Asian American Booklist

In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May), NEA's Read Across America has released a bilingual reading list of titles appropriate for K-12 students.

The following titles are listed by grade level and include fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

Grades K-4
Grades 5-8
Grades 9 and Up

• A is for Asia by Cynthia Chin-Lee, illustrated by Yumi Heo. Orchard Books, 1997.
  
• A Thousand Peaks: Poems from China by Siyu Liu and Orel Protopescu, illustrated by Siyu Liu. Pacific View Press, 2001.
  
• All in a Day by Mitsumasa Anno. Paper Star, 2001. (International).
  
• All the Colors of the Earth by Sheila Hamanaka. William Morrow & Company, 1994.
  
• Allison by Allen Say, illustrated by Allen Say. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1997.
  
• Almond Cookies and Dragon Well Tea by Cynthia Chin-Lee, illustrated by You Shan Tan. Polychrome Pub. Corp., 2000. (Chinese)
  
• Angel Child/Dragon Child by Michele Stuart and Cynthia Reiser, illustrated by Vo-Dinh Mai. Scholastic Trade, 1989. (Chinese American).
  
• Anna and the Bookbinder by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Ted Rand. Walker, 2003.
  
• Anno's Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno. HarperCollins, 1992.
  
• Anno's Counting House by Mitsumasa Anno, Philomel Books, 1998.
  
• Anno's Faces by Mitsumasa Anno. Philomel Books, 1989.
  
• Anno's Journey by Mitsumasa Anno. Paper Star, 1997.
  
• Anno's Magic Seeds by Mitsumasa Anno. Philomel Books, 1995.
  
• Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet S. Wong, illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Harcourt, Inc. 2002. (Asian American)
  
• At the Beach by Huy Voun Lee. Henry Holt & Company, 1998. (Chinese American)
  
• Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki, illustrated by Dom Lee. Lee & Low Books, 1995.
  
• The Best Bad Thing by Yoshiko Uchida. Aladdin Publishing Company. 1986.
  
• The Bicycle Man by Allen Say, illustrated by Allen Say. Scott Foresman (Pearson K-12), 1989.
  
• Bon Odori Dancer by Karen Kawamoto McCoy, illustrated by Caroline Yao. Polychrome Pub. Corp.,1998.
  
• The Bracelet by Yoshiko Uchida, illustrated by Joanna Yardley. Paper Star, 1996.
  
• Brocaded Slippers and Other Vietnamese Tales illustrated by Vo-Dinh Mai. Harper Collins Juvenile Books, 1992.
  
• Butterflies for Kiri by Cathryn Falwell, illustrated by Cathryn Falwell. Lee & Low Books, 2003.
  
• Buzz by Janet S. Wong, illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Harcourt, 2000.
  
• Caravan by Lawrence McKay, Jr., illustrated by Darryl Ligasan. Lee & Low Books, 2003. (Afghanistan).
  
• Char Siu Bao Boy by Sandra Yamate, illustrated by Caroline Yao. Polychrome Pub. Corp., 2001. (Chinese American)
  
• China's Bravest Girl: The Legend of Hua Mu Lan Told by Charlie Chin, illustrated by Tomie Arai. Children's Book Press, 1997.
  
• Chopsticks from America by Elaine Hosozawa-Nagana, illustrated by Masayuki Miyata. Polychrome Pub. Corp., 1994. (Japanese American)
  
• Cool Melon Turn to Frogs! by Matthew Gollub illustrated by Kazuko G. Stone. Lee & Low Books, 1998. (Japan)
  
• The Cricket's Cage by Stefan Czernecki, illustrated by Stefan Czernecki. Hyperion Press Limited, 1996.
  
• Dia's Story Cloth: The Hmong People's Journey of Freedom by Dia Cha. Lee & Low Books, 1998.
  
• Dumpling Soup by Jama Kim Rattigan, illustrated by Lillian Hsu-Flanders Little Brown & Co., 1992.
  
• Earthquake by Milly Lee, Yangsook Choi. Frances Foster Books. 2001. (Chinese Americans).
  
