control issues that have alienated her friends back at home, but a fresh start might help Holly-Mei create the perfect life for herself. Has she learned from her mistakes to think before she speaks or will her new life unravel? [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Katana at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee

Sword-wielding Katana isn’t like most high school students—but with classmates like Wonder Woman, Batgirl, and Supergirl, Super Hero High isn’t like most high schools!

In addition to training to be a superhero, Katana also follows the noble warrior traditions of the Samurai. Now a mysterious presence has given her the responsibility of guarding a hundred ancient Samurai swords—but why her, and for what purpose? With the help of Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Ms. Martian, and some of her other super friends, she intends to find out. But she just made captain of the fencing team, she has a huge school project due, and a villain with ties to her family’s past seems to be amassing an army. Maintaining her inner peace isn’t going to be easy . . . [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

Aru Shaw and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

This is the first series by Rick Riordan Presents and it does not disappoint. It’s a Hindu-themed “Percy Jackson” with requisite humor, half-gods, and cross-country travel adventure to save the world. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

The House That Lou Built by Mae Respicio

The Tiny House movement, Filipino culture, and the need for a place to call home intersect in this pitch-perfect middle grade book. Lou Busolan-Nelson is a mixed-race Filipina character that will steal your heart. She thinks that if she can use her woodshop skills to build a tiny house on the tiny piece of land in San Francisco that she inherited from her father, it will keep her mother from moving them to Seattle. Infused with Filipino culture including food and dance, this book will leave you hungry for more (and pancit and adobo.) [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

My son and I are reading this right now.

In one day, four lives weave together in unexpected ways. Virgil Salinas is shy and kindhearted and feels out of place in his crazy-about-sports family. Valencia Somerset, who is deaf, is smart, brave, and secretly lonely, and she loves everything about nature. Kaori Tanaka is a self-proclaimed psychic, whose little sister, Gen, is always following her around. And Chet Bullens wishes the weird kids would just stop being so different so he can concentrate on basketball.

They aren’t friends, at least not until Chet pulls a prank that traps Virgil and his pet guinea pig at the bottom of a well. This disaster leads Kaori, Gen, and Valencia on an epic quest to find missing Virgil. Through luck, smarts, bravery, and a little help from the universe, a rescue is performed, a bully is put in his place, and friendship blooms. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani Dasgupta

A Sci-Fi fantasy adventure featuring Kiranmala, a regular sixth grader living in Parsippany, New Jersey, who finds her parents missing and a rakkhosh demon in her kitchen, determined to eat her alive. Turns out the mythological stories of her parents were true and she’s a princess who must go into a different dimension to save them. [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng

This was my son’s assigned rising 7th grade summer reading book. My son liked the first half of the book which is about 11-year-old Alex Petroski’s road trip from Colorado to New Mexico for a rocket launch event with his small and very afraid dog. The story is told through Alex’s voice by way of recordings and it also indicated to me that perhaps Alex has Asperger’s Syndrome. We know that it’s just Alex and his mom at home and there is something not quite right with her as Alex is the primary caretaker for both of them.

It’s at the rocket launch event that Alex meets two fellow competitors who help him get to the next leg of his journey. It’s here where my son loses interest in the story. Cheng introduces more adult characters at each new location in the book, with each having a backstory that somehow winds together with the rest of the plot. Newbery judges like these complicated lines of plot that intersect for a satisfying ending, but my son did not. He had trouble keeping track of everyone and really didn’t care for a nearly all-adult cast. If you compare this to Rick Riordan’s books which he loves, this book lacks the humor, the adventure, the special powers, and, most of all, the “kids-on-a-quest-doing-it-by-themselves” element. It was tough slogging to make my son finish the book and I did all the reading to him aloud!

I think while some have this book on the shortlist for Newbery, there is just too much going on in terms of adult characters, plot twists, and mental health challenges for a middle school audience. For a road trip book, I’d probably recommend Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech instead. My son would recommend The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex instead. [middle grade, ages 10 and up]

This is Just A Test by Wendy Wan-Long Shang and Madelyn Rosenberg

David Da-Wei Horowitz has a lot on his plate. Preparing for his upcoming bar mitzvah would be enough work even if it didn’t involve trying to please his Jewish and Chinese grandmothers, who argue about everything. But David just wants everyone to be happy.

