How is it already October? Get ready to prepare your October Reading Lists with these *Asian Children’s Books* perfect for reading all month long to celebrate some *Special Days in October.*

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. **This Collection also features 2 Graphic Novels for 10/10: World Mental Health Day, and 10/11 Coming Out Day.**

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!

*Note: October isn’t only the month of pumpkin spice and spook. October is also Filipino American Heritage Month (Check out Full Blog Post of Filipino Children’s Books HERE).

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

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

October 1 Hair Day

Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand, Illustrated by Nabi H. Ali // Laxmi, a young Indian American girl, comes to accept her body hair and celebrate her heritage after being teased about her mustache.

October 5 Teacher’s Day

Grandmother School by Rina Singh // A young girl proudly drops her grandmother off at school to learn to read and write and practice simple arithmetic. A moving story about family, women and the power of education.

October 6 Noodle Day

Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore // Cora finally get the chance to help her Mama in the kitchen with the “grown-up jobs.” She gets to help cook pancit, her favorite Filipino noodle dish, for the family dinner.

October 7 World Smile Day

The Smile Shop by Satoshi Kitamura // Shares the power of a smile: One small smile can have a cascading chain effect of goodness and kindness spread throughout the community.

October 8 I Love Yarn Day

Spin a Scarf of Sunshine by Dawn Casey, Illustrated by Stila Lim // A celebration of traditional crafts and sustainable living. Nari uses the wool from her sheep to knit a scarf, and once the scarf becomes tattered, learns how to recycle the wool in the compost.

October 10 World Mental Health Day

Living With Viola by Rosena Fung // GRAPHIC NOVEL // A graphic novel exploring mental health, cultural differences, and the pressures of middle school. Viola is Livy’s anxiety brought to life. Livy tries to push back against Viola, but it isn’t until she learns how to ask for help and face Viola that she is able to figure out how to finally live with Viola.

October 11 Coming Out Day

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen // GRAPHIC NOVEL // A graphic novel about a young boy using fairy tales to communicate with his Vietnamese immigrant parents, and using the stories to help him come out to his mother and father.

October 12 Curves Day

Beautifully Me by Nabela Noor, Illustrated by Nabi H. Ali // Zubi, a young Bangladeshi girl, is excited about her first day of school until she begins to worry about being “too big.” As she begins to notice others being critical of her body too, her worry about her own body grows. It will take her family to help Zubi see that the world is a more beautiful place when we are beautifully ourselves!

October 13 Train Your Brain Day

Meena’s Mindful Moment by Tina Athaide, Illustrated by Asa Gilland // Meena’s grandfather helps her handle her Big Energy (aka her hurly burly hullabaloo) with deep breaths and meditative poses.

October 14 Dessert Day

A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin // Little Star loves the delicious Mooncake she bakes with her Mama so much that can hardly resist! Learn about the origin story of the phases of the moon in this dreamy foodie read.

October 15 Grouch Day

Sometimes I Grumblesquinch by Rachel Vail, Illustrated by Hyewon Yum // Katie tries to be the perfect big sister, but it can be hard. She tries to grumblesquinch her feelings down, but one day she explodes. This read explores the pressure littles often feel to be perfect, and encourages children to share their frustrations and all feelings. It’s ok to be grouchy, frustrated, grumpy, and upset.

October 16 Sports Day

Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki, Illustrated by Dom Lee // After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Shorty and his family are sent to a relocation camp. Shorty and the other campers need something to look forward to and to keep their spirits up, so they build a playing field and form a baseball league. Surrounded by barbed-wire fences and guards in towers, Shorty and the other campers aren’t just playing for fun or to win, but to gain dignity and self-respect as well.

October 20 Youth Confidence Day

I Am Golden by Eva Chen, Illustrated by Sophia Diao // A celebration of self-love for Asian American children and an ode to the Asian immigrant experience. Filled with positive affirmations and beautiful illustrations! References Chinese American culture.

October 21 Reptile Awareness Day

Gecko’s Complaint: A Balinese Folktale by Ann Martin Bowler, Illustrated by I Gusti Made Sukanada // A gecko once lives on the island we now call Bali, in a dense jungle. After being disturbed by hundreds of fireflies, Gecko complains to the Lion Leader, Raden. Raden soon discovers far too much complaining from the other animals and tries to help them with their troubles to return the peaces and happiness of the Bali jungle.

October 22 Color Day

You are My Favorite Color by Gillian Sze, Illustrated by Nina Mata // Celebrate the many shades of brown skin in this precious story of parental love and empowering affirmations.

October 24 Diwali

My Diwali Light by Raakhee Mirchandani, Illustrated by Supriya Kelkar // Join Devi and her family as they celebrate their Diwali traditions: eating samosas, designing rangoli, painting diyas and more.

October 25 Sourest Day

Sour Cakes by Karen Krossing , Illustrated by Anna Kwan // An older sister does her best to lift her younger sister’s grumpy mood. But it’s only when the older sister empathizes and accepts the other’s feelings that the younger sister is able to process her messy feelings and be ready to play.

October 26 Day of the Deployed

Sometimes Love by Katrina Moore, Illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz // A poetic picture book of all the different ways we show love~ from giving, growing together, laughing, and even sometimes *letting go.* When a young girl’s mom is deployed overseas, the whole family must move and be temporarily parted from their beloved dog. Readers will ride the waves of emotions that come with change~ happiness, heartache, and ultimately learning to grow. Overseas, the little girl finds love and friendship in her new home, and when it comes time to return home, she’ll learn that through change, love has grown.

October 29 Cat Day

Lucky Cat by Asian Boss Girl, Illustrated by Eunice Chen // When June’s family moves to a new home in America, there’s plenty to do before opening their new restaurant. However, Mama is excited when she finds the previous owners left behind a *Lucky Cat*~ which means good luck has blessed their new venture! June is even more thrilled when the next evening, the *Lucky Cat* comes to life~ But what happens when Lucky Cat actuallyturns out to be kinda…unlucky? With her new mystical feline friend, June will learn that *real luck* is earned through hard work, perseverance, and love as her family embarks on this new adventure close to their hearts.

October 31 Halloween

So Not Ghoul by Karen Yin, Illustrated by Bonnie Liu // A boo-tiful story of bicultural pride! Mimi the ghoul wants to wear rattling chains and look as horrifying as the cool American ghouls at school, but her ancestors insist she wears her Chinese traditional clothes. Mimi plans a new look instead, but then questions whether she made the right choice when her family finds out and another ghoul beings to appropriate her Chinese fashion. Can she find a way to celebrate and take pride in both her American and Chinese culture?

*~Happy October Reading, Mai Friends!~*

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

Check out September National Days: Asian Book Edition

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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 October.

*~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!~*