Asian Pacific American Heritage Books for Kids
This list was created by Seattle Public Library Children's Services Librarians, in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. (Updated April 2021)
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Priya Dreams of Marigolds & Masala
Priya lives in the United States and her family is from India. She feels the magic of the place that her family comes from through her Babi Ba’s colorful descriptions of India – from the warm smell of spices to the swish-swish sound of a rustling sari. Together, Priya and Babi Ba make their heritage live on through the traditions that they infuse into their everyday lives. Priya Dreams of Marigolds & Masala is a celebration of the threads that connect each of us to our heritage, the power of sharing our traditions with others, and the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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The Serpent's Secret
Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series #1: On the morning of her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala is just a regular sixth grader living in Parsippany, New Jersey... until her parents mysteriously vanish and a drooling rakkhosh demon slams through her kitchen, determined to eat her alive. Turns out there might be some truth to her parents' fantastical stories-like how Kiranmala is a real Indian princess and how she comes from a secret place not of this world.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Shake A Leg
A unique picture book collaboration about having fun, sharing culture, and the power of story and dance. From pizza shop to bora ground, here is a joyous celebration of food, dance, and cultural understanding. When three young boys go to a pizza parlor and meet an Aboriginal chef who can speak Italian and make a deadly pizza, they're in for a surprise!
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Shapes of Australia
From boulders to bee hives, from mountains to coral, Bronwyn Bancroft explores the shapes that form the Australian landscape. In Shapes of Australia we are introduced to ways of thinking about how shapes are represented in nature.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Ten Cents A Pound
A young girl is torn by her desire to stay home with her family and the familiarity of their village, and her desire to go to school and discover the world beyond the mountains that surround them. Every time the girl insists that she will stay, her mother repeats that she must go—that there is more to life than labor in the coffee fields. Their loving exchange reveals the struggles and sacrifices that they will both have to make for the sake of the young girl’s future. The sweet, simple text captures a mother’s love and her wish for a life of opportunity for her daughter.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Thank You, Miyuki
Miyuki's curiosity is piqued by her grandfather's morning meditation routine, and she is eager to learn this new skill. Her wise and patient grandfather first takes her on a walk in the garden. When do we start to meditate? she asks repeatedly. Grandfather enjoys the warm sun and stops to smell a rose, inviting Miyuki to join him. Their walk in the garden, filled with many tender moments, heightens their gratitude for each other and for the world around them. Miyuki comes to understand that in the small acts of mindfulness throughout her day, she learned how to meditate.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Tūtū Makes A Lei
Tutu Makes a Lei is an adorable story about a sweet old lady with a flourishing garden. She wakes up in the morning to make a special lei for her dear friend with the flowers and plants she has grown. Her bird friends descend from the sky to help Tutu make her lei. When its completed, the birds deliver the lei to Tutu’s friend to celebrate her birthday. Tutu Makes a Lei shows us that the best gifts are the ones that come from the heart. Even a beautifully simple lei can be a touching present and a wonderful way to express your Aloha. Children will love the easy-to-follow rhyming scheme and beautiful artwork with bright and vibrant colors.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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The Two-hearted Numbat
Numbat has two hearts—one made of stone and one made of feather. His stone heart makes him strong and powerful, while his feather heart makes him soft and gentle. When having more than one heart becomes troublesome for him, Numbat feels he must choose which one to keep. After evaluating the pros and cons of each heart, Numbat discovers that the best option is to keep both hearts so that he will be both kind and strong.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Wandihnu and the Old Dugong
Wandihnu has lived her whole life in the city. One day her mother tells her that she is going on a holiday to visit her aka (grandmother) on Badu Island in the Torres Strait. It is time for Wandihnu to learn about her family who come from this faraway island off the north coast of Australia. That night, as Wandihnu slowly drifts off to sleep, she begins to dream about her journey, about her aka, and about a very special friend.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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