Asian Multicultural Children’s Books – Elementary School
Multicultural Children’s Books for ages 5 to 10, featuring Asian or Asian American children and families
Mama’s Saris
by Pooja Makhijani
On her 7th birthday a young girl finally gets to wear one of her mother’s saris. Feeling very grown-up and beautiful, she is overjoyed to look just like her mother on her special day. The lush, detailed acrylic paintings complement the simple storyline. Mama’s Saris is a sweet book about growing up, family relationships and traditions. Includes a glossary of Hindi words.
More books about mothers: 14 Multicultural Children’s Books about Mothers
My Name Is Yoon
by Helen Recorvits
Recently arrived from Korea, Yoon’s father wants to teach her how to write her name in English. Yoon doesn’t like how alone the letters of her name stand in English, which is just how she feels in America. After trying out several new names she comes to accept the different writing, knowing that her name will always mean “shining wisdom”. Award-winning My name is Yoon is a heartfelt story about a little girl finding her place in a new country, complemented by rich, almost surrealistic paintings.
From the same series: Yoon and the Jade Bracelet // Yoon and the Christmas Mitten
More books about immigration: 30 Multicultural Children’s Books about Immigration
King for a Day
by Rukhsana Khan
The Pakistani spring festival Basant has arrived, and Malik is getting ready for the traditional battle of kites. In his wheelchair, he guides his kite through fierce battles and takes down all of the other kites, including the one of his bully neighbour. When the bully tries to take a kite from a little girl, Malik finds a generous way to help her. With stunning mixed-media collages, King for a Day is a colourful book about bullying, courage and generosity.
More books about bullying: 20 Multicultural Children’s Books about Bullying
Dara’s Clever Trap: A Story from Cambodia
by Liz Flanagan
Cambodian Princess Dara is an architect known for her brains. When she falls in love with another architect and her jealous ministers try to frame him, she uses her engineering skills to create a mechanical trap that saves the day. Dara’s Clever Trap is an easy-to-read early chapter book that shows that princesses are very well capable of saving themselves (and their princes for that matter!).
More STEM/STEAM books: 50+ Multicultural STEAM Books for Children
More princess books: 14 Multicultural Children’s Books About Spunky Princesses
Katie Woo Loves School
by Fran Manushkin
For Katie Woo, school is just one big adventure after another. Her teacher, Miss Winkle, makes every day special, from taking the class on fun field trips to giving them exciting special projects. Katie Woo Loves School is a compilation of four early chapter books from the Katie Woo series: Make-Believe Class // Katie Finds a Job // Who Needs Glasses? // Moo, Katie Woo!
More books series: 40+ Multicultural Book Series for Girls & Boys
The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq
by Jeanette Winter
“In the Koran, the first thing God said to Muhammad was ‘Read.’” When war comes to Iraq, librarian Alia Muhammad Baker takes matters into her own hands to protect the books from being destroyed. Every day she packs her car with books and takes them home, thus saving 70% of the 30,000 books in her library. The Librarian of Basra is a true story about an inspiring woman’s love of literature and respect for knowledge. It was challenged for ‘promoting a non-Christian religion’ and ‘being too violent for young readers’.
More challenged/banned books: 15 Must-Read Banned/Challenged Multicultural Children’s Books
More books about libraries and reading: 15 Multicultural Children’s Books celebrating Books & Reading
Goldfish and Chrysanthemums
by Andrea Cheng
When Nancy sees how saddened her grandmother is by the news of her childhood home being torn down, she comes up with a beautiful idea: She recreates grandmother’s childhood garden. Goldfish and Chrysanthemums is a gentle story about strong intergenerational family bonds. The rich colours of the oil paintings give an added sense of warmth.
More books about grandparents: 40+ Multicultural Children’s Books about Grandparents
Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words
by Karen Leggett Abouraya
“One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world”. Warrior with Words tells the inspiring story of a brave Pakistani girl who stands up for every child’s right to education. On her 16th birthday – nine months after she was shot by Taliban gunman – Malala Youzafzai spoke at the United Nations. Beautifully illustrated, this is an accessible and empowering book that teaches children about terrorism, courage and perseverance. Every child should read Malala’s story!
