Children's Books to Read by AAPI Writers and Illustrators

Middle Grade author and Book Rioter, Karina Yan Glaser, shared a list of recommended books by Asian American Pacific Islander writers and illustrators in a recent newsletter with the following message:

I write this newsletter with a heavy heart. After a year of rising anti-Asian hate, we witnessed the murder of six Asian women in Georgia on Tuesday as well as attacks on and murders of Asian elders across America. As an Asian-American woman, I am devastated by the news. This past Friday, I took over Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers’ Instagram account (my publisher) to recommend books by Asian authors and illustrators. I thought I would share these books with you, as I truly believe that one of the things we can do is read and recommend diverse stories so our new generation can be surrounded by stories of different cultures and experiences.

We agree with Karina that reading diverse stories, especially sharing these stories with the new generation, is an important step in building a future worth celebrating. See below for the books she recommended and you can register here for her The Kids Are All Right newsletter! You can also check out some videos Karina made talking more in depth about picture books and nonfiction books.

Spirit Hunters By Ellen Oh Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9780062430090
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: HarperCollins - June 26th, 2018

When You Trap a Tiger: (Newbery Medal Winner) By Tae Keller Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781524715700
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Random House Books for Young Readers - January 28th, 2020

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (Newbery Honor Book) By Grace Lin Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9780316038638
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - April 12th, 2011

A Wish in the Dark By Christina Soontornvat Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781536204940
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Candlewick - March 24th, 2020

A Different Pond By Bao Phi, Thi Bui (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Bao Phi, Thi Bui (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781623708030
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Capstone Young Readers - August 1st, 2017

Eyes That Kiss in the Corners By Joanna Ho, Dung Ho (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Joanna Ho, Dung Ho (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780062915627
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: HarperCollins - January 5th, 2021

Drawn Together By Minh Lê, Dan Santat (Illustrator), Dan Santat (Cover design or artwork by) Cover Image
By Minh Lê, Dan Santat (Illustrator), Dan Santat (Cover design or artwork by)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781484767603
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - June 5th, 2018

All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team By Christina Soontornvat Cover Image
$25.99
ISBN: 9781536209457
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Candlewick - October 13th, 2020

Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist By Julie Leung, Chris Sasaki (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Julie Leung, Chris Sasaki (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781524771874
Availability: Backordered and/or In Reprint - May Not Be Available for Some Time
Published: Schwartz & Wade - September 24th, 2019

The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee By Julie Leung, Julie Kwon (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Julie Leung, Julie Kwon (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9780759554955
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - February 2nd, 2021

The Boring Book: (Childrens Book about Boredom, Funny Kids Picture Book, Early Elementary School Story Book) By Shinsuke Yoshitake Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781452174563
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Chronicle Books - August 6th, 2019

Hooray for Books! By Brian Won Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9780544748026
Availability: Backordered and/or In Reprint - May Not Be Available for Some Time
Published: Clarion Books - September 12th, 2017

The Nian Monster By Andrea Wang, Alina Chau (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Andrea Wang, Alina Chau (Illustrator)
$16.99
ISBN: 9780807556429
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Albert Whitman & Company - December 1st, 2016

Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together By Andrea Tsurumi Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780544959002
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Clarion Books - February 5th, 2019

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring By Kenard Pak, Kenard Pak (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Kenard Pak, Kenard Pak (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781250151728
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) - February 18th, 2020

The Piano Recital By Akiko Miyakoshi, Akiko Miyakoshi (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Akiko Miyakoshi, Akiko Miyakoshi (Illustrator)
$16.99
Currently Unavailable.
ISBN: 9781525302572
Published: Kids Can Press - September 3rd, 2019

Drawing From Memory By Allen Say, Allen Say (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Allen Say, Allen Say (Illustrator)
$24.99
ISBN: 9780545176866
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Scholastic Press - September 1st, 2011

Hello, Universe: A Newbery Award Winner By Erin Entrada Kelly, Isabel Roxas (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Erin Entrada Kelly, Isabel Roxas (Illustrator)
$9.99
ISBN: 9780062414168
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Greenwillow Books - April 7th, 2020

Checked By Cynthia Kadohata, Maurizio Zorat (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Cynthia Kadohata, Maurizio Zorat (Illustrator)
$9.99
ISBN: 9781481446624
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Atheneum Books for Young Readers - February 12th, 2019

The Way to Bea By Kat Yeh Cover Image
By Kat Yeh
$7.99
Currently Unavailable.
ISBN: 9780316236690
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - September 18th, 2018

Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire By Susan Tan, Dana Wulfekotte (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Susan Tan, Dana Wulfekotte (Illustrator)
$8.99
ISBN: 9781250144003
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Square Fish - March 27th, 2018

Dragon Hoops By Gene Luen Yang Cover Image
$29.99
ISBN: 9781626720794
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: First Second - March 17th, 2020

Stargazing By Jen Wang, Jen Wang (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Jen Wang, Jen Wang (Illustrator)
$12.99
ISBN: 9781250183880
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: First Second - September 10th, 2019

The Complete Chi's Sweet Home Box Set By Konami Kanata Cover Image
$109.80
ISBN: 9781949980387
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Vertical Comics - August 25th, 2020

Dragonwings: A Newbery Honor Award Winner (Golden Mountain Chronicles) By Laurence Yep Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9780064400855
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: HarperCollins - January 23rd, 2001

A Single Shard: A Newbery Award Winner By Linda Sue Park Cover Image
$10.99
ISBN: 9780547534268
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Clarion Books - January 10th, 2011

The Kite Fighters By Linda Sue Park Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9780547328638
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Clarion Books - June 7th, 2010

Prairie Lotus By Linda Sue Park Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9781328781505
Availability: At Our Partner Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 2 to 5 Days
Published: Clarion Books - March 3rd, 2020