Waving “Aloha” to May and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we have a list of 10 Children’s Picture Book Recommendations that highlight the rich culture and traditions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Please note, this list only highlights a few of the many books that are available in the CCPL collection, but hopefully they will either be a good starting point or recommendations that help to expand your child’s knowledge of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage. Almost all of these books introduce readers to learning new words in different languages and most include a glossary with definitions/pronunciations. Whether it’s learning a classic cultural recipe or a relatable tale about spending time with family, these books are sure to intrigue the minds and touch the hearts of young readers!
Let’s Celebrate Korean New Year by Michelle W. Park and illustrated by Hyewon Yum
While many are familiar with Chinese New Year, this adorably illustrated book highlights the customs and traditions of Korean New Year. Sisters Madeleine and Eloise take the readers on a journey through their day preparing for Korean New Year. From helping their mom prepare freshly fried mandoo to playing yutnori, a New Year’s game, the two young sisters educate readers on Korean New Year activities while also teaching them Korean words as well. This celebratory book also includes a glossary, an activity for Lunar New Year, and a recipe for Lunar New Year to complete with an adult.
Soy Sauce! by Laura G. Lee
A quote from Soy Sauce!: “The history of soy sauce is rich and diverse. Invented in China about two thousand years ago, soy sauce is eaten in cuisines throughout Asia”. Korean American children’s book author and illustrator, Laura G. Lee explores the different ways that countries like China, Japan, and Korea make their traditional soy sauce recipe. With creative lyricism and captivating watercolor illustrations, Lee takes the reader on a journey with characters Luan, Haru, and Yoo-Mi as they gather ingredients and prepare their countries traditional soy sauce recipe. This fun read also includes fun facts about the history of soy sauce and a visual glossary.
‘Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis and illustrated by Kenard Pak
With warm illustrations the preparation of the traditional Hawaiian food, poi, for a lūʻau is depicted and told in a cumulative style poem. Readers will learn the importance of Hawaiian staples that make this cultural recipe unique, with an emphasis on a shared meal with family and friends. According to author Ilima Loomis, “Food connects us—not just with one another, but with the whole world. The land, the water, the air, our community, and even the sun come together in every bite. It is the connection that I hoped to honor when I sat down to write about the most traditional Hawaiian food, poi”. This book concludes with a note on kalo and poi, a note from the author, and glossary.
Grandpa Across the Ocean by Hyewon Yum
Hyewon Yum tells the story of a young Korean boy spending the summer with his grandfather who lives across the ocean. This story highlights the common experience that many of us shared as children, as we attempted to form a connection with and understand our grandparents.. Yum’s ability to share this relatable experience with familial illustrations and rhyming words is very heartwarming and touching.
Gigi and Ojiji by Melissa Iwai
Like Grandpa Across the Ocean, this book tells the story of a young girl, named Gigi, meeting and connecting with her grandfather. In contrast, Gigi’s grandfather, Ojiisan, is moving in with her family from Japan. To prepare for her grandfather’s arrival, Gigi, plans activities to do with him and also practices speaking Japanese words. While reading how Gigi works to impress her grandfather, the author, Melissa Iwai, reminds readers of how loving and accepting grandparents can be. This book is a Level Three I Can Read book and is a good read for children who read on their own but still need some assistance. In addition, readers will learn several Japanese words and this book also contains a glossary of definitions and pronunciations.
Punky Aloha by Shar Tuiasoa
This is another book about a youngster spending time with a grandparent! In this story of bravery, Punky Aloha, a young Hawaiian, goes on an adventure to assist her beloved grandmother. Punky’s grandmother is working to complete her famous banana bread when she realizes that she is out of one ingredient. To save the day, Punky is given a spunky accessory from her grandmother to remind her to be brave on this journey. Readers will enjoy this Hawaiian fictional tale where Punky learns to adjust, adapt, and overcome on her very first adventure by herself!
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho and illustrated by Dung Ho
In this empowering story of self-affirmation, a young Asian girl observes that her eyes look different from her peers. However, instead of allowing this observation to cause her to feel self-conscious, she instead takes pride in the fact that her “eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea” are just like her Mama’s, Amah’s (grandmother), and Mei-Mei’s (younger sister’s). This story, with its vibrant illustrations, inspires readers to recognize the beauty in their own unique and ethnic features.
Eyes that Speak to the Stars by Joanna Ho and illustrated by Dung Ho
This is another book by author Joanna Ho, about a young Asian boy who also realizes that his eyes are different from his friends. On the contrary, the young boy becomes self-conscious after one of his friends draws him “with eyes like two lines stretched across his face”, while the rest of his friends are drawn with big round eyes. The friend’s drawing causes the young boy to feel hurt, but with the help of his dad he learns how his eyes “rise to the skies and speak to the stars.”
The Yellow Áo Dài by Minnie Phan
Inspired by the author’s daughter, mother-in-law, as well as her own Vietnamese heritage, this book tells the story of a young Vietnamese girl, Naliah, as she prepares to perform a traditional Vietnamese Fan Dance at her school’s International Day. Naliah is a proud Vietnamese girl who enjoys sharing traditions from her culture through songs, dance, and beautifully embroidered Vietnamese attire also called áo dài. As Naliah prepares for her International Day performance, her mother shares stories about Naliah’s grandmother who also performed the Vietnamese Fan Dance in her village in Vietnam. With this from-the-heart story inspired by Vietnamese family and heritage, the author hopes to inspire all children to see the value in their family stories. This book concludes with a note from the author, a note from the illustrator, and glossary.
I See Color: An Affirmation and Celebration of Our Diverse Worldby Valerie Bolling and Kailei Pew and illustrated by Laylie Frazier
Although this book does not exclusively highlight Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, it does highlight the importance of recognizing a person’s color as part of their identity. In addition, it affirms, celebrates, and highlights the activism of three Asian Americans: Sue Ko Lee, Fred Korematsu, and Yuji Ichioka. It is worth noting that Yuji Ichioka, along with his spouse Emma Gee, worked collectively to unite Asian ethnic groups to advocate for change by forming the Asian American Political Alliance. When the duo formed this group, they were the first to use the identifier “Asian American”. This book informs young readers on how the colloquialism, “I don’t see color”, brings negative stigma that is dismissive to a person’s race. One of the authors, Kailei Pew, explains, “A better approach is to see the color, love the color, and never discriminate against others based on their race or the color of their skin”. This book concludes with the authors’ notes and a section titled “People and Movements to See.”
