May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to honor and celebrate the diverse cultures, people, and achievements of AAPI communities. We love finding stories that are representative of our kiddo, and as a result we’ve cultivated quite the collection of AAPI picture books in our house. Here are a few of our favorite picture books by AAPI authors and about AAPI culture to check out this month.
Eyes That Kiss in the Corner & Eyes That Speak to the Stars by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dung Ho
At Lansing Mom we always recommend our tried and true favorites, while these are some of our favorite items in our home, this post does contain some Amazon affiliate links! Hoppy Shopping Mamas!
Both of these lyrical stories celebrate eyes – eyes that come in different shapes and sizes and eyes that are visionary and spark change.
‘Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis, illustrated by Kenard Pak
This is a favorite in our household. It follows a family through the process of making poi for a traditional Hawaiian luau. Be warned: it’s very catchy and you may find yourself humming the words to yourself long after your kiddo goes to sleep.
The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali, illustrated by Hatem Aly
It’s Asiya’s first day of hijab and she’s both excited and nervous. Not everyone at her school understands, but she loves its beautiful blue color and is proud to wear it.
The Queen of Physics by Teresa Robeson, illustrated by Rebecca Huang
This is story of Wu Chien Shiung, born in 1912, renowned physicist known for her work with the atom and beta decay. A groundbreaker, she was Princeton University’s first female instructor and the first woman elected President of the American Physical Society.
Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed, illustrated by Anoosha Syed
Bilal loves helping his dad make daal, his favorite dish. He wants his friends to try it, so he invites them over for a day of fun and cooking.
Punky Aloha by Shar Tuiasoa
Follow along with Punky as she goes on an adventure with her magical sunglasses to get butter for her grandma.
I Am Golden by Eva Chen, illustrated by Sophie Diao
Full of beautiful illustrations, this book celebrates Chinese American culture, language, and family. It’s impossible to not smile when reading this one.
This list is by no means exhaustive. If you have other books that celebrate AAPI people and cultures that you enjoy, let us know!
