Celebrate AAPI Through Storytelling

Did you know? The term AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islanders) includes 50 distinct ethnic groups, 75 countries, and more than 100 languages. Each May, we celebrate AAPI month to honor and recognize the cultural contributions made to the United States by descendants of this diverse region, which includes the countries of China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, and more.

There are many ways to pay tribute to the influences of the AAPI community. One of the best ways to share different experiences, family traditions, and rituals is through the power of storytelling. We’ve compiled a book list for you by age to highlight AAPI authors who share their insights.

Explore the titles offered at your local library or consider buying a few to add to your growing library of books at home. Read them together, talk about similarities and differences, and celebrate the uniqueness of each narrative.

2-Year-Olds

• Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho
• Dear Juno by Soyung Pak
• Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang

Pre-Kindergarten Students

• Butterflies for Kiri by Cathryn Falwell
• How We Say I Love You by Nicole Chen
• Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth
• Anno’s Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno
• Mama’s Saris by Pooja Makhijani

School-Age Readers       

• Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein
• An Asian American A to Z: A Children’s Guide to Our History by Cathy Linh Che and Kyle Lucia Wu
• Milloo’s Mind: The Story of Maryam Faruqi, Trailblazer for Women’s Education by Reem Faruqi
• You Are Here: Connecting Flights by Ellen Oh
• The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin

Want to dig deeper and experience more of the culture from your kitchen? CLICK HERE to explore the flavors of authentic Asian Pacific recipes your whole family will love.

Enjoy! Xiăngshóu! Tanoshimu!