May is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage month (API Heritage Month). It is a month to celebrate, appreciate, and recognize the culture, traditions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Part of recognizing and appreciating a culture and its history is to give it recognition and representation in media. However, according to the The Cooperative Children’s Book Center 2019 children’s book survey, only 8.7% of children’s books feature Asian or Asian American primary characters, and only 0.1% of children’s books feature Pacific Islander primary characters

Additionally, many Asian titles are focused on folk tales and traditional retellings, or focused on teaching cultural elements. While these are important oral histories and cultural connections to pass on and share, representation means that children should see themselves in all adventures and stories, not just in spaces and narratives designated as “their culture.” Children’s illustrated books provide a strong gateway to helping little ones make that connection to character and theme~ the pictures present them with a clear visual of a character and situation they can relate to. For this connection to form, children need to be able to see themselves in stories, to imagine that they too belong in the pages of literature and the realms of fiction, fantasy, and history.

While recently I’ve seen an increase in API representation in KidLit, there is still a long way to go~ especially for *all* Asian identities, and especially Pacific Islander identities, to be represented. Through the resources I’ve curated in this blog post, *mai* goal is to help create home/classroom libraries that truly represent and appreciate different cultures and histories~ to create libraries where each and every little can picture themselves in a story and see someone like them in literature.

But before we get started…

Who counts as Asian/ Asian American?

Asia is broken down into geographic regions: East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, West Asia, Central Asia, and North Asia. However, in America, the term Asian is a racial category, not a geographic category, and thus not all countries in Asia are recognized as Asian. According to the US Census, only the countries in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent are included in the American definition of Asian.

People from West and Central Asian countries, including Jewish Americans, Armenian Americans, Assyrian Americans, Iranian Americans, Kurdish Americans, and Arab Americans, used to be included as Asian, but as of 2020, they are now categorized as Middle Eastern or white.

(*Note: North Asia consists of Russia and is not included in the definition of Asian)

Below are the countries in each region that America recognizes as Asian:

East Asia: China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Southeast Asia: Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam

South Asia: Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka

Who Counts as Pacific Islander

Pacific Islander refers to people from the Pacific Islands of:

Melanesia: New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands

Micronesia: Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia

Polynesia: New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island

Celebrate API Heritage Month with MaiStoryBook All Month Long!

Check out the May Calendar below for MaiStoryBook’s lineup of API festivities all month long! Subscribe to MaiStoryBook YouTube for a NEW Asian Interactive Read Aloud Videos every Friday! Plus, follow @MaiStoryBookLibrary Instagram for a Full Week of Bookish Giveaways to kick off the First Week of May, an API Book Bundle Giveaway Every Tuesday in May, and an Asian Author/ Illustrator Spotlight every Wednesday.

Books

How this Book collection is organized

So, here is MaiStoryBook’s recommended reading list of Asian and Asian American Children’s books, sharing quality books with Asian American/ Asian representation. Below you will find the collection broken down into categories by region: East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Pacific Islander. Within each category you will find a highlighted selection of books, and a link to view/shop the full collection. You will also find a category of books that represent Groups of Asians or Collections of Asian stories from various countries.

These are not exhaustive lists ~ there are *I hesitate to say plenty* more books out there that I do not have yet in mai own collection, but am hoping to add soon! If you have any recommendations, please comment below and share your own API reading favorites for us to check out. Together, let’s promote diverse representation in children’s literature and share Asian and Pacific Islander voices and stories ~*

Additional Book Lists:–

• Full List of Asian Children’s Books
• Asian American Middle Grade / YA / Chapter Book Reads
• Asian & Pacific Islander Picture Book Biographies
• Intergenerational Stories
• Lunar New Year Books
• Validating Names Books
• Immigrant/ Refugee Experience Books

**It’s also important to support Asian & Asian American authors and illustrators and all their works. Being Asian does not mean they have to exclusively work on Asian projects. Click Here for a List of Children’s Books written and/or illustrated by Asians / Asian Americans that aren’t focused on Asian identity.

For more Book Recs and API Bookish Fun this May, follow @Maistorybooklibrary on IG.

East Asian

Click Here to View/Shop the Full East Asian Collection

Or check out the featured NEW releases highlighted below:

One Day by Joanna Ho, Illustrated by Faith Pray // A beautiful mother’s ode to her baby boy—she shares her hopes and dreams for her son as she envisions him exploring the world.

