Honor AAPI Authors and Stories

Did you know? The term AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islanders) includes 50 distinct ethnic groups, 75 countries, and more than 100 languages. Each May, we celebrate AAPI month to honor and recognize the cultural contributions made to the United States by descendants of this diverse region, which includes the countries of China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, and more.

There are many ways to pay tribute to the influences of the AAPI community. One of the best ways to share different experiences, family traditions, and rituals is through the power of storytelling. We’ve compiled a book list for you by age to highlight AAPI authors who share their insights.

Explore the titles offered at your local library or consider buying a few to add to your growing library of books at home. Read them together, talk about similarities and differences, and celebrate the uniqueness of each narrative.

TODDLERS AND TWOS

• Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho – A simple and sweet picture book about a mother quieting all the animals in the jungle to help her baby fall asleep.
• Dear Juno by Soyung Pak – A story about a young boy who receives letters from his grandmother and how he writes back by communicating through pictures.
• Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang – Children from all around the world come together to enjoy tea together, even though they all speak different languages.

PRESCHOOL AND PRE-K

• Butterflies for Kiri by Cathryn Falwell – Kiri works hard and perseveres to learn the art of origami after receiving a paper-folding kit for her birthday. 
• How We Say I Love You by Nicole Chen – A book about how different families show that they love each other through actions instead of only with words.
• Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth – A wise panda named Stillwater tells three ancient Zen tales that teach children how to handle various emotions and situations with grace and awareness.
• Anno’s Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno – A simple introduction to math for new learners that incorporates the numbers into the illustrations you see on each page.
• Mama’s Saris by Pooja Makhijani – A story about a young girl who wants to wear traditional saris over her head, just like her mother. 

School-Age Readers       

• Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein – A story about a cat living in Japan who sets off on an adventure to discover the meaning of her name.
• Milloo’s Mind by Reem Faruqi – A powerful picture book and biography about Maryam Faruqi, the founder of Happy Home Schools, which provided education to girls in Pakistan.
• You Are Here: Connecting Flights by Ellen Oh – A series of stories about connecting different families in the terminal of a Chicago airport.