That includes his friend Scott, who is determined to win their upcoming trivia tournament but doesn’t like their teammate — and David’s best friend — Hector. Scott and David begin digging a fallout shelter just in case this Cold War stuff with the Soviets turns south… but David’s not so convinced he wants to spend forever in an underground bunker with Scott. Maybe it would be better if Hector and Kelli Ann came with them. But that would mean David has to figure out how to stand up for Hector and talk to Kelli Ann. Some days, surviving nuclear war feels like the least of David’s problems. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Unidentified Suburban Object by Mike Jung

I like a chapter book with a surprise twist. This starts off as a Korean American story of Chloe Cho, your average Tiger Cub who plays violin well, gets good grades, and is an exemplary student. But then things change. Why? I can’t tell you. But this is a twist on the Model Minority Asian American stereotype, and it’s funny to boot. [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

Reflection: A Twisted Tale by Elizabeth Lim

Finding Mighty by Sheela Chari

Sheela Chari’s second mystery for kids ages 10 and up combines graffiti art, parkour, Indian American characters, diamond smuggling, and family secrets. It’s set in Yonkers, NY, and is a fast-paced urban page-turner. [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

Checked by Cynthia Kadohata

Hockey is Conor’s life. His whole life. He’ll say it himself, he’s a hockey beast. It’s his dad’s whole life too–and Conor is sure that’s why his stepmom, Jenny, left. There are very few things Conor and his dad love more than the game, and one of those things is their Doberman, Sinbad. When Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor chooses to put his hockey lessons and practices on hold so they can pay for Sinbad’s chemotherapy.

But without hockey to distract him, Conor begins to notice more. Like his dad’s crying bouts, and his friend’s difficult family life. And then Conor notices one more thing: Without hockey, the one thing that makes him feel special, is he really special at all? [chapter book, ages 10 and up]

Beyond Possible: One Man, 14 Peaks, and the Mountaineering Achievement of a Lifetime by Nimsdai Purja

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“Beyond Possible offers a fascinating look at what it takes to climb these imposing peaks right now. For me, reading about these climbs is a much better way to experience them than planning a trip myself, but young readers hungry for adventure will look at Purja’s experiences and envision themselves in his hiking boots. His story is inspirational and harrowing all at once.” [nonfiction middle grade, ages 10 and up] {Nepal}

Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh

Harper doesn’t trust her new home from the moment she steps inside, and the rumors are that the Raine family’s new house is haunted. Harper isn’t sure she believes those rumors, until her younger brother, Michael, starts acting strangely.

The whole atmosphere gives Harper a sense of déjà vu, but she can’t remember why. She knows that the memories she’s blocking will help make sense of her brother’s behavior and the strange and threatening sensations she feels in this house, but will she be able to put the pieces together in time? [chapter book, ages 8 and up]

The Crystal Ribbon by Celeste Lim

I’m not big on corporal punishment for children so I had trouble reading about the caning that Li Jing receives from her new family she gains as a child bride. It’s a difficult and sad life but the magical realism that Celeste Lim weaves in gives her hope of escape. Set in medieval China, it’s a kind of diverse Cinderella story. [chapter book, ages 8 and up]

A Child’s Introduction to Asian American and Pacific Islander History: The Heroes, the Stories, and the Cultures that Helped to Build America by Naomi Hirahara and Sarah Demonteverde

An extensive and fairly complete primer on Asian Pacific American history, this book also highlights AAPI notables, holidays, and festivals. [nonfiction picture book, ages 10 and up]

A Huge List of AAPI Children’s Books: Novels in Verse by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai

A California girl born and raised, Mai can’t wait to spend her vacation at the beach. Instead, she has to travel to Vietnam with her grandmother, who is going back to find out what really happened to her husband during the Vietnam War.