So Not Ghoul by Karen Yin, Illustrated by Bonnie Liu // Mimi, a new ghost at school, wants to fit in with the cool American ghouls, but all she has to wear are old Chinese gowns from her ancestors. Her family insists she dress and behave like a good Chinese ghost. She tries to find a middle ground and creates a new haunting look, but her family questions her choices and another ghoul appropriates her Chinese fashion. This story encourages readers to embrace their cultural heritage while also finding a way to fit in with their peers.

Dim Sum, Here We Come! by Maple Lam // A Chinese American girl and her younger sister attend their weekly dim sum family gathering. This story is a celebration of the traditional Chinese customs passed on from generation to generation: togetherness, love, family—and FOOD! 

This is Not My Home by Vivienne Chang& Eugenia Yoh // Lily’s family must move back to Taiwan to take care of her elderly grandmother, and she is devastated to leave her life behind. However, with the help of her family and friends, Lily learns what home means to them and realizes that Taiwan might also become her home someday.

Rainbow Shopping by Qing Zhuang // On a rainy day in New York City, a young girl feels down after her family moved from China. However, a trip to her mom’s favorite Chinatown store to shop for dinner turns her day around. Her dad cooks a delicious meal with the ingredients, and the family enjoys it together.

Everyone Loves Lunchtime but Zia by Jenny Liao, Illustrated by Dream Chen // A Chinese-American girl grows to appreciate the traditional dishes her parents prepare for her and finds a way to share her lunch with her classmates.

Ramen for Everyone by Patricia Tanumihardja, Illustrated by Shiho Pate // Hiro dreams of making his own perfect bowl of ramen, but things don’t go according to plan when he tries. He worries he’ll never be a real ramen chef, but with his father’s advice and his own creativity, he learns that every person’s perfect bowl of ramen is unique.

Love Makes a Garden Grow by Taeeun Yoo // A young girl spends time with her grandfather in his garden, observing the bugs, blooms, and rich smell of the soil. Her grandfather gives her a flower of her own, and caring for it teaches her about his love. As time passes and the garden grows smaller, the girl never forgets what she learned or loses her closeness with her nurturing grandfather.

Anna’s Kokeshi Dolls by Tracy Gallup // Anna, a Japanese-American girl, receives Kokeshi dolls made of painted wood from her grandparents in Japan every year for her birthday. The dolls are all different and beautiful, and as Anna grows up and her collection grows bigger, they bring her and her grandparents closer together.

The Perfect Sushi by Emily Satoko Seo, Illustrated by Mique Moriuchi // Miko strives for perfection and replaces her lopsided sushi with perfectly formed sushi made by a restaurant robot for her grandmother’s birthday. However, she realizes that the key ingredient to the perfect present is kokoro (heart), not impeccability.

The Train Home by Dan-ah Kim // Nari wishes she lived somewhere quiet and decides to find her dream home when a train passes by her window. She explores different places like a garden, a coral reef, and even among the stars, but realizes that those places may not be suitable for her. She eventually comes to the realization that her true home is where she belongs and takes the train back home.

Danbi’s Favorite Day by Anna Kim // Danbi is excited to celebrate Children’s Day with her friends just like she did in Korea. She promises them kites, tigers, and magic train rides. However, her plans fall short when they end up having a picnic behind her parents’ deli. Danbi must get creative to save the day and make the celebration special for her friends.

Sora’s Seashells by Helen Ku Rhee, Illustrated by Stella Lim // Every summer, Sora and her grandmother Halmoni search for seashells at the beach. Halmoni always leaves the prettiest shell for someone else to find. When Halmoni returns to South Korea and Sora starts kindergarten, she is teased for her name. Sora’s parents tell her the origin of her name, which gives her a newfound pride. She shares her seashells with her class and combats the hurtful comments.

How We Say I Love You by Nicole Chen, Illustrated by Lenny Wen // Hana’s family expresses their love for each other in their everyday activities. Hana’s mom cooks with love, her dad cheers with love, and Hana herself shows love by taking care of her grandparents.

