September is just around the corner, and I’ve compiled a collection of *Asian Children’s Books* perfect for reading all month long to celebrate some *Special Days in September.*

Every month is host to a fun array of National Holidays. In this *National Days: Asian Book Edition* series, each month I’ll be sharing a selection of 20 of mai favorite National Days and an Asian Children’s Book Read Aloud to pair with each themed day. Each book highlighted in these Calendar Collections features either Asian Characters and/or was created by an Asian author or illustrator.

I’m always thrilled to uplift Asian voices, creators, and stories~ and this is a fun way to celebrate these books all month long!  I hope you find a day on the calendar you’d love to celebrate with your own littles with an inclusive and diverse storytime! Share in the comments which National Day + Asian Book Pairing caught your eye!

Check out September’s National Days Calendar Below, and continue scrolling for details on the featured books and links to order.

Shop the Complete *September National Days: Asian Book Edition* Collection

September 1 Tofu Day:

Tofu Takes Time by Helen H. Wu // Lin and her grandma, NaiNai, are making tofu from scratch! But Lin will need to practice patience, as the process is long, but worth it in the end. As Lin and NaiNai make tofu, NaiNai shares how elements of the whole universe are involved in creating this special dish.

September 3 Doodle Day:

Drawn Together by Minh Le & Dan Santat // A young boy and his grandpa break their language barrier by using artwork and drawing to embark on an epic adventure together.

September 4 Pet Rock Day:

Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko & Ruth Chan // Rick the Rock lives on the Nature Shelf in Classroom 214. When the teacher shows what rocks outdoors do, Rick is fascinated and journeys to the great outside. But when he finally makes it outdoors, he discovers it’s not all he imagined it to be… Great for introducing elements of geology in a fun way!

September 5 World Samosa Day

Sandwiches and Samosas by Suhani Parikh // Everyone at school brings sandwiches for lunch. Will Neeva and Nimi feel comfortable bringing their home-cooked Indian food that they love instead? Celebrate diverse foods in this foodie read!

September 8 School Pictures Day

Amira’s Picture Day by Reem Faruqi // Amira is excited to stay home from school to celebrate Eid with her family. However, the day she will be absent happens to also be Picture Day! How can she be in two places at once? A last minute idea just may provide the perfect solution.

September 10 Mid -Autumn Festival :

The Shadow in the Moon by Christina Matula // Two sisters and their grandmother celebrate a the Mid-Autumn Festival with family. Their favorite part are the mooncakes, and Ah-ma’s retelling of the ancient Chinese traditional folktale of Hou Yi, a brave young archer, and his wife, Chang’E. Learn the symbolism behind the mooncakes and the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

September 11 Grandparents Day:

Holding On by Sophia N. Lee and Isabel Roxas // As her Lola’s memory begins to fade, a young girl in the Philippines uses music to connect with her grandmother.

September 12 Day of Encouragement:

You Are My Favorite Color by Gillian Sze // A mother celebrates her children’s brown skin in this poetic, lyrical ode to children of color.

September 13 Positive Thinking Day:

I am Able to Shine by Korey Watari // An empowering story filled with positive affirmations about embracing your identity and using your voice to change the world. Read along as Keiko’s confidence grows, and she realizes that no matter what, she can shine.

September 14 Coding Week

I Can Code: If/Then by Vicky Fang // A board book with simple text and interactive flaps that introduces littles to essential coding basics such as conditions, rules, and logic.

September 15 Make a Hat Day

The Upside Down Hat by Stephen Barr and Gracey Zhang // A boy wakes up one morning and finds that everything he owns has gone missing, except for a simple green hat. As the boy journeys to search for the things he has lost, he discovers that perhaps everything he needs has been with him all along.

September 16 Working Parents Day

Off Limits by Helen Yoon // One day when Dad isn’t around, his young daughter sneaks into his office and discovers is a magical wonderland of sticky tape, paper clips that make glorious strands, and a kaleidoscopic array of sticky notes.  Irresistible!

September 17 Dance Day

Bharatanatyam in Ballet Shoes by Mahak Jain // Paro loves dancing Bharatanatyam with her mom at home, and now she is excited to learn ballet. But if the two dance styles are so different, will she be able to learn both? Perhaps they aren’t as different as she thinks.

September 18 First Love Day:

Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall // Based on true events, this moving love story takes place in a US internment camp during WWII. Discover the miracle of hope and love even amongst heartbreak and fear.

September 20 Fried Rice Day:

Grandpa Grumps by Katrina Moore and Xindi Yan // Daisy is excited for her Yeh-Yeh to visit from China. However, no matter what she does, she can’t seem to make Yeh-Yeh smile. Perhaps connecting over a special dish will help them cross their cultural differences and bridge the intergenerational gap.

September 21 Chai Day:

Chaiwala by Priti Birla Maheshwari // A delicious sensory read highlighting the delicious chai drink. When their train makes a 10-minute stop at the station in Jaipur, a young girl and her mother hurry to get in line for a cup of chai. Celebrates food, family, and tradition.

September 24 Rabbit Day:

Sato the Rabbit by Yuki Ainoya // A collection of short vignettes where we enter the fantastical world of Sato the Rabbit: a world of wonder and curiosity where seemingly ordinary objects and experiences become magical encounters.

September 25 Daughters Day:

Where Three Oceans Meet by Rajani LaRocca // Sejal, Mommy, and Pati – Grandma, Mom, and Daughter – travel together to the southern tip of India. Along the way, they share meals, visit markets, catch up with old friends, and cherish spending these time together with three generations of women.

September 26 Dumpling Day

Dumpling Day by Meera Sriram // Celebrate one of the world’s most universal foods in this rhyming foodie read. Features dumplings from the following regions: India, USA (Pennsylvania Dutch), China (Cantonese), Nigeri, Japan, Israel, Mexico, Syria, Russia, and Italy. Also includes recipes for all dumplings mentioned in the book.

September 28 Neighbor Day

Thank You, Neighbor! by Ruth Chan // Join a young girl and her dog as they go on their daily walk around the neighborhood and greet everyone they see. A sweet story with charming illustrations that reminds us us to slow down and be grateful for all the people, places, and things around us.

*~Happy September Reading, Mai Friends!~*

Stay tuned for October’s *National Days Asian Book Recs*

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I hope you found some fun Asian read alouds to add to your own shelves and share with your little learners this September.

*~Also, I’d love to  see and hear about your own reading adventures you are having with your little learners, so please share your story times below in the comments ~ Or Tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary , FaceBook , find me on TikTok, or contact me via email . I’d love to hear from you!~*