Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month for Kids | SWAN Consortium

1) Shining a light: celebrating 40 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who changed the world

Author

Description

"A collective biography of 40 influential Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, from Kalpana Chawla to The Rock to Tammy Duckworth, whose historical contributions readers may not know but whose light shines on, with stunning illustrated portraits by Hugo Award nominee Victo Ngai. From scientists to sports stars, aerospace engineers to artists, every person shines in this collection. Dynamic portraits portray each person with bold colors and clever,...

2) Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who inspire us all

Author

Shibutani, Maia, 1994-

Description

"An inclusive picture book that highlights the many contributions Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to the US and the world"-- Provided by publisher.

3) A child's introduction to Asian American and Pacific Islander history: the heroes, the stories, and the cultures that helped to build America

Author

Hirahara, Naomi, 1962-

Description

"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"-- Provided by publisher.

4) Ruby lost and found

Author

Description

"Thanks to her Ye-Ye's epic scavenger hunts, thirteen-year-old Ruby Chu knows San Francisco like the back of her hand. But after his death, she feels lost, and it seems like everyone--from her best friends to her older sister--is abandoning her. After Ruby gets in major trouble at school, her parents decide she has to spend the summer at a local senior center, with her grandmother, Nai-Nai, and Nai-Nai's friends for company. When a new boy from Ruby's...

5) The year of the dog

Author

Series

Pacy Lin
Pacy

Description

It's the Chinese year of the dog! When Pacy's mom tells her that this is a good year for friends, family, and "finding herself," Pacy begins searching right away. As the year goes on, she struggles to find her talent, deals with disappointment, makes a new best friend, and discovers just why the year of the dog is a lucky one for her after all.

6) Eyes that kiss in the corners

Author

Description

"A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers'. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother's, her grandmother's, and her little sister's. They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future. Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her...

Author

Soontornvat, Christina

Series

The Tryout

Description

Could anything be more mortifying than trying out for cheerleader in front of your whole grade? This hilarious, highly relatable story will make you laugh, cry, and cheer! Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier.

An Instant #1 Bestseller!

"A captivating middle-grade gem." - The New York Times Book Review

"Funny, relatable, and genuine." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Captures every

...

8) Eyes that speak to the stars

Author

Description

A young Asian boy notices that his eyes look different from his peers' after seeing his friend's drawing of them. After talking to his father, the boy realizes that his eyes rise to the skies and speak to the stars, shine like sunlit rays, and glimpse trails of light from those who came before--in fact, his eyes are like his father's, his agong's, and his little brother's, and they are visionary.

9) The unbeatable Lily Hong

Author

Description

"To save the Clarktown Community Center, which houses her parents' Chinese school, Lily and her fellow students must master a traditional Chinese dance in time for the center's first showcase and receive some unexpected help from her rival, Max Zhang"-- Provided by publisher.

10) Yes we will: Asian Americans who shaped this country

Author

Description

"A lyrical nonfiction picture book featuring eighteen Asian American changemakers and two pivotal moments in Asian American history, illustrated by fifteen renowned Asian and Asian American artists"-- Provided by publisher.

11) You are here: connecting flights

Description

"In a crowded Chicago airport, an incident at TSA impacts twelve young Asian Americans, all strangers to one another before this day. As events cause their journeys to intertwine, they discover the challenges of friendship, the perils of younger siblings, the power or words, and the unexpected significance of a blue Stratocaster electric guitar. Twelve virtuoso authors draw from their own experiences to explore themes of identity and belonging in...

12) That's not my name!

Author

Description

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.

13) Mindy Kim makes a splash

Author

Series

Mindy Kim volume 8

Description

Mindy Kim can't wait to learn how to swim with her best friend, Sally! But during her first swim lesson, Mindy isn't so sure she can keep up. With a little help from Sally and Theodore the Mutt, can Mindy learn how to make a splash? -- Publisher's marketing.

14) How we say I love you

Author

Chen, Nicole, 1980-

Description

"An Asian American girl shares how her family expresses their love for one another through actions rather than words"-- Provided by publisher.

15) Eyes that weave the world's wonders

Author

Description

"From New York Times bestselling Joanna Ho, of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, and award-winning educator Liz Kleinrock comes a powerful companion picture book about adoption and family. A young girl who is a transracial adoptee learns to love her Asian eyes and finds familial connection and meaning through them, even though they look different from her parents'. Her family bond is deep and their connection is filled with love. She wonders about her...

16) Stand up, Yumi Chung!

Author

Kim, Jessica, 1980-

Series

Thorndike Press large print striving reader collection

Description

"On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her "Yu-MEAT" because she smells like her family's Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix stand-up special. Her notebook is filled with mortifying memories that she's reworked into comedy gold. All she needs is a stage and courage. Instead of spending the summer studying her favorite YouTube comedians, Yumi is enrolled in...

Author

Series

Front desk novel volume 1
Front Desk
Thorndike Press large print mini-collections

Description

"Mia Tang has a lot of secrets. Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests. Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed. Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when...

18) Generation misfits

Author

Bowman, Akemi Dawn

Description

An eleven-year-old Japanese-American girl joins her performing arts school's J-Pop club, where the members form an imitation band of their favorite girl group, coming together from different corners of the school to help and support one another along the way.

19) Nikhil out loud

Author

Pancholy, Maulik

Description

"From the acclaimed actor and Stonewall Honor-winning author of The Best at It, Maulik Pancholy, comes a new middle grade novel about a gay Indian American boy who learns the power of using his voice. Thirteen-year-old Nikhil Shah is the beloved voice actor for Raj Reddy on the hit animated series Raj Reddy in Outer Space. But being a star on TV doesn't mean you have everything figured out behind the scenes. . . . When his mom temporarily moves them...

20) Karthik delivers

Author

Description

One summer during the Financial Crisis, fourteen-year-old Karthik Raghavan makes deliveries for his father's ailing Indian grocery, but he is secretly cast in a play about the young Leonard Bernstein. Includes author's note.