• El Chino by Allen Say, illustrated by Allen Say. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1996.
  
• Elaine and the Flying Frog by Heidi Chang. Random Library, 1991.
  
• Emma's Rug by Allen Say, illustrated by Allen Say. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1996.
  
• Fables from the Garden by Leslie Ann Hayashi, illustrated by Kathleen Wong Bishop. University of Hawaii Press, 1998.
  
• Fables from the Sea by Leslie Ann Hayashi, illustrated by Kathleen Wong Bishop. University of Hawaii Press, 2000.
  
• Father's Rubber Shoes by Yumi Heo, illustrated by Yumi Heo. Orchard Books, 1995.
  
• Flowers for Mariko by Rick Noguchi and Deneen Jenks, illustrated by Michelle Reiko Kumata. Lee & Low Books, 2002.
  
• Folk Stories of the Hmong: People of Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam by Norma J. Livo. Libraries Unlimited, 1991.
  
• Ghosts for Breakfast by Stanley Todd Terasaki, illustrated by Shelly Shinjo. Lee & Low Books, 2002.
  
• The Gift: The Hmong New Year by Ia Xiong, illustrated by Gou Run-Lin. Pacific Asia Pr., 2001.
  
• Golden Carp and Other Tales from Vietnam by Lynette Dyer Vuong, illustrated by Manabu Sito. Lothrop Lee & Shepard, 1993.
  
• The Golden Swans: A Thai Folktale illustrated by Ed Young. World, 1969.
  
• Goldfish and Chrysanthemums by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Michelle Chang. Lee & Low Books, 2003.
  
• Goodbye 382 Shin Dang Dong by Frances and Ginger Park. National Geographic Society, 2003. (Korean American)
  
• Grandfather Counts by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Ange Zhang. Lee & Low Books, 2001. (Chinese American)
  
• Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say, illustrated by Allen Say. Houghton Mifflin Co 1993. (Chinese American)
  
• The Green Frogs: A Korean Folktale by Yumi Heo, illustrated by Yumi Heo. Houghton Mifflin, 1996.
  
• Grump by Janet S. Wong, illustrated by John Wallace. Margaret K. McElderry, 2001.
  
• Halmoni and the Picnic by Sook Nyul Choi, illustrated by Karen Dugan. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1993. (Korean American)
  
• Henry's First Moon Birthday Lenore Look, illustrated by Yumi Heo. Atheneum, 2001. (Chinese)
  
• Heroes by Ken Mochizuki, illustrated by Dom Lee. Lee & Low Books, 2001. (Japanese American)
  
• Ho-LimLim by Keizaburo Tejima, Phlomel Books, 1990.
  
• Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho, illustrated by Holly Meade. Orchard Books, 1996.
  
• If It Hadn't Been for Yoon Jun by Marie G. Lee. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1993 (Korean American)
  
• The Imp That Ate My Homework by Laurence Yep, illustrated by Benrei Huang. HarperTrophy, 2000.
  
• In the Park by Huy Voun Lee. Henry Holt & Company, 1998.
  
• In the Snow by Huy Voun Lee. Henry Holt & Company, 2000.
  
• Journey Home by Lawrence McKay, Jr., illustrated by Dom and Keunhee Lee. Lee & Low Books, 2000. (Vietnamese)
  
• Judge Rabbit and the Tree Spirit: A Folktale from Cambodia by Lina Mao Wall. Childrens Book Pr., 2000. (Bilingual in English and Khmer)
  
• Kodomo: Children of Japan by Susan Kuklin. Putnam Pub Group, 1995.
  
• Kolea: The Story of the Pacific Golden Plover by Marion Coste, illustrated by Fred Salmon. University of Hawaii, 1999.
  
• Konnichiwa!: I am a Japanese-American Girl by Tricia Brown. Henry Holt & Company, 1995.
  
