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Advice

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Recommended Titles

Share these stories that celebrate major figures and the lives of everyday men, women, and children of Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritage.
collage of covers of books with AAPI characters and themes
Published: March 20, 2023

Picture Books 

Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome by Kat Zhang

Juna and Appa by June Park

I’ll Go and Come Back by Rajani Larocca

Kiyoshi's Walk by Mark Karlins

The Lost Package by Richard Ho

My First Day by Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien

Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai

They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki

Leila in Saffron by Rukhsanna Guidroz

Riding a Donkey Backwards: Wise and Foolish Tales of Mulla Nasruddin by Sean Taylor and the Khayaal Theatre

Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando by Andrea Wang

Ho’onani: Hula Warrior by Heather Gale

Middle Grade 

The Secret Battle of Evan Pao by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

Barakah Beats by Maleena Siddiqui

Marshmallow & Jordan by Alina Chau

Karthik Delivers by Sheela Chari

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame by Supriya Kelkar

The Girl and the Ghost by Hanna Alkaf

We Belong by Cookie Hiponia Everman

Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh

Measuring Up by Lilly LaMotte

Pahua and the Soul Stealer by Lori M. Lee

Checked by Cynthia Kadohata

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Everlasting Nora by Marie Miranda Cruz

Mangoes, Mischief, and Tales of Friendship by Chitra Soundar

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

Not Your All-American Girl by Wendy Wan-Long Shang and Madelyn Rosenberg

Young Adult 

A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry by Paula Yoo

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malina Lo

A Phở Love Story by Loan Le

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan

The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala

Butterfly Yellow by Thanhha Lai

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott

Frankly in Love by David Yoon

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Recommended Books by Theme from NEA's Read Across America

Spread the joy of reading with these lists from NEA and Colorín Colorado to connect children and their families to diverse books, languages, and cultures.
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