10 best children's books by AAPI authors, according to Goodreads
Published in the last year, these children's books explore AAPI history and identity, and are all highly rated by Goodreads members.
Goodreads: 4.62-star average rating from 5,837 reviews
After a young Asian girl realizes that her eyes look different than her peers’, she learns to recognize her beauty through the different women in her life.
Goodreads: 4.56-star average rating from 2,741 reviews
Andrea Wang’s autobiographical picture tells the story of her family foraging for watercress. It’s a tradition that dates back to her family’s roots in China, and the young girl learns about her heritage through the experience.
Goodreads: 4.30-star average rating from 483 reviews on Goodreads
“I Am Golden” tells the story of Mei and her immigrant family, detailing their experiences, culture and heritage. The book aims to promote self-love for Chinese American children.
Goodreads: 4.48-star average rating from 942 reviews
Set after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, this story follows the experiences of Japanese Americans from the West Coast live in incarceration camps. Tama and George meet and fall in love, spending time together in the library. The book also includes a photo of the real Tama and George, Tokuda-Hall’s grandparents, and historical information about this time period in American history.
Goodreads: 4.28-star average rating from 488 reviews
While Lili and her Nai Nai (grandmother) are making baos, they realize they're missing an important ingredient. As Lili goes door to door in her Nai Nai’s apartment building, she meets the other grandmothers who live there and learns about food from a variety of different cultures.
Goodreads: 4.36-star average rating from 505 reviews
When a young girl and her family emigrate from Taiwan to America, her popo (grandmother) stays behind. Despite the distance between them and changes in her life that come with experiencing American culture, this book tells the story of the girl and her grandmother’s connection.
Goodreads: 4.33-star average rating from 429 reviews
A Sikh father and his daughter bond over their hair. The father styles his daughter’s hair every morning, a practice that’s part of their religion and their relationship.
Goodreads: 4.03-star average rating from 371 reviews
A young girl longs to feel grown up, so she attempts to dress herself in a sari. The book details her missteps and successes, and the joy the experience brings to her family.
Goodreads: 4.15-star average ratings from 100 reviews
The Yang warriors live at the Ban Vinai refugee camp — where the author lived as a child — and are led by Master Me. In this picture book, they go on missions and become heroes at the camp.
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