Children’s authors and illustrators

Talking about diversity and representation with Asian Pacific American children’s book authors and illustrators

Listen as these celebrated Asian Pacific American book creators talk about seeing themselves in books, their own experiences growing up, universal stories, and why diverse books are so important for kids and communities.

Children’s books

See our booklist, Celebrating Asian Pacific American History and Culture, to discover fiction and nonfiction books that explore the beautiful diversity of Asian Pacific American cultures  — or browse the themed booklists below. Find all of our books related to Asian Pacific American heritage using Book Finder.

• Family Stories
• Folk Tales, Fairytales, and Legends
• Poetry, Haiku, and Sijo
• Immigrant Stories
• Between Two Worlds
• Celebrations and Holidays
• Inspiring Lives
• Food and Family
• Asian Pacific Heritage: Booklists (Colorín Colorado)

APALA Awards

The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association recognizes exceptional books in three categories: youth literature, children’s literature, and picture books. The awards are given every two years. To find more great titles about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, browse the APALA Awards lists ›

Children’s book publishers: Asian Pacific American focus

• Lee & Low Books
• Star Bright Books 
• Tuttle Publishing

Related articles

Humanizing Asian Americans in the Classroom Through Children’s Literature.
Too often, Asian American stories are absent from classroom libraries. In this article, one educator explains why this gap is so harmful — and recommends ways to fix it. (Learning for Justice)

A Remote Control for Learning
Author, educator, and former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Gene Luen Yang talks about teaching, comics (and their ability to bridge cultures), and the importance of diverse characters. (Learning for Justice)

Learning about APA heritage: resources for the classroom, home, and community

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Since 1990, the U.S. government has designated the month of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrating the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The month of May was chosen to mark the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant to the United States on May 7, 1843, as well as the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. Learn more at the federal government’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month website and in this introduction to APA Heritage Month.

Understanding what it means to be Asian American

I Am Asian American Toolkit (Learning for Justice)
This toolkit accompanies the article “I Am Asian American,” and provides professional-development resources to help teachers reflect on their own assumptions and knowledge gaps about Asian Americans and to include a variety of Asian-American voices in their curricula. 

Teaching Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (Learning for Justice)
In this archived webinar, the presenters explore the origins, meaning, and contemporary impact of the term Asian American Pacific Islander, break down the model minority myth, and provide educators with resources to effectively teach AAPI history.

What Is the Model Minority Myth? (Learning for Justice)
The myth of the “model minority” is pervasive. It does real damage. And Asian American students aren’t the only ones it harms. 

Find more resources from the Learning for Justice website.

APA information, activities, lesson plans, and stories

Library of Congress: Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
Find resources on Asian Pacific American history and culture, including links to biographies in the Veterans History Project, contemporary Japanese paintings, and classroom resources for teachers.

Smithsonian Education: Asian Pacific Americans Heritage Teaching Resources 
Explore resources on ethnic heritage, world music, history, and the arts. Visitors can learn about Hawaiian Lu'aus, Chinese immigrants' participation in the American Gold Rush, and the art of Buddhism. Educational materials and lesson plans are also provided.

NEH EDSITEment: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage and History in the U.S 
This Teacher’s Guide offers a collection of lessons and resources for K-12 social studies, literature, and arts classrooms that center around the experiences, achievements, and perspectives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across U.S. history.  

AFT’s Share My Lesson: Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month 
Prek-12 digital resources to explore the remarkable contributions that AANHPI Americans have given to history, culture, the sciences, industry, and government. You’ll also find resources to help students understand diverse perspectives and the struggles that AANHPI Americans have grappled with throughout the history of the U.S.

Newsela: Asian American resources
Browse these articles about Asian American history, culture, activism, and more. Newsela offers leveled and standards-aligned informational content for K-12 students, adapted from trusted news sources.

TeacherVision: Asian-American and Pacific Heritage Month Resources 
Celebrate and learn about the influence and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders to American history, society and culture with cross curricular activities, lesson plans, printables and teaching resources.

Colorín Colorado: Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage
Colorín Colorado celebrates family traditions and the rich diversity of Asian and Pacific Americans with books (K-12), activities, and a variety of resources and ideas for ELL educators.

Common Sense Media: Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Stories
The art of storytelling is an important tradition in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. These stories — shared through books, movies, and television — feature positive AANHPI characters and authentic representations of diverse experiences across cultures. Families with kids of all ages can find something to enjoy together and honor this heritage.

PBS resources

PBS Learning Media Educational Resources
Browse this collection of multimedia teaching resources that focus on understanding the history, culture, and achievements of Asian Americans for strudents in grades K-5.

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Watch documentaries and programs that celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.

PBS NewsHour: Canvas Arts

• ‘Sesame Street’ debuts Ji-Young, first Asian American muppet
• Gene Luen Yang — a Chinese-American cartoonist, author, and educator — forces us to face racist stereotypes.
• A short history of Chinese American women on screen

Documentary: Asian Americans
Told through intimate personal stories, this 5-hour series casts a new lens on U.S. history and the ongoing role that Asian Americans have played. Produced by WETA. Watch ›