Mai’s parents think this trip will be a great opportunity for their out-of-touch daughter to learn more about her culture. But to Mai, those are their roots, not her own. Vietnam is hot, smelly, and the last place she wants to be. Besides barely speaking the language, she doesn’t know the geography, the local customs, or even her distant relatives. To survive her trip, Mai must find a balance between her two completely different worlds. [novel in verse, ages 8 and up]

A Huge List of AAPI Children’s Books: Graphic Novels by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Supernova by Kazu Kibuishi

Emily has lost control of her Amulet and is imprisoned in the Void, where she must find a way to escape the influence of the Voice. Meanwhile, Emily’s brother, Navin, travels to Lighthouse One, a space station where the Resistance is preparing to battle the approaching Shadow forces that would drain planet Alledia of all its resources. Emily and Navin must be smarter and stronger than ever to ensure Alledia’s survival. [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]

Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang

From graphic novel superstar (and high school computer programming teacher) Gene Luen Yang comes a wildly entertaining new series that combines logic puzzles and basic programming instruction with a page-turning mystery plot! [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]

The Stone Heart (The Nameless City) by Faith Erin Hicks and Jordie Bellaire

My Chinese heritage is linked to the silk trade and I am fascinated by the Silk Road. This graphic novel brings the intrigue and adventure of the silk road to life.

Kaidu and Rat have only just recovered from the assassination attempt on the General of All Blades when more chaos breaks loose in the Nameless City: deep conflicts within the Dao nation are making it impossible to find a political solution for the disputed territory of the City itself. [graphic novel, ages 9 and up]

A Huge List of AAPI Children’s Books: Young Adult by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

The Great Destroyers by Caroline Tung Richmond

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“Alternate history is a great way to bring attention to modern issues in a historical context, and adding a Mid Century Modern Steampunk feel was very fun. Jo’s economically disadvantaged background contrasts nicely with Sam’s privileged one and brings focus to inequities. I loved Senator Appleby and her background as a mecha coach. Her rise into office makes sense for the time period, and certainly, by 1963, things were starting to change a bit for women. (A couple of years later, my mother refused to quit her teaching job because she was pregnant and was successful in staying in her position even after my brother and I was born.) Certainly, after WWII, there was even more prejudice against people from Asian countries than there is now, and I appreciated that Jo is able to work on a lesson with her coach about not using “Oriental” to refer to people. The sabotage and the mystery surrounding it made the pages turn quickly, and showcased a lot of the fears during this era.” [young adult, ages 12 and up]

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“Valora is a very engaging character who has managed to round up an impressive amount of resources and is using them effectively to try to make a better life for herself. I knew a little about the Chinese Exclusion Act, but my younger readers will be captivated by this new-to-them history. The pomp and wealth on the upper decks of the ship are nicely contrasted with Jamie and his companions at work. The inclusion of some fashion design is quite fun and reminded me a bit of the television series House of Eliot. There are plenty of details about surviving the disaster as well, but Valora is really the draw in this one. She’s a great character whose perseverance makes us root for her! This is perfect for readers who liked Ying S. Lee’s A Spy in the House (2010).” [young adult, ages 12 and up]

Lovely, Dark and Deep by Justina Chen

Thanks to her crisis-manager parents, she doesn’t just have to wear layers of clothes and a spaceship-sized hat. She has to avoid all hints of light. Say goodbye to windows and running outdoors. Even her phone becomes a threat. Viola is determined to maintain a normal life, particularly after she meets Josh. He’s a funny, talented Thor look-alike with his own mysterious grief. But their romance makes her take more risks, and when a rebellion against her parents backfires dangerously, she must find her way to a life — and love — as deep and lovely as her dreams. [young adult, ages 12 and up]

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F. C. Yee

The struggle to get into a top-tier college consumes sixteen-year-old Genie’s every waking thought. But when she discovers she’s a celestial spirit who’s powerful enough to bash through the gates of heaven with her fists, her perfectionist existence is shattered.

Enter Quentin, a transfer student from China whose tone-deaf assertiveness beguiles Genie to the brink of madness. Quentin nurtures Genie’s outrageous transformation—sometimes gently, sometimes aggressively—as her sleepy suburb in the Bay Area comes under siege from hell-spawn.