Amy Wu and the Ribbon Dance by Kat Zhang, Illustrated by Charlene Chua // Amy Wu loves to dance and move to music. When she sees Chinese ribbon dancing for the first time, she becomes excited and wants to try it out. However, she doesn’t have the perfect ribbon for her dance, so she sets out to make one herself with the help of her friends and family. Together they create a beautiful ribbon that is just right for Amy’s dance party, and she learns that sometimes the best things in life are the ones we create ourselves.

Southeast Asian

Click Here to View/Shop the Full Southeast Asian Collection

Or check out the featured NEW releases/ Old Favorites highlighted below:

The Blur by Minh Le, Illustrated by Dan Santat // Meet a child with superhero-like abilities . . . and the parents who are racing to keep up with her in this sweetly funny picture book about the blur of childhood.

Maribel’s Year by Michelle Sterling , Illustrated by Sarah Gonzales // Celebrate the special connection between father and daughter in this gorgeously evocative picture book, recounting the year a little girl and her mother spend in America while waiting for her father to join them from the Philippines.

Last Flight by Kristen Mai Giang, Illustrated by Dow Phumiruk // The book tells the story of Kristen Giang’s experience as an eight-year-old on the last flight out of Saigon, Vietnam before its surrender to the North Vietnamese Army. She shares her emotions and coping mechanisms, including playing a game of space-explorers and sneaking a stuffed animal into their suitcase.

Finding Papa by Angela Pham Krans, Illustrated by Thi Bui // Follow young Mai and her mother’s perilous journey from Vietnam to America to find Papa—who left ahead of them to start a better life for their family. 

The Yellow Áo Dài by Hanh Bui, Illustrated by Minnie Phan // Naliah is preparing to perform a traditional Vietnamese Fan Dance for her school’s International Day. When her special áo dài does not fit, she finds another one in her mother’s closet. Unfortunately, she accidentally rips the yellow áo dài, which was a special dress her grandmother wore. With help from her mother’s sewing kit and her grandmother’s legacy, Naliah learns how to fix the dress and make it her own, while also learning to believe in herself.

Sari Sari Summers by Lynnor Bontigao // In this love letter to the Philippines (and to grandmothers), a young girl comes up with a brilliantly delicious way to attract customers after a heat wave leaves her lola’s store empty.

Holding On by Sophia N. Lee, Illustrated by Isabel Roxas // Lola’s house is always filled with music, and her granddaughter learns to treasure the songs and Lola’s wisdom. When Lola grows quiet with age, the granddaughter uses music to help her hold on to life.

Spicy Spicy Hot by Lenny Wen // Lintang tries her nenek’s sambal, a spicy Indonesian sauce, but finds it too hot. She wants to connect with her Indonesian heritage and fit in with her family, so she tries many different types of sambal. With the help of her nenek, Lintang learns how to enjoy the spicy flavor and embrace her cultural roots.

Where Wildflowers Grow by Ha Dinh, Illustrated by Bao Luu // Hà is a young girl who is happy with her new life at a refugee camp after being uprooted from her home in Vietnam. However, she doesn’t want to leave the camp to go to their “forever home” in America because she doesn’t want to say goodbye to her best friend, teacher, and the beautiful wildflowers. She wonders if she can carry the best parts of her camp with her to America.

Dancing Hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language by Joanna Que & Charina Marquez, Illustrated by Fran Alvarez // Sam is curious about her new neighbors’ hand movements and learns that they are communicating through Filipino Sign Language. With the help of her new friend Mai, Sam learns some signs and makes a new best friend.

Dancing the Tinikling by Bobbie Peyton, Illustrated by Diobelle Cerna // Lola invites Jojo to dance the tinikling with her but he trips while trying. Lola dances effortlessly between the bamboo poles, representing their American and Filipino cultures. With Lola’s encouragement, Jojo finally masters the dance and discovers the joy of connecting with his heritage.

Balinese Children’s Favorite Stories by Victor Mason, Illustrated by Trina Bohan-Tyrie // A charming collection of well-loved myths and tales from Bali. Includes 12 stories that have been told by mothers to children over the centuries.

Building a Dream by Darshana Khiani, Illustrated by Dow Phumiruk // In the village of Koh Panyee in Thailand, a group of boys who loved soccer had no place to practice. They decided to build their own floating soccer field, even though their neighbors laughed at them. With determination and hard work, the boys built the field and transformed their community.