• Lakas and the Manilatown Fish by Anthony D. Robles, illustrated by Carl Angel. Children's Book Press, 2002. (Filipino American)
  
• Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year by Kate Waters and Madeline Slovenz-Low, photographs by Martha Cooper. Scholastic Trade, 1990. (Chinese American)
  
• The Lobster and the Sea by Esther Chiu, illustrated by Mika Takahashi. Polychrome Pub. Corp., 2000.
  
• Love as Strong as Ginger by by Lenore Look, illustrated by Stephen Johnson. Atheneum, 1999. (Chinese American)
  
• The Magic Fan by Keith Baker. Voyager Books, 1997.
  
• Make-Believe Tales: A Folktale from Burma by by Joanna Troughton. Peter Bedrick Books, 1991.
  
• The Moon Lady by Amy Tan, illustrated by Gretchen Schields. Aladdin Library, 1992.
  
• My Chinatown: One Year in Poems by Kam Mak, Harpercollins Juvenile Books, 2002. (Chinese American)
  
• My Freedom Trip: A Child's Escape from North Korea by Frances Park, illustrated by Debra Reid Jenkins. Boyds Mills Press, 1998.
  
• NeNe: A Story of the Endangered NeNe birds of Hawaii by Marion Coste. University of Hawaii Press, 1993.
  
• New Cat by Yangsook Choi. Frances Foster Books, 1999.
  
• The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi. Knopf, 2001. (Korean American)
  
• Night Garden: Poems from the World of Dreams by Janet S. Wong, illustrated by Julie Paschkis. Margaret McElderry, 2000.
  
• Nikkei Donburi: A Japanese American Cultural Survival Guide by Chris Aihara with The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. Polychrome Pub Corp, 2002.
  
• Nine in One Grr ! Grr!: A Folktale from the Hmong People of Laos by Blia Xiong, illustrated by Nancy Hom. Children's Book Press, 1989.
  
• Olvina Flies by Grace Lin. Henry Holt Books, 2003.
  
• One Afternoon by Yumi Heo. Orchard Books, 1994.
  
• One Small Girl by Jennifer L. Chan, illustrated by Wendy K. Lee. Polychrome Pub. Corp., 2000.
  
• One Grain of Rice by Demi. Scholastic Trade, 1997.
  
• One Sunday Morning by Yumi Heo. Orchard Books, 1994.
  
• Peace Crane by Sheila Hamanaka. William Morrow & Company, 1995.
  
• Peacebound Trains by Haemi Balgassi, illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet. Econo-Clad Books, 2000. (Asian/Korean)
  
• A Place to Grow by Soyung Pak, illustrated by Marcelino Troung. Arthur A. Levine. 2002.
  
• Pop'n Kimchi by Soo-Young Chin and Christina Lochmann with the Korean American Museum. Polychrome Pub. Corp., 2001.
  
• Puppe's Story by told by Hiroki Sugihara, written by Anne Hoshiko Akabori, illustrated by Andrea Fong, Edu-Comm Plus, 1996. (Japanese American)
  
• Raymond's Perfect Present by Therese On Lee. Lee & Low Books. 2001. (Chinese American)
  
• The Royal Bee by Frances and Ginger Park, illustrated by Christopher Zhong-Yuan Zhang. Boyds Mill Press, 1999. (Korean)
  
• Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu. Lee & Low Books, 2001. (Chinese American)
  
• Samson, The Hot Tub Bear by Wendy Tokuda, illustrated by Lokken Mills. Roberts Rinehart Pub., 1998.
  
• The Sign Painter by Allen Say, illustrated by Allen Say. Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books, 2000.
  
• Stranger in the Mirror by Allen Say, illustrated by Allen Say. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998. (Chinese American)
  
• Stone Soup retold and illustrated by Jon J. Muth. Scholastic, 2003.
  
• Tea with Milk by Allen Say, illustrated by Allen Say. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1999. (Chinese American)
  
• Tae's Sonata by Haemi Balgassi. Clarion Books, 1997.
  
• Ten Oni Drummers by Matthew Gollub, illustrated by Kazuko G. Stone. Lee & Low Books, 1999. (Japanese)
  
• Thai Tales: Folktales from Thailand retold by Supaporn Vathanaprida. Libraries Unlimited, 2000.
  