This epic YA debut draws from Chinese folklore, features a larger-than-life heroine, and perfectly balances the realities of Genie’s grounded high school life with the absurd supernatural world she finds herself commanding. [young adult, ages 12 and up]

Warcross by Marie Lu

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty-hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. To make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation. [young adult, ages 12 and up]

Damselfly by Chandra Prasad

Their survival is in their own hands…Samantha Mishra opens her eyes and discovers she’s alone and injured in the thick of a jungle. She has no idea where she is, or what happened to the plane taking her and the rest of the Drake Rosemont fencing team across the Pacific for a tournament. Once Sam connects with her best friend, Mel, and they find the others, they set up shelter and hope for rescue. But as the days pass, the teens realize they’re on their own, stranded on an island with a mysterious presence that taunts and threatens them. Soon Sam and her companions discover they need to survive more than the jungle… they need to survive each other. [young adult, ages 14 and up]

Always and Forever Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Lara Jean’s letter-writing days aren’t over in this surprise follow-up to the New York Times bestselling To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You. [young adult, ages 12 and up]

The Singing Bones by Shawn Tan

Wicked stepmothers, traitorous brothers, cunning foxes, lonely princesses: There is no mistaking the world of the Brothers Grimm and the beloved fairy tales that have captured generations of readers. Now internationally acclaimed artist Shaun Tan shows us the beautiful, terrifying, amusing, and downright peculiar heart of these tales as never before seen. [chapter book, ages 12 and up]

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins

One of my favorite reads this year is You Bring the Distant Near. Mitali Perkins weaves a multi-generational tale of a family into a story that feels effortless, yet powerful. I think that’s why this book made the long list for many awards including The National Book Award. Each generation faces challenges of assimilation versus tradition, but the bonds of family stretch but never break. This novel has it all: romance, Indian culture, and the quest for self-identity. The best part is that it’s an epic story that is not a tome. Like a [Karthak] dancer, the reader follows the rhythm of these five women in a graceful dance that requires unseen structure, rules, and endurance. [young adult, ages 14 and up]

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

I really enjoyed this light romance YA novel between two Indian Americans at high powered Silicon Valley summer camp for young entrepreneur coders. Indian culture is seamlessly mixed in but it’s the romance and the relationships that draw you in. Dimple Shaw is trying to avoid getting set up by her family with the “perfect Indian husband” but it turns out that Rishi Patel believes in the Indian traditions of arranged marriage. Their first meeting is disastrous but Dimple learns that relationships and getting to know who people truly are is complicated. Great cover too! [young adult, ages 12 and up]

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan

Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi

This YA book is clever but at times I wish it scaled back the cleverness to develop the characters. Still, halfway through the book, it balances out. It’s told from two points of view:

For Penny Lee high school was a total nonevent. Her friends were okay, her grades were fine, and while she somehow managed to land a boyfriend, he doesn’t actually know anything about her. When Penny heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, it’s seventy-nine miles and a zillion light years away from everything she can’t wait to leave behind.

Sam’s stuck. Literally, figuratively, emotionally, and financially. He works at a café and sleeps there too, on a mattress on the floor of an empty storage room upstairs. He knows that this is the god-awful chapter of his life that will serve as inspiration for when he’s a famous movie director but right this second the seventeen bucks in his checking account and his dying laptop are really testing him.

When Sam and Penny cross paths it’s less meet-cute and more a collision of unbearable awkwardness. Still, they swap numbers and stay in touch—via text—and soon become digitally inseparable, sharing their deepest anxieties and secret dreams without the humiliating weirdness of having to see each other. [young adult, age 14 and up]

American Panda by Gloria Chao

An incisive, laugh-out-loud contemporary debut about a Taiwanese-American teen whose parents want her to be a doctor and marry a Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer despite her squeamishness with germs and crush on a Japanese classmate. [young adult, ages 14 and up]

Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman

Fifteen-year-old Vidya dreams of going to college— an unusual aspiration for a girl living in British-occupied India during World War II. Then tragedy strikes, and Vidya and her brother are forced to move into a traditional household with their extended family, where women are meant to be married, not educated. Breaking the rules, Vidya finds refuge in her grandfather’s library. But then her brother does something unthinkable, and Vidya’s life becomes a whirlwind of political and personal complications. The question is, will she be strong enough to survive? [young adult, ages 14 and up]

Kangaroo Too by Curtis C. Chen

Set in the same world as Waypoint Kangaroo, Curtis C. Chen’s Kangaroo Too is bursting with adrenaline and intrigue in this unique outer space adventure.

