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Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) is an umbrella term that refers to any person of Asian or Pacific Island descent or ancestry. This list contains books from a tiny fraction of countries from the AAPI list, and an even tinier fraction of experiences within those countries. The worlds in them are written and illustrated with a whole lot of heart, and I hope you enjoy reading them. However, as someone who is not fond of reducing a deeply diverse range of experiences, cultures, languages, and history into an acronym, I hope that as a reader, you see them as a tiny starting point. I encourage you to seek stories that belong to countries, communities, and individuals, and not just to a category.
A Room With A View by Joanna Ho & Thaís Mesquita (May 26)
Joanna Ho has written the most heartwarming picture books, and here’s another to add to the list. Releasing on May 26th, this book is about Oliver, who is skeptical about the outdoors, and his mother, who is convinced some of the best memories are made in nature. It’s a wonderful way to get young children curious about the natural world. While you pre-order this, also check out Joanna’s The Day The Books Disappeared and Eyes That Kiss In The Corners.
Indigo Hands by Sita Singh & Maithili Joshi (August 25)
I’m so excited about this picture book! I love anything that takes you through the steps of an artistic process. In this lovely book, Neela accompanies her grandfather to his indigo studio and learns how a white cloth is dyed into vibrant indigo blue. The illustrations honor the beauty of the story, the process, and the color. This one comes out in August and is available for pre-order.
Riding Through The Rice Fields: A Trip to the Philippines by Michelle Sterling & Bianca Austria
Mateo and his dad take a trip to the Philippines, where his dad grew up. Mateo gets a chance to see his dad in a different light and get to know him better. While journeying through his gorgeous homeland, both in terms of the place and the people, Mateo learns about bayanihan, the spirit of the community coming together to help someone in need. They carry this back to their lives in the city.
A Guide to Rocks by Sacha Cotter & Josh Morgan
This precious book introduces us to Charlie and his dad. Charlie loves doing many things, but lately he has a rock that won’t stop growing, making him feel heavy. His dad has a wisdom book with lots of rules. The first rule says don’t you don’t talk about your feelings-rocks. This does not work and we watch the duo come up with new rules together. I hope you read this and discover more delightful new books by Pacific Islander authors here.
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For more recs, check out our AAPI archives, including these must-read children’s books by AAPI authors and illustrators and middle grade books by AANHPI authors. You can also peruse the contributions of generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders here.
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