20 picture books that celebrate Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

This flavorful picture book follows Cecilia Chiang’s remarkable journey from a kitchen-loving child in Beijing to the revolutionary restaurateur who transformed Chinese cuisine in America through her acclaimed San Francisco restaurant, The Mandarin. With Melissa Iwai’s vibrant watercolor illustrations showcasing mouthwatering dishes and regional maps, readers ages 4-8 will delight in this visual and textual feast that celebrates Chinese culinary heritage and the immigrant experience. The book includes an informative author’s note with photographs of Chiang’s life and legacy.

This sweet tale follows a young boy who has recently arrived from Korea. Whenever he feels homesick, he visits a beautiful plum tree in his new backyard. Reminiscent of The Giving Tree , the boy and the tree are connected to one another. Even after a storm brings the old tree down, the boy is still able to have all sorts of adventures on its branches. One day, a new tree is planted, and a new friendship begins. With whimsical illustrations by Korean artist Il Sung Na, this picture book is appropriate for 4-8.

This lyrical picture book celebrates a young Asian girl who discovers beauty in her eyes that “kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea,” connecting her to her mother, grandmother, and little sister. Through vibrant illustrations by Dung Ho that incorporate elements of Chinese culture, readers ages 4-8 witness the girl’s journey toward embracing her features and recognizing the power we have to create change in the world. A critical and commercial success, the book has received numerous accolades including New York Times Bestseller, #1 Indie Bestseller, and School Library Journal Best Book of 2021.

This charming bilingual English/Mandarin counting book follows young Mia and her Uncle Eddie on a walk through Chinatown to the Big Wok restaurant for dim sum. As they stroll, readers count from one giant panda ride to ten yummy dishes, with each item introducing an aspect of Chinese culture further explained in the informative backmatter. Children ages 3-7 will delight in spotting the little orange and white kitten that follows the pair throughout their journey, while learning numbers in both English and simplified Mandarin.

This poignant picture book follows young Kyung Tak, whose family takes in refugees fleeing the Korean War in their seaside home in Busan. As their house becomes crowded and war sirens reach their own city, Kyung struggles with sharing her home with strangers. Wang’s “lyrical gem of a story” makes complex topics like warfare accessible to young readers, while Hanna Cha’s stunning watercolor illustrations capture both the seaside landscape and the emotional depth of this accessible, compassionate introduction to an overlooked historical moment that conveys timeless messages about kindness and community.

Based on the inspirational story of the author’s grandmother, Ruby’s Wish paints an engaging portrait of a young girl whose ambition and determination flips the script on what’s expected of Chinese women. Instead of aspiring to get married, Ruby is determined to pursue an education like the boys in her family. As she works hard and stays true to herself, she becomes the first woman in her generation to go to college. Written for children ages 8-12.

This picture book is a celebration of Hawaiian land and culture, and in the story, a family (or “ohana”) are preparing for a traditional luau celebration. With vivid illustrations by Kenard Pak, the reader will feel like they are invited to the party, too. The backmatter includes a glossary of Hawaiian terms used, as well as an author’s note. Written for ages 4-8. “This is the land that’s never been sold, where work the hands, so wise and old, that reach through the water, clear and cold, into the mud to pick the taro to make the poi for our ohana’s luau.”

This charming picture book follows a young Muslim girl observing how women in her life uniquely style their hijabs in public and express themselves through their hair in private spaces. Through cheerful, colorful images by Aaliya Jaleel, readers meet diverse characters including an artistic aunt, baker grandmother, doctor mother, and karate champion cousin. Offering a window into the world of a Muslim-American girl, this rhythmic celebration for ages 4-8 received honors including Bank Street Best Children’s Books and includes an informative author’s note about hijab’s significance.

This enchanting picture book follows Alice, a girl who escapes a dreary winter day by entering a magical storybook that transports her to vibrant adventure worlds. Lin’s gouache illustrations feature clever details including Alice’s text-patterned dress that transforms with each environment. Praised as a s”pectacular collaboration” with “rhythmic read-aloud” qualities by Kirkus Reviews, this modern folktale has received multiple honors including Kirkus Best Picture Book and Smithsonian Magazine Best Kids Books of 2023.