The Cambodian Dancer by Daryn Reicherter, Illustrated by Christy Hale // Biography of Sophany, a refugee Cambodian dancer, who followed her passion for dance and taught Cambodian dancing to Cambodian girls in America. A beautiful story about keeping hope and your spirit alive.

Like a Dandelion by Huy Voun Lee // Based on the author’s own experience of immigrating to the US as a Cambodia refugee, this inspiring story follows a young girl and her mother as they take flight, and put down roots in their new adopted country. Soon, just as a dandelion plant, they blossom in their new home.

South/ West Asia

Click Here to View/Shop the Full South Asian Collection

Or check out the featured NEW releases highlighted below:

A Dupatta is… by Marzieh Abbas, Illustrated by Anu Chouhan // Dupattas―shawls traditionally worn by women in various cultures of South Asia―are beautiful and colorful of course, but they’re also fun, functional, and carry the sounds and smells of family and identity.

Summer is for Cousins by Rajani LaRocca, Illustrated by Abhi Alwar // Ravi is excited to spend summer vacation with his family and cousins at the lake house. However, he worries that his oldest cousin Dhruv won’t be interested in spending time with him anymore. They used to have the same favorite ice cream flavor, but everything feels different now. On the last night of vacation, Ravi is in charge of making dessert, and he hopes to make something special to connect with Dhruv again.

Lali’s Flip Flops by Farhana Zia, Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman // Lali works hard to earn money while her animal friends watch, and goes to the market to buy things for herself and her friends. However, when she sees her friends’ disappointed faces, she realizes the reward of generosity.

My Name by Supriya Kelkar, Illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat // The story is about an Indian American boy who faces difficulty with his classmates who cannot pronounce his name correctly. His parents later remind him of the uniqueness and importance of his name.

My Bollywood Dream by Avani Dwivedi // A young girl in Mumbai goes out with her family to the cinema on a Friday night. She captures the sights and sounds of the city with her camera and imagines a movie unfolding before her eyes. When they arrive at the screening, people from all walks of life gather to watch and dance together. This is a love letter to Mumbai and Bollywood, as well as to children who are eager to take control of their dreams.

Making Happy by Sheetal Sheth, Illustrated by Khoa Le // When Leila’s mother gets sick, her family’s life changes. However, they still find joy and laughter in each other, and they remain together. The story, which has a hopeful ending, is based on the author’s personal experience of battling cancer as a parent of young children.

Masala Chai, Fast and Slow by Rajani LaRocca, by Neha Rawat // Aarav and his grandfather, Thatha, are very different from each other. Aarav likes to rush around, while Thatha prefers to take things slowly. Every day, Thatha makes masala chai for the family at 5 pm, but Aarav always wants him to hurry up. One day, Thatha sprains his ankle, and Aarav decides to make the chai himself. However, Aarav rushes through the recipe and makes a mistake. Will Aarav be able to slow down and get the recipe right?

Bhangra Baby by Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal, Illustrated by Ani Bushry // Bhangra Baby wants to dance, but Bhangra Baby needs a chance…Luckily, his family and friends are ready to show him the moves. He joins the crowd on the dance floor and learns to step, hop, twist, and jump to the rhythm of the drum. Before long Bhangra Baby has the moves down and is ready to bhangra!

My Bindi by Gita Varadarajan, Illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan // Divya is hesitant to wear a bindi for the first time because she’s scared of being made fun of, but her mother tells her that it will protect her. After finding the perfect bindi, Divya puts it on and gains confidence in herself.

The Katha Chest by Radhiah Chowdhury, Illustrated by Lavanya Naidu // Asiya enjoys visiting her Nanu’s house, where she can explore a chest filled with quilts, each with a story about the bold and brave women in her family. She considers these hidden histories to be the grandest treasure among all the exciting things at Nanu’s house.

Hana’s Hundreds of Hijabs by Razeena Omar Gutta, Illustrated by Manal Mirza // Hana has an extensive collection of hijabs and accessories, and she always styles her hijab in a unique and beautiful way. However, when her collection becomes too large, she decides to share her talents and possessions with her community in a clever way.

Pacific Islander

Click Here to View/Shop the Full Pacific Islander Collection

Or check out the featured Favorites highlighted below:

I Am a Rainbow by Mark Kanemura, Illustrated by Richard Merritt // Mark enjoys putting on shows, dressing up and dancing, but at school, he gets teased for it. His parents give him a flowing cape that makes him feel invincible and helps him befriend some kids. When the cape goes missing, he loses his confidence, but with the help of his family and friends, he learns that he can always shine, even without the cape.