• Thanksgiving at Obaachan's by Janet Mitsui Brown, illustrated by Janet Mitsui Brown. Polychrome Pub. Corp., 2000. (Japanese-American)
  
• This Next New Year by Janet S. Wong, illustrated by Yangsook Choi. Frances Foster Books, 2000.
  
• Toad is the Uncle of Heaven: A Vietnamese Folk Tale by Jeanne M. Lee. Henry Holt, 1989.
  
• Toddler Two by Anastasia Suen, illustrated by Winnie Cheon. Lee & Low Books, 2001. (also in Spanish).
  
• Treasure for Lunch by Shenaaz Nanji, illustrated by Yvonne Cathcart. Second Story Press, 2001.
  
• Welcome Home Swallows by by Marlene Shigekawa, illustrated by Isao Kikuchi. Heian Intl Pub. Co., 2001. (A sequel to Blue Jay in the Desert)
  
• Where on Earth is My Bagel? by Frances and Ginger Park, illustrated by Grace Lin. Lee & Low Books, 2002.
  
• Willie Wins by by Almira Astudillo Gilles, illustrated by Carl Angel. Lee & Low Books, 2002. (Filipino-American)
  
• You Have to Write! by Janet S. Wong, illustrated by Theresa Flavin. Margaret McElderry, 2002.

• A Jar of Dreams by Yoshiko Uchida. Aladdin Books, 1999.
  
• A Suitcase of Seaweed and Other Poems by Janet S. Wong. McElderry, 1996.
  
• Aani and the Tree Huggers by Jeannine Atkins, illustrated by Venantius. J. Pinto. Lee & Low Books, 2000.
  
• The Amah by Laurence Yep. Putnam Publishing, 1999.
  
• American Sisters: Pacific Odyssey to California 1905 by Laurie Lawlor. Aladdin, 2002.
  
• Angelfish by Laurence Yep. Penguin Putnam, 2001.
  
• Aruna's Journey by Jyotsna Sreenivasan. Smooth Stone Publishers, 2002. (Asian American, Indian).
  
• Ashok by Any Other Name by Sandra S. Yamate, illustrated by Janice Tohinaka. Polychrome Pub. Corp., 1991.
  
• Behind the Wheel: Driving Poems by Janet S. Wong. Simon & Schuster, 1999.
  
• The Best of Times: Math Strategies that Multiply by Greg Tang. Scholastic, 2003.
  
• Blue Jay in the Desert by Marlene Shigekawa, illustrated by Isao Kikuchi. Polychrome Pub. Corp, 1993.
  
• The Case of the Goblin Pearls by Laurence Yep. HarperCollins, 1998.
  
• Children of Asian America compiled on behalf of the Asian American Coalition. Polychrome Pub. Corp., 2002.
  
• Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah. Delacorte, 1999.
  
• Dream Soul by Laurence Yep. HarperCollins, 2000. (Asian American, Chinese American)
  
• Chopsticks from America by Elaine Hosozawa-Nagano, illustrated by Masayuki Miyata. Polychrome Pub. Corp., 2002. (Japanese American)
  
• The Cook's Family by Laurence Yep. Putnam Publishing, 1998. (Asian American, Chinese American)
  
• The Eternal Spring of Mr. Ito by Sheila Garrigue. Bradbury, 1985.
  
• F is for Fabuloso by Marie G. Lee. HarperCollins, 1999. (Asian American, Korean American).
  
• Feast of Lanterns by Allen Say. Harper & Row, 1976.
  
• Filipino Americans by Jennifer Stern. Chelsea House, 1999.
  
• Finding My Voice by Marie G. Lee. Houghton Mifflin, 1992. (Korean-American)
  
• Good Luck Gold and Other Poems by Janet S. Wong. Simon & Schuster, 1999.
  
• The Grapes of Math by Greg Tang. Scholastic. 2001.
  
• Hello My Name is Scrambled Eggs by Jamie Gibson, Lothrop & Shepard, 1985. (Vietnamese American).
  
• In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord. Harper & Row, 1984.
  
