22 Banned Asian American Children's Books #fREADomToRead

This list is curated from Advancing Justice’s list of BANNED: An Asian American Reading List of Banned Books in 2023 on Medium. Let’s all read these books and request them at your local library to support Asian American authors!

22 Banned Asian American Children’s Books

Red Kite, Blue Kite by Jiang Ji-li, illustrated by Greg Ruth

Inspired by the dark time of the Cultural Revolution in China, this is a soaring tale of hope that will resonate with anyone who has ever had to love from a distance. [picture book, ages 6 and up]

Banned for: Mentions of the Cultural Revolution; Chinese history and culture
States banned: PA

Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho, illustrated by Holly Meade

In an endearing lullaby, a mother asks a lizard, a monkey, and a water buffalo to be quiet and not disturb her sleeping baby. [picture book, ages 2 and up]

Banned for: Asian culture
States banned: FL

From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea by Kai Cheng Thom and Kai Yun Ching, illustrated by Wai-Yant Li

In this captivating, beautifully imagined picture book about gender, identity, and the acceptance of the differences between us, Miu Lan faces many questions about who they are and who they may be. But one thing’s for sure: no matter what this child becomes, their mother will love them just the same. [picture book, ages 2 and up]

Banned for: LGBTQ+ themes; genderfluid protagonist
States banned: PA

Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi

Banned for: Religious minorities; Islamic themes
States banned: FL

Under My Hijab by Hena Khan, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

Grandma’s hijab clasps under her chin. Auntie pins hers up with a whimsical brooch. Jenna puts a sun hat over hers when she hikes. Iman wears a sports hijab for tae kwon do. As a young girl observes the women in her life and how each covers her hair a different way, she dreams of the possibilities in her own future and how she might express her personality through her hijab. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Banned for: Religious minorities; Islamic themes
States banned: PA
Other banned books by Khan: Like the Moon Loves the Sky and Amina’s Voice

Mindy Kim series by Lyla Lee, illustrated by Dung Ho

On her first day of school, Mindy’s school snack of dried seaweed isn’t exactly popular at the lunch table. Luckily, her new friend, Sally, makes the snacks seem totally delicious to Mindy’s new classmates, so they decide to start the Yummy Seaweed Business to try and raise money for that puppy! [chapter book series, ages 6 and up]

Banned for: Race and racism
States banned: PA

WeirDo series by Anh Do

Meet Weir Do. No, that’s not a typo, that’s his name! Weir Do’s the new kid in school. With an unforgettable name, a crazy family, and some seriously weird habits, fitting in won’t be easy . . . but it will be funny! [chapter book, ages 6 and up]

Banned for: Race and racism
States banned: PA

Cilla Lee-Jenkins series by Susan Tan, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte

Priscilla “Cilla” Lee-Jenkins is on a tight deadline. Her baby sister is about to be born, and Cilla needs to become a bestselling author before her family forgets all about her. So she writes about what she knows best―herself! And Cilla has a lot to write about: How did she deal with being bald until the age of five? How did she overcome her struggles with reading? How do family traditions with Grandma and Granpa Jenkins differ from family traditions with her Chinese grandparents, Nai Nai and Ye Ye? [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Banned for: Race and racism; multiracial protagonist
States banned: PA

Front Desk series 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]

Banned for: Undocumented immigration; race and racism; racial solidarity
States banned: PA, TN
Other banned books by Yang: Parachutes

A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

A timely, accessible, and beautifully written story exploring themes of food, friendship, family and what it means to belong, featuring sixth graders Sara, a Pakistani American, and Elizabeth, a white, Jewish girl taking a South Asian cooking class taught by Sara’s mom. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Banned for: Religious minorities; Islamic themes; Jewish themes; racial solidarity
States banned: NC
Other banned books by Faruqi: Yasmin series