The Girl Who Heard the Music by Marni Fogelson & Mahani Teave, Illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens // The book is about Mahani, a girl who grew up on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), and her love for music. Despite having to leave her home to pursue her dream of becoming a pianist, she never forgot her roots. After touring the world, Mahani returned to Rapa Nui with a new dream: to build a music school using recycled materials and sustainable practices. The book celebrates Mahani’s achievements and her efforts to make her home a better place.

Ho’onani Hula Warrior by Heather Gale, Illustrated by Mika Song // Ho’onani is a girl who doesn’t see herself as a wahine or kane, but rather in-between. When she discovers there will be a school performance of a traditional kane hula chant, she wants to be part of it, but wonders if a girl can really lead an all-male troupe. The book is based on a true story and celebrates Hawaiian culture, while also empowering Ho’onani as she learns to lead and accept who she is.

Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Illustrated by Daniel Sousa // An Indigenous legend about how four extraordinary individuals of dual male and female spirit, or Mahu, brought healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii.

Aloha Everything by Kaylin Melia George, Illustrated by Mae Waite // This stunning children’s book tells the story of a young girl who learns to love and care for her home with all her heart. Encounter elements of Hawaiian culture, history, and ecology, such as canoes, royal hawks, and lizard monsters. The book is written in a rhyming scheme and includes hand-printed illustrations that capture the beauty of Hawaii and will inspire curiosity and excitement in young readers.

The Lei Book by April Hail and Hana Augustine // Explore the history and tradition of the Hawaiian lei, an art form that symbolizes the natural beauty and aloha spirit of the islands. LIttles learn about the various materials used to create lei, as well as the occasions for wearing them.

It’s KauKau Time by April Hail and Hana Augustine // Your favorite local-kine grindz…now in book form! It’s Kaukau Time! is a rhyming ode to Hawai’i’s cuisine and a celebration of the cultural diversity of the 808 state. 

Cannonball by Sacha Cotter & Josh Morgan // A young boy is determined to discover the secret to performing the perfect cannonball. As he prepares, everyone has advice~ telling him he needs more this, or bigger that. Overwhelmed, the young boy begins to doubt his cannonballing capabilities. But once he finds his own unique style, listens to his own inner-voice, and taps into his heart, he discovers that anything is possible~ and the perfect cannonball just may be within his reach! Maori words are spread throughout the narrative, creating a dual language read, with definitions and cannonball terms provided the glossary at the back.

Surfer of the Century by Ellie Crowe & Richard Waldrep // The incredible biography of Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku, six-time Olympic swimming champion and legendary srufer who popularized surfing around the world. Over his career, Duke struggled with racism and financial troubles, but by the end of his twenty-year Olympic career, he was a six-time medal winner. He is considered the father of modern surfing.

Punky Aloha by Shar Tuiasoa // A Polynesian girl who carries her culture in her heart and in everything she does. Punky loves to do a lot of things—except she doesn’t feel brave enough to meet new friends. So when her grandmother asks her to go out and grab butter for her famous banana bread, Punky hesitates. But with the help of her grandmother’s magical sunglasses, and with a lot of aloha in her heart, Punky sets off on a BIG adventure for the very first time.

The Good Song by Penelope Dullaghan & Alexandria Giardino // With the help of his grandpa, a little Hawaiian boy learns to listen for the good song. He finds it in his heart and shares it with the world. This story is inspired by the medley *Somewhere Over the Rainbow x What a Wonderful World*

Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis & Kenard Pak // Celebrate Hawaiian land and culture as a family, or ohana, prepares for a traditonal luau. Includes a glossary with Hawaiian terms and an author’s note at the back.

Sakamoto’s Swim Club by Julie Abery & Chris Sasaki // Biography of a little-known teacher who coached Hawaiian swimmers all the way to the Olympics. Maui local science teacher, Soichi Sakamoto devised an innovative coaching technique to train young swimmers. They formed a swim club and began to dominate in swimming events around the world, even winning Olympic Gold!