More books set in Pakistan: 15 Children’s Books set in Pakistan
More books about strong girls: 32 Multicultural Picture Books About Strong Female Role Models
Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines
by Jeanne Walker Harvey
Bestselling Maya Lin tells the story of the bold artist-architect who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Starting with her childhood, young readers will learn that Maya loved exploring the forest in her backyard and building tiny towns out of paper and scraps. The daughter of a clay artist and a poet grew up with art and went from her first experiments with light and lines to nationwide success.
More books about female artists: 40 Multicultural Children’s Books About Fabulous Female Artists
The Year of the Book
by Andrea Cheng
Part of the Anna Wong series, The Year of the Book is an early chapter book about the ups and downs of friendships. 4th grader Anna Wang doesn’t know where she fits in, since her best friend Laura now spends more time with other girls. Anna finds comfort in her books but also realises that they cannot substitute friends. She learns what it takes to make friends and what it means to be one.
From the same series: The Year of the Baby // The Year of the Fortune Cookie // The Year of the Three Sisters
Ruby Lu, Brave and True
by Lenore Look
Ruby Lu loves being Ruby Lu! Well, most of the time… for example when she is the star of her own backyard magic show, gives talks at assembly or rides the bus all the way to Chinatown. But she finds it hard to be Ruby Lu when she has to go to Chinese school or when her little brother gives her hassles. Ruby Lu Brave and True is the first in a series of early chapter books about the adventures of an energetic young Asian American girl.
From the same series: Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything // Ruby Lu, Star of the Show
More books series: 40+ Multicultural Book Series for Girls & Boys
The Magic Brush
by Kat Yeh
The Magic Brush is a family story, a magical adventure, and an introduction to Chinese characters all at once. A grandfather teaches a young girl Chinese character drawing by incorporating the characters into fantasy stories. When he passes away, Jasmine continues the magic with her baby brother. Beautiful traditional cut-paper illustrations match the heartwarming storyline.
More Asian and Asian American books: 30 Asian & Asian American Children’s Books for ages 0 to 18
Apple Pie Fourth of July
by Janet S. Wong
A young Asian American girl struggles with the fact that her parents want to sell Chinese food on the 4th of July. She is convinced that nobody will want to eat Chinese food on an all-American holiday but learns a surprising lesson. Apple Pie 4th of July is a simple and charming story about cultural differences and a child’s fears of not fitting in.
Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush’s Incredible Journey
by Doug Kuntz
When an Iraqi family is forced to flee their home, they secretly take their beloved cat, Kunkush, with them. When they lose him in Greece, his family has to continue their journey, leaving broken-hearted. Greek aid workers find the cat later and mobilise a worldwide community on the internet and in the news media to find his family. Incredibly, they do find them and are able to reunite them with Kunkush. Lost and Found Cat is a remarkable and touching true story about kindness, empathy, community and hope.
More books about kindness & empathy: 19 Multicultural Children’s Books teaching Kindness & Empathy
More books about community: 12 Multicultural Children’s Books about the Power of Community
Here I Am
by Patti Kim
Newly arrived in America, a young boy is overwhelmed by the lights and noise of a busy city. He finds comfort in a red seed he brought from his faraway home country. When he loses the seed, the search for it eventually leads him to new friendship. Without words and in expressive cartoon style, Here I am depicts the confusion and sadness of an uprooted child. I can only recommend this meaningful book about loss, acceptance and growth.
More books about immigration: 30 Multicultural Children’s Books about Immigration
Turtle Bay
by Saviour Pirotta
Little Taro is fascinated by a seemingly odd old man who is always sweeping the sand with a broom and waiting. When the old man reveals that he is preparing for the arrival of sea turtles, little Taro and his sister help him. Based on a true story, Turtle Bay is a quietly beautiful book that teaches not only about sea turtles but also about friendship and empathy.
Grandfather Tang’s Story
by Ann Tompert
Drawing on the Chinese tradition of telling a story with tangrams, Grandfather Tang’s Story recounts the tale of two competitive foxes. Whenever a new character is introduced the tangram pieces are rearranged to reflect the change. A wonderfully warm and interactive book with whimsical pen-and-watercolour illustrations.
More books about grandparents: 40+ Multicultural Children’s Books about Grandparents
Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story
by Paula Yoo
Stunningly illustrated Shining Star tells the rags-to-riches story of Anna May Wong, a Chinese American Hollywood star in the 1930s and 1940s. Wong confronted racial discrimination and stereotypes and broke new ground for future generations of Asian American actors.
