Celebrating Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Kids Books

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! It is a month to celebrate, appreciate, and recognize the culture, traditions, and history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States.

The AANHPI community is made up of culturally and linguistically - diverse people, representing populations from many countries and islands. There is no single story of an AANHPI experience, and so this month, and every month, we honor the diversity of lived experiences and contributions that enrich the United States.

Here are some of our recommendations for celebrating AANHPI heritage this month, and all year long! You can find a more comprehensive list to shop from and donate to on our Bookshop.

Punky Aloha

Author/Illustrator: Shar Tuiasoa | Publisher: HarperCollins

This book is pure sunshine! Punky is a spirited Hawaiian who has one major fear - making new friends. When her grandmother challenges her to venture across the island on a special errand for her, Punky worries she won’t be brave enough. Luckily, grandma shares her magic sunglasses with her so that she feels courageous enough to meet new people.

This is such a fun and uplifting story and we know kids will love learning about the aloha spirit that Punky carries in her heart! This book is perfect for kids who have ever felt they needed a little magic to share their true selves with others.

Smiling Eyes

Author: Linda Sue Park | Illustrator: Lenny Wen | Publisher: Allida

From Newbery Medalist and bestselling author Linda Sue Park comes a joyous and inclusive celebration of eyes—showcasing the variety of Asian eye shapes and hues—in lively rhyming text ideal for sharing with any child.

For an enthusiastic little boy, an ordinary day is filled with the joys and surprises of seeing and being seen. All around him, people are using their eyes: big eyes, small eyes, eyes that are open wide, or shut tight, or even winking! With irresistible rhymes and warm, inviting art, this ode to eyes by Linda Sue Park and Lenny Wen will delight the youngest of readers.

Papa's Butter Chicken: A Celebration of Family and Community

Author: Monica Saigal | Illustrator: Abeeha Tariq | Publisher: Tiger Tales

Monica loves the Butter Chicken that her father makes. She spends the day helping him in the kitchen as he prepares the dish, stirring the sauce and adding the spices. And while the chicken bakes, the two dance around the kitchen.

When the chicken is done, they get ready to sit down and enjoy the meal together. But then the doorbell rings, and Grandma, Monica's uncles, and even the neighbors arrive to share in the feast!

A warm and inspiring story of food, family, community, and sharing that includes a foreword by renowned chef José Andrés, and one of the author's own recipes.

Riding Through Rice Fields: A Trip to the Phillipines

Author: Michelle Sterling | Illustrator: Bianca Austria | Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

Mateo and his dad live lonely, disconnected lives in the city. Every night at dinner, they look at each other, but they don't really see each other.

When they arrive in the Philippines for a family reunion, Mateo sees something in his dad’s eyes that he’s never seen before—adventure. Mateo and his dad embark on an epic bicycle trip to his father's childhood home, and along the way, they catch fish in a turquoise river, pick coconuts from a tall tree, and ride through one glorious rice field after another.

While Mateo learns more about this side of his father that he never knew, he also learns about bayanihan—people in the community coming together to help someone in need. When the trip comes to an end, it's difficult to say goodbye, but not only do Mateo and his dad bring home a stronger relationship as father and son, they also carry bayanihan back to their life in the city and strengthen the ties in their community.

Boys Don't Fry

Author: Kimberly Lee | Illustrator: Charlene Chua | Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

It’s the eve of Lunar New Year, and Jin can’t wait for the big family reunion dinner. He loves the aromas and the bubbly chatter coming from the kitchen. His grandmother, Mamah, is cooking up a storm!

As his aunties dice, slice, and chop, there’s nothing Jin wants more than to learn about the history of his family’s cooking and to lend them a helping hand. After all, no one else can tell the difference between ginger and galangal as well as he can! But his aunties shoo him away, claiming he’ll just get bored or be in the way. Luckily, Mamah steps in and asks Jin to help her prepare their special meal. Soon, Jin is squeezing, slicing, and stirring, too!

This loving picture book about a young Malaysian boy who defies gender expectations will make hearts warm and stomachs hungry. With beautifully vibrant illustrations of a traditional nyonya kitchen, Boys Don’t Fry is a heartfelt celebration of family, culture, and traditions―both old and new.

Luna's Yum Yum Dim Sum

Author: Natasha Yim | Illustrator: Violet Kim | Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

On Luna's birthday, the whole family goes out for dim sum--but Luna and her brothers can't agree on how to share their pork buns fairly. How can three people divide up five buns? Should some siblings get more than others? Or should they cut the buns into smaller and smaller pieces so everyone gets the same amount? A playful exploration of division and fractions, featuring Chinese American characters and a cultural note.

Storytelling Math celebrates children using math in their daily adventures as they play, build, and discover the world around them. Joyful stories and hands-on activities make it easy for kids and their grown-ups to explore everyday math together. Developed in collaboration with math experts at STEM education nonprofit TERC, under a grant from the Heising-Simons Foundation.

Everyone is Welcome

Author: Phuong Truong | Illustrator: Christine Wei | Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

A little girl hears that her grandma’s friend, Mrs. Lee, was pushed on her way to the Asian market. Then she learns that Asian students at her brother’s school are afraid to walk to class, and she realizes something very wrong is happening to her community. How can life be so unfair? With her mom’s support and the help of her friends, the little girl sets out to do something kind for Mrs. Lee.

Everyone is Welcome is a book to begin a conversation about the reality of anti-Asian hate. It is also a celebration of Asian families and culture - particularly the wonderful spaces of North America's Asian markets.

Awe-Samosas!

Author: Marzieh Abbas | Illustrator: Bhagya Madanasinghe | Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

It’s Noor’s first time making her Dadijaan’s Special Samosa recipe. When she can’t get in touch with her Dadijaan because it’s nighttime in Pakistan, Noor must improvise to make her family’s recipe without all of the correct ingredients.

Noor uses her creativity and problem-solving skills to create something new and exciting for her friends: flaky, super-crispy Awe-samosas!

Marzieh Abbas weaves Urdu words into her narrative of creativity, problem-solving, and love of food and cooking. Includes Dadijaan’s traditional potato and pea samosas recipe in backmatter.