On the way home from his latest mission, secret agent Kangaroo’s spacecraft is wrecked by a rogue mining robot. The agency tracks the bot back to the Moon, where a retired asteroid miner―code named “Clementine” ―might have information about who’s behind the sabotage. [young adult, age 14 and up]

p.s. All my Asian Pacific American Book Lists:

Asian American Book Lists for Kids

• Asian American
• Korean American
• Japanese American
• Chinese American
• South Asian American

40+ Asian American books for kids

Asian Joy in Picture Books

Recognizing Children’s Books for AAPI Heritage Month (a huge list)

AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Children’s Book Authors

Celebrating Asian Americans for Women’s History Month

Books for Kids About Cambodia

Vietnamese American Children’s Books

Children’s Books About Mongolia

Children’s Books about Singapore

Children’s Books about Tibet

Picture Books set in Asia or about Asian-Americans

#OwnVoices Half Filipino Character Face-Off

Chinese New Year Picture Books INSTEAD of Tiki Tiki Tembo

Asian New Year Picture Books and Crafts

Asian Drumming Crafts, Recipes, and Books

Vietnamese Folk Tales for Kids

Lao and Hmong Children’s Books

Wonderful Children’s Books About Thailand

Wonderful Children’s Books on Myanmar (Burma)

Filipino Folk Tales

Hawaiian Folk Tales & Children’s Books

9 Asian Cinderella Picture Books Including the Original

Funny Asian Fractured Fairy Tales

Filipino American Children’s Books

14 Asian American Picture Books About Food

Martial Arts Match Up: Books with Martial Art

Top 10: Ninja Books for Kids

Janet Wong on Lunar Year Traditions with Book List!

Funny Asian Fractured Fairy Tales

3 Amazing Wordless Picture Books

I love these wordless picture books by Asian and Asian American authors/illustrators so much that I made videos of them on my Instagram.

My Favorite Asian American Books for Kids

12 Books to Explore China for Chinese New Year

Kite Flying Books for Kids

Top 10: Best Asian American Books by CoolAsianKids

CoolAsianKids made a wonderful list of their favorite Asian American KidLit.

Asian in America (Amy Chua, new Asian KidLit, dumpling recipe!)

These recently published books show the new diversity of Asian American KidLit as well as the high quality of this genre.

Asian American Children’s Book Awards 2014

APALA Awards for Best Asian American Children’s Books 2013

The Asian Pacific American Libraries Association has announced its 2013 literature award winners

Exploring Vietnam: Culture and KitLit

I created a series of posts a while back that I called Teach Me Tuesday. I wanted to explore a country using children’s books as well as different elements of their culture from art to food to artisans. This was the first post I did of this series on Vietnam (and my best one!).  The Teach Me Tuesday series is here.

Sri Lanka with Kids Books, Recipe, and Design

A friend from Sri Lanka gave me a recipe that he loved as a child and this sparked this post. Finding the books is always the toughest part for me.

Exploring Laos with Books for Kids, Culture, and Art

The more I learned about Laos, the more I want to go to this mysterious, beautiful, and tragic country.

Bangladesh: Culture, Alpanas, Children’s Books, Recipe, and More!

 

Top 10: Philosophical Zen Picture Books for Kids

Picture Books about Taiwan and Taiwanese Americans or from Taiwanese American Creators

 

 

Korean American books for kids

I’m half Chinese and Japanese and I married a Korean. My first multicultural book lists were on these three ethnicities as a way to show my children their heritage. The Korean American culture is so strong in America that this first post went viral.

Korean American Picture Books

New Children’s Picture Books on Koreans and Korean Americans!

10 Picture Books Celebrating Korean Culture

15 Great Korean Folk Tales for Kids

Top 10: Korean American Children’s Books (ages 2-16)

This is the first post of mine ever to go viral.

15 Great Korean Folk Tales

Discovering Korea for Kids with Kids’ Books, Art, and Food

I wanted to learn more about my husband’s family history so this is a very personal journey of discovery.

