May is Asian / Pacific American Heritage Month, so what better month to enjoy any of these awesome books for kids?
Books for younger kids:
Astrid and Apollo and the Starry Campout by V.T. Bidania (2020). This easy reader chapter book is about Hmong twins Astrid and Apollo is perfect for starry summer nights. Check out the whole Astrid and Apollo series!
A Different Pond by Bao Phi (2016). This award-winning picture book depicts and father and son fishing together as the son learns about his father’s childhood fishing in a different pond in far-away Vietnam.
The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho (2020). Color splashes every page of this vibrant picture book about a young Korean girl and her grandmother who is a haenyeo – a diver hunting for food and treasure on the sea floor.
The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar (2019). Harpreet wears a different patka every day, a different color to match his mood. But after his family moves to a new, cold place, Harpreet finds himself wearing white for feeling shy more often than not. But just one friend can start to turn that around.
Thao by Thao Lam (2021). Even though it’s only four letters, Thao has a lot of trouble getting other kids in her class to say her name correctly! This picture book memoir says a lot in a few words and celebrates cultural pride, even when it’s not always easy.
Books for older kids:
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat (2020). This riveting true story takes readers on a thrill ride as a global community of rescuers comes together to save a team of boys stuck in a flooded cave in Thailand. Even if you know the outcome, the action-packed story will have you on the edge of your seat!
Brother’s Keeper by Julie Lee (2020). Sora and her little brother are separated from their parents as the border between North and South Korea begins to close and the family tries to escape. This is an action-packed survival story that will appeal to fans of Refugee by Alan Gratz.
Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly (2021). This is a really sweet early chapter book series starter about a young Filipino American girl who is intent on conquering her fear of climbing the tree in her backyard. Any child who’s faced a fear will relate to Marisol.
Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai (2019). New immigrant Jingwen struggles to adapt to life in Australia and copes by baking magnificent treats after school (even though he’s not supposed to turn the oven on when his mom’s not home!) in this funny, highly-illustrated novel. (Okay, I cheated, this one’s by an Asian-Australian author, but too good to miss!)
A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi & Laura Shovan (2020). This story hits all the sweet spots in realistic contemporary friendship stories, starring two diverse girls brought together by chance who form an unlikely friendship in cooking class. I loved the own-voices cultural details, and the food details definitely made me hungry.
