May is the time when we celebrate the rich cultural diversity, historical achievements, and traditions of Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders. This year, it holds particular importance and significance, and we are pleased to highlight books that uphold the AAPI experience, and our AAPI creators.
Dragon Dancer
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 2
- Reading Level: Grade 2
It is the eve of Chinese New Year. Lanterns are hung in the shopping malls and Yao is preparing to wake the ancient sky dragon, Shen Long, from his year-long sleep. From the moment Shen Long opens his great amber eyes and unfurls his silver-blue tail, Yao will be propelled on a magical journey to battle the bad luck of the previous year and usher in the good. Will he succeed? Will his grandfather watch over him and protect him from harm?
A beautiful story of a Chinese festival and its symbolism for Chinese communities everywhere.
Bumba Books® — Let’s Explore Countries
Have you ever wondered what people do for fun in Russia? Or what special foods people eat in China? Explore the answers to these questions and more! In this series, readers will learn about the history and culture of various countries in an interesting and accessible format. Dynamic full-color photographs, charts and diagrams, and age-appropriate critical thinking questions help readers understand what makes each country special. You’re just a book away from being a world traveler!
Welcome to Mandarin Chinese with Sesame Street®
From the Series Sesame Street® Welcoming Words
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 2
- Reading Level: Kindergarten
Sesame characters help readers learn Mandarin so they can connect with friends who speak the language. Welcoming words relating to everyday life and friendship give readers new language tools to become smarter, kinder friends.
The Most Beautiful Thing
- Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 3
- Reading Level: Grade 2
A warmhearted and tender true story about a young girl finding beauty where she never thought to look.
Drawn from author Kao Kalia Yang’s childhood experiences as a Hmong refugee, this moving picture book portrays a family with a great deal of love and little money. Weaving together Kalia’s story with that of her beloved grandmother, the book moves from the jungles of Laos to the family’s early years in the United States.
When Kalia becomes unhappy about having to do without and decides she wants braces to improve her smile, it is her grandmother—a woman who has just one tooth in her mouth—who helps her see that true beauty is found with those we love most. Stunning illustrations from Vietnamese illustrator Khoa Le bring this intergenerational tale to life.
“A deep and moving reflection on enduring hardship and generational love. . . . Poignant storytelling with stunning visuals.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
“A sincere narrative that centers on the power of family love.”—starred, School Library Journal
Minnesota Book Award Finalist, ALA Notable Children’s Book, New York Public Library Best Book for Kids, NPR Best Book of the Year
A Map into the World
- Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 3
- Reading Level: Grade 2
“Filled with wonder and sorrow and happiness.” —Alison McGhee, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Someday
A heartfelt story of a young girl seeking beauty and connection in a busy world.
As the seasons change, so too does a young Hmong girl’s world. She moves into a new home with her family and encounters both birth and death. As this curious girl explores life inside her house and beyond, she collects bits of the natural world. But who are her treasures for?
A moving picture book debut from acclaimed Hmong American author Kao Kalia Yang.
A Scarf for Keiko
- Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 4
- Reading Level: Grade 2
It’s 1942. Sam’s class is knitting socks for soldiers and Sam is a terrible knitter. Keiko is a good knitter, but some kids at school don’t want anything to do with her because the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor and her family is Japanese American. When Keiko’s family is forced to move to a camp for Japanese Americans, can Sam find a way to demonstrate his friendship?
Daniel Inouye: World War II Hero and Senator
From the Series Beginner Biography (LOOK! Books™)
- Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 2
- Reading Level: Grade 2
Daniel Inouye was born in Hawaii to parents who came from Japan. He had a happy life as a child until 1941 when the Japanese military bombed Pearl Harbor in his hometown. As war broke out, Daniel’s life changed forever. He fought in the U.S. Army against the Japanese and then went on to serve Hawaii and his country in the U.S. Senate.
Global Kids Storybooks
Take young readers around the world with simple and touching stories of everyday life in different countries. Young readers will learn new cultures, discover similarities, and empathize with their neighbors in our global village.
A Bowl Full of Peace: A True Story
- Interest Level: Grade 1 – Grade 5
- Reading Level: Grade 4
A heartbreaking but essential perspective on war and survival.—starred, Kirkus Reviews
In this deeply moving nonfiction picture book, award-winning author Caren Stelson brings Sachiko Yasui’s story of surviving the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and her message of peace to a young audience.
Sachiko’s family home was about half a mile from where the atomic bomb fell on August 9, 1945. Her family experienced devastating loss. When they returned to the rubble where their home once stood, her father miraculously found their serving bowl fully intact. This delicate, green, leaf-shaped bowl—which once held their daily meals—now holds memories of the past and serves as a vessel of hope, peace, and new traditions for Sachiko and the surviving members of her family.
The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – Grade 5
- Reading Level: Grade 3
On the island of Koh Panyee, in a village built on stilts, there is no open space. How will a group of Thai boys play soccer?