Korean-American Picture Book Teaches Multicultural Lesson

I don’t often do individual book reviews but finding this great Asian American book at the library made me want to post on it.

Japanese American books for kids

Children’s Books Featuring Sumo

Japanese American Picture Books Celebrating Joy Through Creativity

Obon Spirit Boats & Obon Children’s Books

21 Wonderful Japanese Folk Tales

Japanese Internment Books for Kids

Learning About Japan Picture Books for Kids

For your young ninja, books to learn about Japan.

Connecting Science and Art: Hokusai’s The Great Wave

It’s amazing how a single piece of art can have a ripple effect, inspiring others all around the world and for many generations.

In Memory of Hiroshima Bombing Books and Crane Origami for Kids

Top 10: Japanese American Children’s Books (ages 2-16)

WWII Internment seems to dominate Japanese American books for kids. I agree that it is an important lesson in history — my own mother was forced to relocate but I also hunger for books that explore other facets of being Japanese American.

Let’s Go Fly a Kite!

Kite flying is an important ritual in Asia and I’ve rounded up every great kite flying book thanks to a little help from my friends and readers.

Best Bilingual Japanese Books for Kids

This was my response to a reader request.

Japan: Books for Kids on Shogun, Family Crests, Block Prints

I explore my own Japanese history in this post.

Japanese American Post Internment Story: Journey Home (ages 8-12)

These older books explore the Japanese American internment experience during WWII, a shameful chapter in America’s history.

Pearl Harbor Day Books for Kids

A Unit to Learn About the Tokyo Olympics

Chinese American books for kids

There is such a diversity of Chinese American books for kids from philosophy, culture, and contemporary times.

The Chinese Exclusion Act – What They Don’t Teach in History Books

Picture Books Featuring Chinese Words

Chinese American Picture Books To Fill Your Heart and Belly

Top 10 Books to Learn About Chinese Culture

Top 10: Chinese American Children’s Books (ages 2-14)

I wanted to show the breadth and depth of Chinese American books for kids. These were our favorites.

 

24 Wonderful Chinese Folk Tales for Kids

Top 10: Best Chinese New Year Books for Kids

I never had a great Chinese New Year picture book despite always doing a Chinese New Year presentation for my children’s preschool so I was determined to upgrade!

4th of July Picture Books with an Asian Twist

Fourth of July from a Chinese American immigrant’s perspective via picture books. Yep, this is what I blog about!

Grace Lin’s Latest Chapter Book is Her Best Ever!

I’m a huge fan of Grace Lin. I consider her the Amy Tan of children’s literature.

Grace Lin’s Dumpling Days: Delicious as Always!

I love the Pacy series which is based on Grace Lin’s life. This chapter book about her trip to Taiwan actually covers several of Lin’s own summer vacations.

Grace Lin Book Club for Kids

Grace’s favorite books growing up!

Asian American Chapter Book for Girls

Lisa Yee portrays the dilemnas of modern day Asian American kids caught between assimilation and Tiger parents.

Percy Jackson + Chinese Mythology = The Monkey King’s Daughter

A Chinese mythology action-adventure series.

South Asian Books for kids

South Asian culture and books are foreign to me too so I wanted to learn more.

South Asian-American Picture Books of Joy

Seven Amazing Folk Tales from India

Books for Kids and Teens to Learn About Indian Culture

 

Children’s Books on Holi, the Hindu Spring Festival

Top 10: Best Southeast Asian American Children’s Books (ages 2-14)

It was sad to find that most of the books on this list were out of print. There are some great ones lately but with such a large population of Southeast Asian Americans, I’m hoping more books in this genre will be published.

4th Grade Skype Author Visit: Sheela Chari of Vanished

Sheela Chari’s debut mystery chapter book is award-winning!

Seven Amazing Folk Tales from India

Books for Kids and Teens to Learn About Indian Culture

To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.

 

My books:

We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants®  Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court

• Junior Library Guild Gold selection

 Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

• ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
• Junior Library Guild Gold selection
• Massachusetts Book Award Long List
• dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
• Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
• 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
• Green Earth Book Award Long List
• Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
• Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

 Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me

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