• The Ink-Keeper's Apprentice by Allen Say. Walter Lorraine Books, 1994.
  
• The Invisible Thread: A Memoir by Yoshiko Uchida. HarperTrophy, 1995. (Japanese American)
  
• The Japanese Americans by Harry Kitano. Chelsea House Publications, 1995.
  
• Journey Home by Yoshiko Uchida. Atheneum, 1978. (Japanese American)
  
• The Key Collection by by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Yangook Choi. Henry Holt & Company, 2003. (Chinese American)
  
• The Land I Lost: Adventures of a Boy in Vietnam by Huynh Quang Nhuong. HarperTrophy, 1992.
  
• Lights for Gita by Rachna Gillmore, illustrated by Alice Priestly. Tillbury House, 1995. (Canadian, Indian).
  
• The Lost Garden by Laurence Yep. Simon & Schuster, 1991. (Chinese American)
  
• The Magic Paintbrush by Laurence Yep. HarperTrophy, 2003. (Chinese American)
  
• The Mask of the King by Jwing-Ming Yang. YMAA Publication Center, 1991.
  
• Math Appeal by Greg Tang. Scholastic, 2003.
  
• Math for All Seasons by Greg Tang. Scholastic, 2002.
  
• Nim and the War Effort by Milly Lee. Farrar, Straus, Giroux. 1997.
  
• Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story by Ken Mochizuki. Lee & Low Books, 2001.
  
• Poston, Camp 11, Block 211 by Jack Matsuoka, edited by Emi Young, 2003. (Japanese American)
  
• Promises Kept: The Life of an Issei Man by Akemi Kikumura. Chandler and Sharp, 1991. (Japanese American).
  
• The Rainbow Hand: Poems About Mothers and Children Simon & Schuster, 2000.
  
• Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom by Katherine Paterson. Lodestar, 1983 (China).
  
• The Rainbow People by Laurence Yep. HarperCollins, 1984.
  
• Ribbons by Laurence Yep. Harper & Row, 1996. (Chinese American)
  
• Seesaw Girl by Linda Sue Park. Yearling, 2001. (Korean)
  
• Serpent's Children by Laurence Yep. Harper & Row, 1984.
  
• A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. Clarion, 2001.
  
• The Star Fisher by Laurence Yep. By Morrow, 1991.
  
• Sky Legends of Vietnam by Vionette Lyn Dyer, Illustrated by Vo-Dinh Mai. HarperCollins, 1993.
  
• So Far from the Sea by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Chris K. Sontpiet. Clarion Books, 1998. (Japanese Americans).
  
• Song of the Buffalo by Sherry Song. Harcourt, 1992.
  
• The Spring Pearl by Laurence Yep, HarperCollins, 2002.
  
• Stella: On the Edge of Popularity by Lauren Lee. Polychrome Pub. Corp., 2002. (Korean-American.)
  
• Striking It Rich: Treasures From Gold Mountain by Debbie Leung Yamada, illustrated by You Shan Tang. Polychrome Pub. Corp., 2001.
  
• The Tiger's Apprentice by Laurence Yep. HarperCollins, 2003.
  
• Vatsana's Lucky New Year by Sara Gogol. Lerner, 1992.
  
• When the Circus Came to Town by Laurence Yep and illustrated by Suling Wang, HarperCollins, 2002.
  
• The Trip Back Home by Janet W. Wong, illustrated by Bo Jia. Harcourt, 2000. (Chinese American)
  
• The Year of Impossible Goodbyes by Sook Nyul Choi. Dell, 1991. (Korean American)

• American Dragons: Twenty-five Asian-American Voices edited by Laurence Yep. HarperCollins, 1993.
  
• American Eyes: New Asian-American Short Stories for Young Adults edited by Lori M. Carlson. Bt Bound, 1999.
  
• Beacon Hill Boys by Ken Mochizuki. Scholastic, 2002. (Japanese American)
  
• The Beggar in the Blanket by Gail Graham. Dial, 1970. (Asian-American, Vietnamese).
  
• Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier. Scholastic, 2002. (Indian American)
  
• Boxing in Black and White by Peter Bacho. Henry Holt & Company, 1999.
  
• Bridgeable Shores: Selected Poems (1969-2001) by Luis Cabalquinto. Kaya Press, 2001. (Asian-American, Filipino)
  
• China Boy by Gus Lee, Plume (reprint edition), 1994.
  
• Children of the River by Linda Crew, Laurel Leaf; Reissue edition, 1991. (Asian-American, Cambodian)
  
• The Clay Marble by Minfong Ho. Farrar Straus & Giroux (Juv); Reprint edition, 1993. (Asian-American, Cambodian)
  
• Dark Blue Suit and Other Stories by Peter Bacho. University of Washington Press, 1997. (Filipino American)
  
• Desert Exile by Yoshiko Uchida. University of Washington Press, 1984.
  
• Distinguished Asian Americans: A Biographical Dictionary edited by Hyung-Chan Kim, Dorothy Cordova et al. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999.
  
• DreamEden by Linda Ty-Casper. University of Washington Press. 1997. (Asian American, Filipino)
  
• Echoes of the White Giraffe by Sook Nyul Choi. Houghton Mifflin, 1993.
  
• Filipinos, Forgotten Asian Americans: A Pictorial Essay, 1763-circa 1963 by Fred Cordova. Dorothy Cordova. 1983
  
• First Person Fiction: Gathering the Dew by by Minfong Ho. Orchard Books, 2003.
  
• The Golem and the Dragon Girl by Sonia Levitin, Dial Books for Young Readers, 1993. (Asian-American/Jewish)
  
• Goodbye Vietnam by Gloria Whelan. Random House, 1993. (Asian-American, Vietnamese)
  
• Growing Up Asian American: Stories of Childhood, Adolescence, Coming of Age in America From the 1800s to the 1990s by Thirty-two Asian American Writers edited by Maria Hong, William Morrow, 1993.
  
• Hiroshima: A Novella by Laurence Yep, Scholastic. 1995. (Asian American, Japanese)
  
• The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, Prentice Hall, 1994. (Asian American, Chinese)
  
• The Journey: Japanese Americans, Racism, and Renewal by Sheila Hamanaka. Orchard Books, 1995.
  
• The Journal of Wong Ming-Chung: A Chinese Miner by Laurence Yep. Scholastic, 2000. My Name is America series. (Asian-American, Chinese)
  
• Motherland by Vineet Vijayaraghavan. Soho Press, 2002. (Asian-American, East Indian).
  
• Necessary Roughness by Marie G. Lee. Bt Bound, 1999. (Asian American, Korean American).
  
• Nisei Daughter by Monica Sone. University of Washington Press, 1979.
  
• On the Wings of Peace: Writers and Illustrators Speak Out for Peace in Memory of Hiroshima edited by Sheila Hamanaka, Calrion Books, 1995.
  
• Saying Goodbye by Marie G. Lee. Houghton Mifflin, 1994. (Asian American, Korean American.)
  
• Shadow of the Dragon by Sherry Garland, Harcourt, 1993. (Asian-American, Vietnamese).
  
• Shizuko's Daughter by Kyoko Mori, Juniper, 1995. (AA, Japanese)
  
• Seven Card Stud with Seven Manangs Wild: An Anthology of Filipino-American Writings edited by Helen C. Toribio. East Bay Filipino American Historical Society, 2002.
  
• A Step From Heaven by An Na. Puffin, 2003. (Asian American, Korean).
  
• A Time to Choose by Edward Blight. Park Place Pubns. 2001.
  
• To Destroy You is No Loss by JoAn Criddle, East/West Bridge Publishing House, 1996. (Cambodian American)
  
• When Justice Failed: Fred Korematsu by Steven Chin. Steck Vaughn, 1993.
  
• When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka. Alfred A. Knopf, 2002. (Japanese American).
  
• YELL-Oh Girls! Emerging Voices Explore Culture, Identity and Growing Up Asian American edited by Vickie Nam. Quill, 2001.