This May, and every day, Denver Public Library aims to uplift the histories, cultures, and contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA.NH/PI) communities. List of books for kids in English by and about Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
Nikita wants to follow her family's tradition of making beautiful henna art.
Ruth Chan loves her hometown in Toronto. What Ruth doesn't love is having to move to Hong Kong after her dad gets a new job there. Her mom is excited to reunite with her family, but it's not the same for Ruth. In Hong Kong, her classes are harder, her Cantonese isn't good enough, and her parents are never around. Ruth feels lonely and completely uprooted. But as Ruth's dad tells stories about her family, about how they relied on their strength, courage, and each other to survive the most difficult times, Ruth realizes that she too can be strong. Gradually, she puts down roots, knowing that home will always be where her heart is.
Korean American Maia learns the importance of a mother's love while making a traditional birthday soup.
Promised safety outside of San Francisco, twelve-year-old Mei Mei travels by herself to Eureka, California, where she navigates increasing violence against her community leading up to the expulsion of Chinese immigrants in 1885. Told in verse format.
Fourth-generation Chinese American Mei celebrates her heritage by sharing her family's history at an antiracism rally supporting Asian Americans.
Twelve- year-old Ming Lee hopes middle school will be the fresh start he needs. But stepping into school with the same bowl haircut his mom insists on giving him, and wearing the extra-discounted thrift shop clothes she buys him doesn't quite make for the first day of his dreams. Things only get worse when he's placed in an ESL class despite English being his first (and only) language. The journey ahead is full of awkward, painful, and downright embarrassing moments. Ming's dad always tells him, Get good grades! Don't cause trouble! But with two new friends by his side, and a few tricks up his sleeve, Ming is determined to make some changes.
When Mei Mei accidentally breaks her ama's favorite cup, she's convinced it's the end of the world. What if Ama is angry? What if she yells? What if she kicks Mei Mei out of her house? Mei Mei can't face it. But when Mimi, the innocent cat who witnesses her crime, ends up being blamed, the guilt is too much! Mimi's accusing eyes follow Mei Mei until she just can't take it anymore, and the truth comes spilling out.
Two eleven-year-olds, one in the China of 731 and the other in Manhattan's Chinatown in 1931, embark on challenging journeys to save their families from peril.
An American child of East Asian descent revels in dances, clothing, games, foods and other characteristics of both cultures, while blending them into what makes this American desi unique.
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.
Two grieving brothers visit the lake their father took them to for the first time.
Aware of the racial tumult in the years after the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Mei tries to remain blissfully focused on her job, her close friendship with the camp foreman's daughter, and telling stories about Paul Bunyan--reinvented as Po Pan Yin (Auntie Po), an elderly Chinese matriarch.
A celebration of the practice of tea drinking across various countries and cultures.
A child, mother, and grandmother travel all the way to the end of the earth.
Every creation two friends build together end up tumbling down, except their friendship.
Chinese American Zia helps her mom tell her classmates about her job as a seamstress through translation.
With a Thai mother and an American father, Kathy lives in two different worlds. She spends most of the year in Bangkok, where she's secretly counting the days till summer vacation. That's when her family travels for twenty-four hours straight to finally arrive in a tiny seaside town in Maine. Kathy loves Maine's idyllic beauty and all the exotic delicacies she can't get back home, like clam chowder and blueberry pie. But no matter how hard she tries, she struggles to fit in. She doesn't look like the other kids in this rural New England town. Kathy just wants to find a place where she truly belongs, but she's not sure if it's in America, Thailand... or anywhere.
Follows a young Filipina on her first day of school as she discovers the true and layered meaning of new.
Twelve-year-old Anna must dig deep into her Hawaiian roots in order to save her best friend and her island from an angry fire goddess.
New York Times bestselling author and artist Chanel Miller tells a fun, funny, and poignant story of friendship and community starring Magnolia Wu, a ten-year-old sock detective bent on returning all the lonely only socks left behind in her parents' NYC laundromat.
Lily and her grandpa are good pen pals, so when he dies and leaves behind a rice paper scroll he was painting for her, Lily finishes the scroll with help from her mother.
Mustafa loves happy occasions because he gets to eat mithai! He looks forward to biting into barfi, munching on halwa, or gobbling up a whole ladu. But now that his Baba's birthday has passed and his Nani and Nanu already came to visit, there are no more reasons to have fun and enjoy mithai. When Ammi reminds him that mithai is sweetest when shared and something as simple as a day spent with loved ones can be a reason to celebrate, Mustafa decides to turn an ordinary day into a happy occasion...and of course eat mithai! Mustafa invites all of his friends over for a playdate and introduces them to mithai by finding the perfect sweet for each person, including his ammi.
For one young girl, summer is the season of no school, of days spent at the pool, and of picking golden limes off the trees. But summer doesn't start until her lola--her grandmother from the Philippines--comes for her annual visit. When Lola visits, the whole family gathers to cook and eat and share in their happiness of another season spent together.
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.
Based on a true story of love and resilience at the Minidoka incarceration camp.
It's the spring semester, and Airi Sano is on top of the world! Her grades are up, she has real friends at her side, and she's joined the school play. She's even keeping out of trouble and toning down the pranks! But when the play falls victim to some truly awful pranks, everyone immediately suspects that Airi is behind them. As suspicion mounts, it's up to her to solve the mystery and clear her own name before the imposter strikes again. Sounds like a job for Airi and her crew!
Tween Phoenny Fang attends a Chinese cultural overnight camp where she explores new friendships and first crushes and discovers a deeper understanding of her community.
Four individuals of dual male and female spirit bring their healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii, where they are beloved for their gentle ways and miraculous cures and where they imbue four giant boulders with their powers.
In this moving true story, Kao Kalia Yang shares her experiences as a Hmong refugee child navigating life at home and school in America while carrying the weight of her selective mutism.
A Chinese American girl does her best to stay true to herself in a world that often judges.