Asian Stories
Our collection brings together a rich tapestry of stories from Asian immigrant families hailing from countries like Korea, Japan, China, and India. These narratives vividly depict the vibrant cultural diversity these families bring to their communities. Skillfully blending evocative writing with striking imagery, these books invite readers on a journey to explore the beauty of heritage and traditions from these varied cultures. Each story is a celebration of the unique customs, values, and experiences of these families, highlighting how their distinct backgrounds contribute to a richer, more diverse community tapestry. This selection offers a window into the lives of Asian immigrants, showcasing the enduring strength and richness of their cultural legacies.
“The land flourished because it was fed from so many sources–because it was nourished by so many cultures and traditions and peoples.”
—Lyndon B. Johnson
PK-3
Your Name is a Song
Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
A girl, frustrated that nobody at school can say her name, refuses to go back until her mother explains the importance of people's names and likens their pronounciation to that of singing a song.
#Music #Diversity #African #Asian #AfricanAmerican #Latinix #MiddleEastern #Empowerment #Names
Prek-3
Grandfather's Journey
Say, Allen
Grandfather immigrated to American and sees new things he never had before. When mother grown up, they returned back to Japan and starts life there.
#Immigrant #JapaneseAmerican #Family #Love #Homecountry #Asian #Culture
K-2
The Royal Bee
Frances Park
Song-ho is determined to get an education even though his social class doesn't allow it.
#Classism #Korean #Asian #Biography #Education #Literacy #Hope #Perseverence
Nim and the War Effort
Milly Lee & Yangsook Choi
Based on the author's childhood memories, Nim's story celebrates the patriotism of Asian family members in embracing their new home and country and their efforts to maintain their cultural traditions.
#Patriotism #HistoricalFiction #AsianAmerican #Chinatown #Family #War #Community #Prejudice #Racism #PowerOfChildren #WWII #Culture
2-5
Coolies
Yin & Chris Soentpiet
Shek and his brother Little Wong move to California to build railroads and save enough money to have their mother and other brothers join. However, they are met with many challenges of racism and difficult work.
#HistoricalFiction #Chinese #Asian #AsianAmerican #Perseverence #Prejudice #Racism #Railroads #1800s #Family
Prek-3
The Ugly Vegetables
Grace Lin
A young Chinese-American girl feels jealous that her neighbor's gardens are filled with flowers while her's is filled with ugly vegetables.
#Chinese #ChineseAmerican #Asian #AsianAmerican #Family #Gardening #Food
Prek-3
Apple Pie on 4th of July
Janet S. Wong & Margaret Chodos-Irvine
A Chinese-American girl tries to tell her parents that the 4th of July is no time for Chinese food.
#Chinese #ChineseAmerican #AsianAmerican #Family #Food #Holiday #Patriotism #Immigration #Assimilation #
Prek-3
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners
Joanna Ho & Dung Ho
Upon realizing her eyes look different than her peers, a young girl sees the beauty in her eyes through her mother and grandmother.
#Family #SelfEsteem#Confidence #SelfAffirmation #StrongFemales #Gender #BodyPositivity #Asian #AsianAmerican #Chinese #ChineseAmerican
K-3
The Most Beautiful Thing
Kao Kalia Yang & Khoa Le
A girl struggling with her family's little money grows to appreciate the most important things in life through her grandmother's stories.
#Hmong #Family #Poverty #Asian #AsianAmerican #Immigration #SocialClass
K-4
My Footprints
Bao Phi & Basia Tran
Thuy feels doubly different when she is bullied for being Viatnamese American and having two moms. She observes the different footprints in the snow and wonders what it would feel like to be those creatures.
#Bullying #Viatnamese #ViatnameseAmerican #Asian #AsianAmerican #DifferentFamilies #TwoMoms #LGBTQFamilies #Feelings #Family #Brave #Animals #SelfAcceptance #SelfEsteem #Racism #Gender
Prek-3
Dumpling Dreams
Carrie Clickard & Katy Wu
This biography follows the story of cookbook author and TV show host Joyce Chen as she learns to cook in China and brings that food to the US.
#Biography #Chinese #ChineseAmerican #Asian #AsianAmerican #Food #Cooking #Perseverence #
3-7
Ruby's Wish
Shirin Yim Bridges & Sophie Blackall