Perfect for ages 4-8, Andrea Wang’s autobiographical story is about a young girl embracing her family’s Chinese heritage after first being embarrassed by her mother foraging for watercress on the side of the road. It’s only after her mother shares a story of her family’s time in China that the girl can appreciate the fresh watercress they found and the new memory they made together. With gorgeous illustrations by Caldecott Honoree Jason Chin, this is a beautiful story of a child of immigrants connecting with her family’s history.

In this adorable picture book for ages 3-7, Yoomi the cat and her Daddy take the bus to Koreatown for a day of adventure. While there, they read Korean books, eat Korean treats such as patbingsu and tteokbokki, and visit Grandma. A delightful way to learn more about Korean culture, Aram Kim also includes a family recipe for kimbap in the book. Yummy!

This picture book follows a young girl exploring a vibrant southern Indian street market in search of the perfect gift for her mother. Each color-themed spread showcases the sensory experience of India’s outdoor markets through lyrical words and gorgeous illustrations by Mariona Cabassa. Winner of multiple awards including the 2021 South Asia Book Award, this book includes informative endnotes explaining market items worldwide. School Library Journal praised it as “an excellent story for young readers to enhance their understanding of color and traditional Indian culture.”

An Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor book, “Bilal Cooks Daal” stars six-year-old Bilal who worries his friends might not appreciate his favorite South Asian lentil dish when they remark that it “looks” and “smells” funny. Through Anoosha Syed’s charming illustrations, Aisha Saeed crafts what Kirkus calls “a quietly radical, eminently delightful book” that bridges cultures through shared food experiences. As Bilal and his father (who notably takes on the cooking role) prepare the slow-simmering dish, the story weaves together themes of patience, friendship, and trying new things while showing how culinary traditions can bring diverse communities together.

In the spirit of Matthew A. Cherry’s Hair Love , this charming picture book for ages 4-8 is about a Sikh father and daughter with a special hair bond as they proudly celebrate and share a family tradition. “Some days he braids her hair in two twists down the side of her face. Other days he weaves it into one long braid hanging down her back, just like a unicorn tail. But her favorite style is when he combs her hair in a tight bun on the top of her head, just like the joora he wears every day under his turban. They call this their hair twin look!”

In this debut picture book by Michelle Sterling , a young girl and her visiting Filipino grandmother spend a magical summer together. This sweet book, with whimsical illustrations by Aaron Asis, showcases the bond of family as the duo teaches each other about their own traditions that span oceans and generations. Best for ages 4-8.

In this delightful story for ages 4-8, Amira can’t wait to stay home from school to celebrate Eid, which comes at the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month. There’s only one problem: it’s also school picture day! How can Amira be in two places at once? You’ll have to read and find out! With vibrant illustrations by Fahmida Azim, a last-minute idea on the car ride home might just provide the solution to everything in this delightful story.

When Grandpa lives on the other side of the ocean, you have to get a little creative in order to have a great grandparent-grandchild relationship. Yum shares the challenges and joys of having a relative who lives far away in her latest book (perfect for ages 4-8), a subject that’s all too poignant during a pandemic.

In this charming picture book for ages 3-7, a little girl named Bindu loves her collection of bindis, the forehead decorations worn by Hindus, because they remind her of her Nani who lives in India. When Nani comes to visit, it’s just in time for the school talent show, and Bindu is ready to embrace her sparkly bindis (beautifully illustrated by Parvati Pillai), even if it means standing out in the crowd.

Based on a true story, this inspiring picture book for ages 4-8 follows the tale of one very special family in Taiwan who have 9 sons and 1 daughter. As the little girl grows up in the shadow of her brothers, her determination and persistence help her to create her own voice and path in the world. Then one day, she can pass her wisdom on to her own daughter, “her own little dumpling.”

In this uplifting body-positive book, Laxmi is a young Indian American girl who is teased because of the hair on her body. With her parents’ help, Laxmi learns that hair isn’t just for heads, but that it grows everywhere, regardless of gender. With endearing illustrations by Nabi H. Ali, Laxmi’s Mooch is a celebration of our bodies and our body hair (and whichever way it grows!)