Sirena: A Mermaid Legend from Guam by Tanya Chargualaf Taimanglo & Sonny K. Chargualaf // A retelling of a classic Chamorro tale: Sirena is a young Chamorro girl who loves nature. She ignores her chores as usual to go swimming in the sparkling river, at a time in Guam’s history when all is pristine. Her mother utters a curse that will forever change Sirena’s life, unless her godmother can help.

Mrs. Coco’s Lemon Trees: The Story of How Guam Got Its Shape by Myer and Tiana Krah // A colorful and exciting take on the legendary Chamorro folktale; How Guam Got its Shape. Avery and Azai are young explorers who find themselves on the island of Guam aiding a few new friends. The island is disappearing and they need to find out why!

Groups of Asians or Collections of Asian stories

Shining a Light: Celebrating 40 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Changed the World by Veeda Bybee // A collective biography of 40 influential Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: from scientists to sports stars, aerospace engineers to artists, with stunning illustrated portraits by Hugo Award nominee Victo Ngai.

Amazing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who Inspire Us All by Maia and Alex Shibutani & Dane Liu // Featuring thirty-six inspirational Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, such as disabled hero Daniel Inouye, immigrant astronaut Kalpana Chawla, and biracial entertainer Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Yes We Will by Kelly Yang // This book illuminates the power of Asian Americans all over the country, in all sorts of fields. Each spread is illustrated by a different renowned Asian American or Asian artist. Alongside the poetic main text, Yes We Will includes one-line biographies of the person or historical moment featured on the page, with extended biographies at the end.

Asian American Women in Science by Tina Cho // Discover the stories of 15 brilliant Asian American women who broke barriers in science. Perfect for kids ages 8-12

Asian Americans Who Inspire Us by Analiza Quiroz Wolf // A beautifully illustrated collection of 16 trailblazing Asian Americans ~ includes Vietnam Memorial architect Maya Lin, Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi, anchorwoman Lisa Ling, activist Larry Itliong and more!

Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Stars Who Made America Amazing by Phil Amara & Oliver Chin & Juan Calle // An action-packed biography anthology featuring 20 noteworthy Asian Americans, filled with 60 colorful illustrations.

Asian Children’s Favorite Stories: Folktales from China, Japan, Korea, India, the Philippines and other Asian Lands by David Conger & Liana Romulo & Joan Suyenaga // A collection of 7 Asian folktales from different countries–China, Japan, Korea, India, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Adventures in Asian Art by Sue DiCicco & Deborah Clearwaters // Explore the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco through this children’s book  sharing a series of fun facts about each of the exhibits and explaining the culture, beliefs, and daily life informing each of the beautiful works of art.

Our Folktales: The All-Time Favorite Folktales of Asia by Ruth Wan-Lau // Featuring a collection of eight beloved children’s stories from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines and Singapore.

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Crafts

Celebrate API identities, stories, and traditions with these bookish crafts to extend the learning and play beyond the book. Check out these API bookish-inspired crafts below:

*Click on the Images for Craft Templates.*

Or Check out this Asian American Book Craft Bundle  for a selection of 13 Asian American Bookish Crafts!

Interactive Read Alouds

This May, subscribe to MaiStoryBook YouTube for a NEW Asian American Read Aloud Video Every Friday this May!

Read along with MaiStoryBook YouTube for interactive, shared-reading read aloud adventures where I ask questions throughout the story, point out main themes and ideas, and introduce vocabulary to keep little learns engaged and participating throughout the story.

Below you will find a *Full Month of API Read Alouds Lineup*, complete with the New Release Titles Every Friday, and interactive read aloud suggestions for every day of the month curated from MaiStotryBook’s previously featured API titles.

MaiStoryBook YouTube API Interactive Read Aloud Playlist

*~A special thank you to all the authors, illustrators, and publishers for permissions to share their books and for their commitment to sharing Asian voices. ~*

**Note: This lineup is not representative of all Asian/Pacific islander countries. Selections were based on read aloud and copyright permissions in collaboration with publishers and authors/illustrators. For additional book recommendations representing more API voices and stories, check out @maistorybooklibrary on Instagram.

Plus, check out a selection of some of my favorites below, and click Here for the Full Asian American + Pacific Islander Interactive Read Aloud Playlist.

Or click on the image-link below to read along to some of my favorite individual titles

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I hope you found some reading recommendations to add to your own shelves and share with your littles this Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Please share any other API Titles  to add to this themed collection.

*~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!~*