After watching the World Cup on television, a group of Thai boys is inspired to form their own team. But on the island of Koh Panyee, in a village built on stilts, there is no open space. The boys can play only twice a month on a sandbar when the tide is low enough. Everything changes when the teens join together to build their very own floating soccer field.
This inspiring true story by debut author Scott Riley is gorgeously illustrated by Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien. Perfect for fans of stories about sports, beating seemingly impossible odds, and places and cultures not often shown in picture books.
“A compelling book for football [soccer] fans and readers seeking examples of ingenuity.”—starred, Publishers Weekly
My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – Grade 5
- Reading Level: Grade 3
A 2019 Batchelder Honor Book
Yu’er and her grandpa live in a small neighborhood in Beijing—and it’s full of big personalities. There’s a story around every corner, and each day has a hint of magic.
In one tale, Yu’er wants to swim in the Special Olympics, a sports competition for people with disabilities. But she and her grandpa don’t have a pool! Their trick to help Yu’er practice wows the whole neighborhood. In another story, a friend takes Yu’er to a wild place full of musical insects. Later, Yu’er hears a special story about her grandparents. And in the final story, Yu’er and her grandpa show a cranky painter the sweet side of life.
Naomi Osaka
From the Series Sports All-Stars (Lerner ™ Sports)
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – Grade 5
- Reading Level: Grade 3
Born in the US and raised in a Haitian and Japanese household, Naomi Osaka is the first Asian player to hold the top ranking for singles tennis. Learn how she became a rising star in the tennis world.
Country Explorers
Engaging photographs, colorful designs, and informative, accessible text are combined in this beginning geography series. World and country maps show the country’s location and geographical features. Extensive back matter includes a description and traceable image of the country’s flag, as well as a Fast Facts section identifying the capital, main landforms, rivers, population, and more.
Learning about Asia
From the Series Searchlight Books™ — Do You Know the Continents?
- Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 5
- Reading Level: Grade 3
Asia is the world’s largest continent, both in land area and in population. But did you know that in India alone, people speak more than 1,000 languages? Or that not everyone agrees about which countries should be considered part of Asia? Learn more about the diverse continent of Asia, from its people and countries to its landforms, economy, and more.
Count Your Way
Count Your Way from one to ten in languages from around the world. Each spread has beautiful, full-page art and a number displayed in both English and a second language, introducing a cultural aspect of the featured country.
Mysteries of the Great Wall of China
From the Series Ancient Mysteries (Alternator Books®)
- Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 6
- Reading Level: Grade 4
In August 2011, an expedition in the Gobi Desert region of Mongolia uncovered a long-forgotten section of the Great Wall of China. In 2015, nine new sections of the wall were located in northwest China. Researchers and archaeologists have worked for years to uncover the secrets of this incredible ancient structure. How was this massive wall created? Who exactly built it and why? Centuries of study have led to many theories and ideas, but some questions may never be answered. Find out more about the myths, history, and science surrounding the Great Wall of China.
Little White Duck: A Childhood in China
- Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 7
- Reading Level: Grade 5
The world is changing for two girls in China in the 1970s. Da Qin—Big Piano—and her younger sister, Xiao Qin—Little Piano—live in the city of Wuhan with their parents. For decades, China’s government had kept the country separated from the rest of the world. When their country’s leader, Chairman Mao, dies, new opportunities begin to emerge. Da Qin and Xiao Qin soon learn that their childhood will be much different than the upbringing their parents experienced.
Secrets of the Sky Caves: Danger and Discovery on Nepal’s Mustang Cliffs
- Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 8
- Reading Level: Grade 5
What’s more dangerous than scaling Mount Everest? For mountaineer Pete Athans, the answer lies in the ancient kingdom of Mustang, a remote part of the Asian nation of Nepal. Long-abandoned caves built high into steep cliffs contain amazing treasures—and pose incredible dangers. Reaching these “sky caves” safely takes guts, smarts, and luck. And then there’s the question of what to do with a two-thousand-year-old human skull. . .
From 2007 to 2012, Pete explored Mustang’s sky caves with a team that included scientists, mountain climbers, and even two children. They found mummies, murals, manuscripts, and other priceless artifacts. Follow Pete on his dangerous trips to the sky caves and discover the secrets the caves revealed.
Dalai Lama: A Leader in Exile
From the Series Gateway Biographies
- Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 8
- Reading Level: Grade 5
Forced into exile in India after Tibet’s attempted revolt against occupying Chinese forces, the Dalai Lama launched a nonviolent campaign against the occupation that earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. Read about the life and work of the Dalai Lama, an international icon of peace.
Easy Menu Ethnic Cookbooks 2nd Edition
Fitting solidly in the middle school curriculum, these easy-to-follow cookbooks weave together the history, culture, and cuisine of countries from around the world.