More books about racial discrimination: 37 Children’s Books to help talk about Racism & Discrimination
More books about female artists: 40 Multicultural Children’s Books About Fabulous Female Artists
Shark Lady
by Jess Keating
This beautiful new picture book tells the inspiring story of brave ichthyologist Eugenie Cark. After seeing sharks at the aquarium for the first time in the early 1930’s, 9-year-old Eugenie decided to dedicate her life to studying them and sharing their beauty with the world. She went on to become an internationally respected scientific authority as well as a fierce advocate for the misunderstood predators, earning her the nickname “Shark Lady.”
For a more in-depth review, go to: Multicultural Book of the Month: Shark Lady
More STEM/STEAM books: 50+ Multicultural STEAM Books for Children
Yuko-chan and the Daruma Doll
by Sunny Seki
Adventurous blind orphan Yuko-Chan crosses treacherous Japanese mountain passes to deliver food to hungry people. One day, she falls down a snowy cliff. As she waits for help, she notices that her frozen tea gourd always lands right-side-up. Inspired by this, she creates the famous Daruma doll, which rights itself when tipped. By selling the dolls, the villagers can earn a living and feed themselves. Award-winning bilingual Yuko-Chan and the Daruma Doll is a charming story about empathy, perseverance and resilience.
More books about blind children: 8 Multicultural Children’s Books Featuring Blind Children
The Runaway Wok: A Chinese New Year Tale
by Ying Chang Compestine
On Chinese New Year’s Eve, a poor family sends their son to trade their last eggs for rice. When Ming comes home with an old wok instead, his parents don’t know what to do. But then the wok rolls out of the house singing “Skippity-hoppity-ho! / To the rich man’s wife I go!” and returns with food, toys, and money. With repetitive text and colourful, detailed illustrations, The Runaway Wok teaches children about the importance of generosity.
More books about Chinese New Year: 16 Children’s Books about the Chinese New Year
A Piece of Home
by Jeri Watts
Hee Jun struggles to adjust when his family moves from Korea to West Virginia. He looks different to his classmates, and he can’t understand anything the teacher says. But slowly he learns English and begins to make friends. When he finds a flower from Korea, he brings it to his grandmother to plant in their new garden. With lyrical text and soft illustrations, A Piece of Home is a gentle story about starting over in an unfamiliar place.
More books about immigration: 30 Multicultural Picture Books about Immigration
Star of the Week: A Story of Love, Adoption, and Brownies with Sprinkles
by Darlene Friedman
This week Cassidy-Li will be Star of the Week at school! As she starts collecting photos for her poster she realizes she doesn’t have one of her birth parents. “I think about my birth parents a lot. Sometimes I miss them.” Cassidy-Li’s questions and longing go into a picture she draws for her poster as a way of including her birth parents. With realistic text and illustrations, Star of the Week is an adoption book that addresses the feeling of loss, too.
More books about adoption: 28 Multicultural Children’s Books about Adoption
Yoon and the Christmas Mitten
by Helen Recorvits
When Yoon brings home a Christmas book from school, she is disappointed at parents’ reaction. “We are not a Christmas family. We are Korean. Santa Claus is not our custom”, they tell her. Determined to convince them that they can be a Christmas family, Yoon comes up with some ideas of her own. With stunningly beautiful and expressive paintings, Yoon and the Christmas Mitten is a touching story about family and identity.
More books about Christmas: 24 Multicultural Children’s Books about Christmas
Lights, Camera, Diwali!
by Amita Roy Shah
Dia receives a camera as a Diwali gift and uses it to capture the holiday. She takes photos of her family decorating clay lamps, creating unique rangoli designs, preparing sweets called ladoos, setting off firecrackers and more. Lights, Camera, Diwali teaches children about the Festival of Lights from the perspective of a young girl.
More books about Diwali: Top 10 Diwali Children’s Books
Monsoon
by Uma Krishnaswami
On hot summer days in a bustling Indian city, everyone is waiting for the gift of rain. Told in rhythmic prose from the perspective of a young girl, Monsoon brings to life the scents, the sounds, the colours, and the breathless anticipation during the final days before the welcome arrival of the monsoon.
More books about rain: 15 Multicultural Children’s Books about Rain
The Peace Tree from Hiroshima
by Sandra Moore
Based on true events, award-winning The Peace Tree from Hiroshima is told by a little bonsai tree called Miyajima. The bonsai lived with the same family in the Japanese city of Hiroshima for more than 300 years before being donated to the National Arboretum in Washington DC in 1976 as a gesture of friendship between America and Japan.
