Skip to main content

Five Faves: Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage

By
 As May draws to a close and with it Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, it is a good time to reflect on the contributions and influence of the many Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders who call the United States home. Whether through art, literature, politics, or any number of other significant achievements, we, as a country, have greatly benefitted from the contributions of individuals from these cultural backgrounds. If you're curious to learn more, the following list is comprised of a blend of informational books or were written and/or illustrated by an Asian American or Pacific Islander. Enjoy! 

Written by Naomi Hirahara
Illustrated by Sarah Demonteverde
Hachette Books, 2024. Informational. 95 pages.

A sweeping overview of not only significant Asian American and Pacific Islander figures, but also an introduction to important terminology, holidays, and pronunciation, A Child's Introduction to Asian American and Pacific Islander History, is the perfect primer for any child curious about this notable topic. 

Aloha Everything
Written by Kaylin Melia George
Illustrated by Mae Waite
Brooklyn, NY: Red Comet Press, 2024. Picture Book.

Aloha Everything follows a young girl throughout her life as she learns to dance hula and the accompanying important lessons of Hawaiian history and folklore. 

Written by Veeda Bybee
Illustrated by Victo Ngai
New York: Versify, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2023. Informational. 99 pages.

A compilation of 40 influential Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have brought changes for good in the world. It includes everyone from less well-known figures such as Dalip Singh Saund (the first Sikh and Indian American elected to the U.S. Congress) to world famous actor Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson. This well-rounded overview, was also sure to cover a multiplicity of disciplines, including: science, sports, engineering, and the arts --so there is an interest for all readers.

You Are Here: Connecting Flights
By Ellen Oh, et al. 
New York: Allida, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2023. Fiction. 265 pages.

A series of short stories, told from the perspectives of multiple young Asian Americans, that are interwoven throughout their day at a Chicago airport. Drawn from the twelve different authors own experiences, You Are Here, is a dynamic exploration on the complexities of identity. 

Written by Julie Leung
Illustrated by Hanna Cha
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2023. Picture Book. 

This year's winner of a Caldecott Honor and the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, The Truth About Dragons, is an important analogy about cherishing biracial identity -- in this case told through eastern and western mythologies about dragons. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If You Like...KPop Demon Hunters

By
KPop Demon Hunters has been one of the most talked-about movies of the summer. If you loved this movie as much as I did, you don't want the magic (or the music) to stop. Try reading these books that touch on some of the same topics and themes as the animated hit! Brick Dust and Bones By M. R. Fournet New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2023. Fiction. 247 pages. Orphaned Marius works in the family business--as their cemetery's ghost caretaker. However, Marius also moonlights as a monster hunter in order to earn the costly Mystic currency he needs to bring his mother back from the dead. As the window to bring his mother back begins to close, Marius's exploits get more and more dangerous, and he may have set his sights on a monster too big to handle on his own. Like Mira, Marius longs for familial connection, and his work as a monster hunter will satisfy the thrill of demon hunting for fans the movie. Where's Halmoni? By Julie J. Kim Seattle, WA: Little Bigfoot, 2017. Comics. W...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Fowl Play

By
  Fowl Play By Kristin O'Donnell Tubb New York: Katherine Tegen Books, 2024. Fiction 277 pages. Still reeling from her beloved uncle's death, Chloe Alvarez is comforted and confused when at his last will and testament reading, Uncle Will gifts her his African Grey parrot, Charlie. Charlie has a robust vocabulary and loves to make Alexa requests for her favorite songs, but when she starts saying things like, "homicide," and "cyanide," Chloe becomes convinced that Uncle Will may have met his demise by murder instead of a genetic disease, as was previously thought. Ultimately, bringing in her brother, Grammy, and Uncle Frank (and of course Charlie,) Chloe's ragtag and adoring family support her search for answers ---going on stakeouts, engaging in fast pursuits, and searching for clues. But as the suspects stack up and the mystery grows, Chole will learn that the process of death and grieving is complicated, and in the end her Uncle Will's words that, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Blood in the Water

By
Blood in the Water By Tiffany D. Jackson New York: Scholastic, 2025. Fiction. 255 pages. 12-year-old Kaylani McKinnon can't help but feel like a fish out of water. She's a Brooklyn girl spending her summer on Martha's Vineyard surrounded by wealthy family friends in their mansion. All she really wants is to stay home all summer where she her incarcerated father can easily reach her, and she can keep working to find ways to prove him innocent of fraud and embezzlement. Despite her protests, she finds herself on the island with the snooty granddaughters of her host. Soon after Kaylani's arrival, a popular teen boy is found murdered and she decides to conduct her own investigation. As she tries to discover what happened to Chadwick Cooper, Kaylani finds that not everything on Martha's Vineyard is as perfect as it appears. Thrillers for middle grade readers can be hard to find, but Tiffany D. Jackson succeeds in her first middle grade novel. A quick moving plot, tight d...
Post a Comment
Read more