Please welcome author Kasmira Sheth with her picture book list of books set in Asia. We are also doing a giveaway of her picture book, Feast of Peas. Please use the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter.
How about you? What are your favorite picture books set in Asia or about Asian Americans? Any funny ones that you recommend? Thanks for sharing!
Picture Books set in Asia or about Asian-Americans
Apple Pie, Fourth of July by Janet S. Wong, illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
This is a picture book about a lively Chinese-American girl who wants to tell her parents how
things should be done on one special day. She is in for a surprise. This is a beautifully told story filled with emotions and colors. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Same, Same But Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
This book is about who we are as a human race. The two pen pals who live far from each other
(One in the USA, other in India) discover that they are much alike even though they are in
different places. The readers can get lost in wonderfully detailed illustrations. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
The Happiest Tree: A yoga Story by Uma Krishmaswami, illustrated by Ruth Jeyaveeran
A young Indian-American girl is unsure about participating in her school play. Through yoga
and breathing, she gains confidence. This book subtly weaves Uma’s Indian background and
offers much to readers about the ancient yoga techniques while telling a story they can relate to. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
King for a Day by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Christiane Krömer
As a child, I used to look forward to kite flying day in India. The sky was filled with colorful kites and kite-fighting was fun. For me, Rukshana Kahn brings alive that memory. This book is more than that though. It is a book that all the children will enjoy and connect with because it has a warm, heartfelt story and lovely illustrations. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Bee-Bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Ho Baek Lee
This book about (Korean) food is more than just shopping and cooking together. It is about warm family relationships, passing on cultural tradition, and sharing a special meal. When I first read the book I never had Bee-Bim Bop but it sounded great. I have had it since then and it is absolutely delicious. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Feast of Peas by Kashmira Sheth, illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler
Every morning, Jiva works in his garden until the sun turns as red as a bride’s sari. He plants peas and other vegetables in the vegetable patch and waits for them to grow. But each time Jiva is ready to pick the peas for his feast, they’re already gone. What has happened? This original story set in India features a deliciously amusing mystery about gardening, anticipation, hard work, and generosity. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Feast of Peas GIVEAWAY!
We are also doing a giveaway of her picture book, Feast of Peas. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. We can only mail to U.S. addresses.
Kashmira Sheth was born in India and came to the US when she was seventeen. She loves peas as much as Jiva. Not mushy bland peas but perfectly spiced and simmered peas paired potatoes and corn. And crisp and crunchy peas plucked right from the vines. Kashmira is the author of several picture books—including Tiger in My Soup, also illustrated by Jeffry Ebbeler—chapter books, and middle grade and young adult novels. She lives in Virginia and Wisconsin. Visit her website at www.kashmirasheth.com.
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My books:
BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.
We love the book “Same, Same but Different” in my English Learner classroom. We do a service learning project with international students at the university level. They are penpals, and also get together to do a different project every semester. One year, we made our own version of “Same, Same but Different”, highlighting the cultures of our students. The local library now has a copy of it available for checkout!
It looks like “Feast Of India” will be a very fun book! And I love all things Indian!
My children have loved the following:
Lon Po Po , Yeh-Shen, and The Cat from Hunger Mountain by Ed Young
Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel and Blair Lent
The Funny Little Woman by Arlene Mosel and Blair Lent
One Grain Of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale by Demi
and Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein.
Thanks for the chance.
I’m looking forward to reading “Sumo Joe”!
I love your selection of books about Asia and Asian Americans. I am an Elementary school librarian in a very diverse school, you have provided a great list of books from which to choose to add to our collection. I also remember reading “Be Bim Bap” with my youngest daughter when she received it her weekly preschool book bag, it is a delightful book.
Favorites”
Natsumi-Susan Lendroth
Daisy comes home-Jan Brett
Fred Korematsu- All-American Hero- Fred Korematsu
What a fantastic line up of books. I am a teacher and I strive to share diversity in my classroom. I love The Last Dragon, The Real Story of Stone Soup, Grandfather Counts
We love books by Uma Krishmaswami, Kashmira Sheth and Hena Khan to name a few. I am always on the look out for more South Asian voices. As for the book “Same, Same but Different,” I don’t recommend it at all. It’s cute at first glance, but then the “colorful” and “playful” illustrations have all these dated stereotypes about India that you wouldn’t find in books written by the authors from the different communities in India. Just like the book “In Andal’s House” (also written by someone less informed and who is not Asian/South Asian), it doesn’t have a place on a shelf that promotes diversity and inclusion.
Thanks so much for your wonderful review and for celebrating with us.