RecommendedReads: Asian&PacificAmerican “OwnVoices”Books
HotPotNight!
VincentChen
BB
In this retelling of the Stone Soup tale, a child in an apartment building suggests a community hot pot night, where everyone contributes ingredients they have and share a meal.
MasalaChai,FastandSlow RajaniLaRocca
, R
When his grandfather, who makes masala chai each morning for the family, sprains his ankle, impatient Aarav decides to make the chai himself, but when his rushing causes him to miss some crucial steps, he must learn to slow down to get the recipe right.
BoxofDreams
FaithKazmi
PORKAZM, F
Helping her mama pack up a special balikbayan box for their relatives in the Philippines, a little girl sends along a secret wish to one day meet her family and to see and experience all the places where her mother grew up.
PLARO
TalaLearnstoSiva KealaniNetane
PNETA, K
Tala wishes that she could dance the traditional Samoan dance the taualuga. Tala tries to muster the courage to perform at her Grandma's birthday--but she freezes on stage. Will she find the strength and inspiration to help her dance?
That’sNotMyName! AnooshaSyed
PSYED, A
Mirha questions her name after her classmates continually pronounce it wrong on the first day of school so her mother helps her to learn the significance of her name and to be proud of it.
Awe-samosas! MarziehAbbas
PABBA, M
It's Noor's first time making her Dadijaan's Special Samosa recipe. When she can't get in touch with her Dadijaan because it's nighttime in Pakistan, Noor must improvise to make her family's recipe without all of the correct ingredients.
HowWeSayILoveYou NicoleChen
PCHEN, N
An Asian American girl shares how her family expresses their love for one another through actions rather than words.
Kimchi,KimchiEveryDay
EricaKim
PKIM, E
Whether round and crunchy like a kimchi pancake or pinched and plump like a kimchi dumpling, there are so many ways to enjoy this Korean traditional dish. Explore the different ways to eat kimchi in this fun, rhyming tale that also teaches the days of the week.
HairOilMagic AnuChouhan
PCHOU, A
Meenu discovers the magic in her culture's tradition of hair oiling, and the bond she shares with her mother and grandmother. Includes Meenu's magic hair day tips.
AlohaEverything KaylinMeliaGeorge
PORGEOR, K
Aloha Everything is a magical story that will take you on a thrilling journey through the breathtaking islands of Hawaiʻi!
HennaIs... MarziehAbbas
J 391.65 ABBA, M
A picture book that serves young readers as a lyrical love letter to henna.
GigiandOjiji:PerfectPaperCranes
MelissaIwai
EIWAI, M
Gigi loves the Japan Day Festival. When Ojiji volunteers at the origami booth, Gigi can't wait to make a paper crane like Ojiji's. But folding paper is harder than it looks, and Gigi is disheartened when she sees her paper crane next to Ojiji's. Will Gigi give up or will she try her best?
AlitheGreatandtheMonkeyBarTumble SaadiaFarqui
EFARU, S
After a painful fall, Ali learns that true bravery is not about hiding tears but having the courage to show his real feelings.
TheKidsinMrs.Z’sClass:TheoChangisNotaCat MikeJung
YFJUNG, M
Theo Chang, a third grader in Mrs. Z'd class, must prove to his feisty new cat Trainwhistle that he is a friend and not a foe before his family gives up and returns the misunderstood pet to the shelter.
DivyaFarFromHome SitaJit
YFJIT, S
Nine-year-old Divya did not want to leave New Delhi and move to the United States, and she certainly does not want to share a room with her cousin, or start a new school, but her parents did not give her a choice.
MindyKimandtheFun,FamilyVacation LylaLee
YFLEE, L
Mindy is so excited to go back to Korea! But the trip gets off to a rocky start, and Mindy finds herself hoping this first vacation together won't be memorable for all the wrong reasons
YouareHere:ConnectingFlights
JYOU
A powerful and engaging exploration of contemporary Asian American identity through interwoven stories set in a teeming Chicago airport, written by award-winning and bestselling East and Southeast Asian American authors.
DrawingDeena HenaKhan
When aspiring artist Deena's anxiety reaches a breaking point, both she and her mother learn the importance of asking for help, and that, with the right support, she can create something truly beautiful.
, M
All Momo wants for her twelfth birthday is an ordinary life, but instead she finds out she is half human, half goddess and must unlock her divine powers to save her mother's life and keep countless evil spirits from escaping Yomi, the land of the dead.
JKHAN, H
MomoArashimaStealstheSwordoftheWind MisaSugiura
JSUGI
Clairboyance
KristianaKahakauwila
JKAHA, K
A middle grade novel set in Hawai’i with a touch of magic which follows Clara, a girl whose life is turned upside down when she discovers that she has boyspecific ESP abilities.
SummeratSquee AndreaWang
JWANG, A
A senior camper at Summertime Chinese Culture, Wellness and Enrichment Experience (Squee), Chinese American tween Phoenny Fang finds her summer even more transformative than she could've imagined, with new friendships, her first crush, and a bigger love for and understanding of her community.
Mabuhay! ZackarySterling
JGNSTER, Z
When aspiring artist Deena's anxiety reaches a breaking point, both she and her mother learn the importance of asking for help, and that, with the right support, she can create something truly beautiful.
SavingSunshine SaadiaFaruqi
JGNFARU, S
Zara and Zeeshan really can't stand each other. During a family trip to Florida, their parents sentence them to the worst possible fate― each other’s company! But when the twins find an ailing turtle, it presents a rare opportunity for teamwork if the two can put their differences aside at last.
ContinentalDrifter KathyMacLeod
JGNMACL, K
With a Thai mother and an American father, Kathy lives in two different worlds. She spends most of the year in Bangkok and spends her summers in a tiny seaside town in Maine during the summer. Kathy just wants to find a place where she truly belongs, but she’s not sure if it’s in America, Thailand...or anywhere.
Incredible:AsianAmericansandPacific IslandersWhoChangedtheWorld
MaiaShibutani&AlexShibutani
OSJ 305.895 SHIB, M
This book delves further into the vast number of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders who have made significant and lasting change in the world.
MadeinAsianAmerican:AHistoryforYoung People
Erika
Lee&ChristinaSoontornvat
A middle-grade nonfiction that shines a light on the generations of Asian Americans who've transformed the United States and who continue to shape what it means to be American today. J 973.049 LEE, E
AChild’sIntroductiontoAsianAmericanand
Pacific
IslanderHistory
NaomiHirahara
Celebrate the diversity, history, and rich cultures of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and teach kids ages 8-12 about the people, experiences, and events that have shaped AAPI history. J 973.049 HIRA, N