The American Dream? A Journey on Route 66 Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler Men, and the Perfect Breakfast Burrito
- Interest Level: Grade 6 – Grade 12
- Reading Level: Grade 6
As a child growing up in Malaysia, Shing Yin Khor had two very different ideas of what “America” meant. The first looked a lot like Hollywood, full of beautiful people, sunlight, and freeways. The second looked more like The Grapes of Wrath—a nightmare landscape filled with impoverished people, broken-down cars, barren landscapes, and broken dreams. This book chronicles Shing’s solo journey (small adventure-dog included) along the iconic Route 66, beginning in Santa Monica and ending up Chicago. What begins as a road trip ends up as something more like a pilgrimage in search of an American landscape that seems forever shifting and forever out of place.
Kiyo Sato: From a WWII Japanese Internment Camp to a Life of Service
- Interest Level: Grade 6 – Grade 12
- Reading Level: Grade 8
In 1941 Kiyo Sato and her eight younger siblings lived with their parents on a small farm near Sacramento, California, where they grew strawberries, nuts, and other crops. Kiyo had started college the year before when she was eighteen, and her eldest brother, Seiji, would soon join the US Army. The younger children attended school and worked on the farm after class and on Saturday. On Sunday, they went to church. The Satos were an ordinary American family. Until they weren’t.
On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The next day, US president Franklin Roosevelt declared war on Japan and the United States officially entered World War II. Soon after, in February and March 1942, Roosevelt signed two executive orders which paved the way for the military to round up all Japanese Americans living on the West Coast and incarcerate them in isolated internment camps for the duration of the war. Kiyo and her family were among the nearly 120,000 internees.
In this moving account, Sato and Goldsmith tell the story of the internment years, describing why the internment happened and how it impacted Kiyo and her family. They also discuss the ways in which Kiyo has used her experience to educate other Americans about their history, to promote inclusion, and to fight against similar injustices. Hers is a powerful, relevant, and inspiring story to tell on the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The Asian Pacific American Experience
From the Series USA TODAY Cultural Mosaic
- Interest Level: Grade 6 – Grade 8
- Reading Level: Grade 6
Supplemented with quotes and engaging articles from USA TODAY, the Nation’s No. 1 Newspaper, The Asian Pacific American Experience shines a spotlight on Asian Pacific Americans and their many exciting contributions to American society. From artists and athletes to filmmakers and chefs, Asian Pacific Americans enrich American life.
Novelist Amy Tan has offered insights into the lives of Chinese Americans in books such as The Joy Luck Club and The Kitchen God’s Wife. In The Eaves of Heaven and other books, writer Andrew X. Pham has examined the experiences of Vietnamese who came to the United States after the Vietnam War. Filmmaker Ang Lee is famous for movies such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a martial arts film, as well as historical romances such as Sense and Sensibility, based on the Jane Austen novel. Singer-songwriter Norah Jones inherited her musical talent from her musician father, Ravi Shankar. Korean American Michelle Wie is a champion on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour, while Japanese American speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno has won five Olympic medals.
Read this informative title to learn more about how Asian Pacific Americans contribute to the United States’ cultural mosaic, enriching our nation with a wide range of traditions, customs, and life experiences.
Like Spilled Water
- Interest Level: Grade 8 – Grade 12
- Reading Level: Grade 6
Nineteen-year-old Na has always lived in the shadow of her younger brother, Bao-bao, her parents’ cherished son. Years ago, Na’s parents left her in the countryside and went to work in the city, bringing Bao-bao along and committing everything to his education.
But when Bao-bao dies suddenly, Na realizes how little she knew him. Did he really kill himself because of a low score on China’s all-important college entrance exam? Na learns that Bao-bao had many secrets and that his death may not be what it seems. Na’s parents expect her to quit her vocational school and go to work, forcing Na to confront traditional expectations for and pressures on young women.
Girls on the Line
- Interest Level: Grade 8 – Grade 12
- Reading Level: Grade 6
A powerful, dual-narrative coming-of-age story set in 2009 China.
Luli has just turned sixteen and finally aged out of the orphanage where she’s spent the last eight years. Her friend Yun has promised to help her get work.
Yun loves the independence that her factory job brings her. For the first time in her life she has her own money and can get the things she wants: nice clothes, a cell phone…and Yong, her new boyfriend.
There are rumors about Yong, though. Some people say he’s a bride trafficker: romancing young women only to kidnap them and sell them off to bachelors in the countryside. Yun doesn’t believe it. But then she discovers she’s pregnant—the same day she gets fired from her job. If she can’t scrape together enough money to terminate the pregnancy, she’ll face a huge fine for having an unauthorized child.
Luli wants to help her friend, but she’s worried about what Yong might do…especially when Yun disappears.
“[E]xplores a moment of contemporary history and a culture that is underrepresented in YA realistic fiction.”—starred, School Library Journal
“Both poignant and agonizing, Girls on the Line is a must read.”—starred, Foreword Reviews
“An affecting and original thrill ride.” Kirkus Reviews