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In our ever more connected world, it benefits everyone to have more empathy and understanding of how people of different backgrounds and experiences live. One of the ways to teach our children about people who are different from them is through reading books and stories written by and featuring diverse people like Asian authors. After all, reading is literally seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.
Exposing our children to books by Asian authors is important because not only do diverse stories enrich our minds, reading Asian characters written by actual Asians is vital to giving voice to the Asian experience. Plus, Asian authors remind us that Asians can also write books and be creative. We are not boxed into mouldering stereotypes locked into what society expects of us.
“Diversity had to be for every kid,” children’s author Ellen Oh told the Washington Post. “Otherwise we will never learn empathy, and we will never grow.”
In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, here are some of the best children books and graphic novels by Asian and Asian American authors.
Picture books for young children by Asian authors
Pediatrician Betty Choi, M.D., wrote about the scarcity of Asian characters in children's books. “…only 8.7% of children’s books published in the United States feature Asian main characters. In contrast, books with non-Asians and anthropomorphic animals are far more accessible,” Choi wrote on her blog. As a result, the homeschooling mom of two compiled a kids’ book list of 100 picture books featuring Asian characters by Asian authors.
While we are not quite that ambitious, here are some picture books younger kids may enjoy.
1) The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho, illustrated by Jess X. Snow
In this picture book, Dayeon, a Korean girl, wants to be a haenyeo (older Korean women who free dive for abalone and other sea treasures) like her grandmother. The story follows Dayeon’s training, her fears, and her relationship with her grandmother.
2) The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Khoa Le
The story is drawn from author Kao Kalia Yang’s personal experiences as a child and Hmong refugee, connecting Kalia’s story growing up in the U.S. with her grandmother’s. Kalia wants braces to have a better smile and her grandmother — who only has one tooth — helps her discover where true beauty lies.
3) Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai, illustrated by Kerascoët
Inspired by Nobel Peace Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author Malala Yousafzai’s own childhood in Pakistan, this picture book tells Yousafzai’s story for a young audience. The story starts with Malala wishing for a magic pencil to make everyone happy, but as Malala grows older, she realizes there are bigger things in the world that need fixing.
Middle-grade and young adult books by Asian authors
For older kids who want more complex storylines and emotions, check out these three middle-grade and young adult books.
4) Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai, illustrated by Remy Lai
This hilarious middle-grade novel chronicles 11-year-old Jingwen’s immigration experience in the U.S. Jingwen doesn’t speak English and is often stuck taking care of his annoying little brother. To distract himself, Jingwen and his brother start making all the cakes his father dreamed of making before he died unexpectedly. There’s only one problem: his mom won’t let him use the oven when she’s at work.
5) That Thing We Call a Heart by Sheba Karim
This fresh young adult novel is funny and explores friendship, romance, and familial love. Agnostic Shabnam Qureshi explores her identity one summer as she reconnects with punk Muslim childhood friend Farah and falls in love with Jamie, a white boy home from college.
6) You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins
This award-winning young adult novel spans three generations of Indian American women by following an immigrant family in alternating teen voices. Mitali Perkins discusses interracial romance, Indian identity, loss, and activism in her beautifully relatable story.
Graphic novels by Asian authors
Not all kids like reading books with a lot of words — and we’re here to help with a few amazing graphic novels.
7) Blame This on the Boogie by Rina Ayuyang
This graphic novel follows the true adventures of Filipino American Rina Ayuyang and how Hollywood musicals got her through school, depression, and parenthood. Ayuyang explores themes of how movies can shape and transform a person, telling her deeply personal stories about how she found her place in the world.
8) Vietnamerica by G. B. Tran
“Vietnamerica” depicts the true family history of G.B. Tran as Tran goes back to Vietnam to discover what his grandparents and parents went through prior to escaping to America. Tran delves into the family stories that were lost within a generation as his parents and grandparents struggled to adapt to America and forget the painful past.
9) Monstress by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
This art-deco influenced steampunk graphic novel is set in an alternate version of 1900’s Asia. The story follows a teenage girl trying to survive a war — all while being psychically linked to a powerful monster. There is a decent amount of gore, violence, and magic. Definitely for older, more mature kids.