More books about peace: 21 Multicultural Children’s Books about Peace
Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats
by Nina Simonds
Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats introduces some of the main Chinese festivals to young readers, such as the Dragon Boat festival and the Mid-Autumn festival. Each section begins with a one-page description of the history and customs of the festival and is followed by a four- to six-page story, and up to three recipes, crafts and games.
More books about Chinese festivals: 5 Children’s Books about the Dragon Boat Festival // 9 Children’s Books about the Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival //16 Children’s Books about the Chinese New Year
Suki’s Kimono
by Chieri Uegaki
Suki insists on wearing her favourite kimono on her first day back to school. It is a gift from her grandmother and holds special memories of her visit. When her classmates laugh at Suki, she wins them over by telling them about the street festival she attended with her grandmother and even doing an impromptu dance. Suki’s Kimono is a lighthearted story about being who you are, complemented by cheerful watercolour illustrations.
More books about school: 20 Multicultural Children’s Books about School
Four Feet, Two Sandals
by Karen Lynn Williams
Lina and Feroza both live in a refugee camp in Pakistan. When aid workers bring a donation of used clothing, they each find one perfectly fitting sandal of the same pair. Instead of fighting over the sandals, the girls decide to share them and develop a close friendship. Four Feet, Two Sandals is a touching book about two refugee children whose friendship helps them through the hardship of their lives as refugees.
More books about friendship: 18 Multicultural Children’s Books about Friendship
More books set in Pakistan: 15 Children’s Books set in Pakistan
I am Flippish!
by Leslie V. Ryan
Sean is sad and confused when one of his classmates says that his dad is not his dad because he has a different colour skin. The teacher instructs the children to ask their parents about their ancestry. Sean realises: “I Am Flippish!” and learns to take pride in his biracial Filipino/Irish heritage.
More books about multiracial families: 70+ Picture Books about Mixed Race Families
Rice Is Life
by Rita Golden Gelman
As in many other parts of the world, Rice is Life for the people of Bali. In verse and prose, this beautiful book shows how life in Bali revolves around the planting and harvesting of rice, culminating in a farmer and his family thanking Dewi Sri, the goddess of rice.
More books about food: 21 Multicultural Children’s Books: Growing Your Own Food
The Red Piano
by Andre Leblanc
Inspired by the amazing true story of international concert pianist Zhu Xiao-Mei, The Red Piano is an account of a gifted young girl in a time of historic turmoil. During China’s Cultural Revolution she is sent away from her family to a far-off labour camp where she is not allowed to play the piano. With the help of an elderly villager she finds a way to practice in secret – until, one night, she gets caught.
More books about amazing women: 26 Multicultural Picture Books about Inspiring Women & Girls
One Leaf Rides the Wind
by Celeste Mannis
“One leaf rides the wind. / Quick as I am, it’s quicker! / Just beyond my grasp.” In 11 haiku poems and with gentle paintings One Leaf Rides the Wind follows a young girl as she enjoys the beauty of a tranquil Japanese garden while having some counting fun.
More poetry books: 26 Multicultural Poetry Books for Children aged 0 to 10
Moon Watchers: Shirin’s Ramadan Miracle
by Reza Jalali
9-year-old Shirin follows the stages of the moon throughout Ramadan. She desperately wants to fast like the rest of her Persian American family, including her older brother, and is thrilled when she is finally allowed to do so for half a day. When she discovers her smug brother secretly eating, she decides not to expose Ali but help him instead, acting in the true spirit of Ramadan. Moon Watchers is a moving and authentic story about traditions and sibling rivalry.
More books about Ramadan: 21 Children’s Books about Ramadan and Eid
More books about siblings: 20 Multicultural Picture Books about new siblings
Ghosts for Breakfast
by Stanley Todd Terasaki
The troublesome triplets Mr Omi, Mr Omaye, and Mr Ono, ask the young narrator’s father for help: They have just seen dozens of ghosts in the fields! So father and son set out in the dark to hunt the ghosts. Set in a Japanese American farming community in the 1920s, Ghosts for Breakfast is a light-hearted father-and-son story about overcoming your fears and the effects of jumping to conclusions.
More books about fathers: 40 Multicultural Children’s Books about Fathers
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30 Asian & Asian American Children’s Books for ages 0 to 18:
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