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Asian Americans in Kidlit - A Conversation about Representation and Recommendations

ARAM KIM

@aramkim

MELISSA IWAI

@meliwai

KARUNA RIAZI

@KarunaRiazi

EMILY X.R. PAM

@exrpan

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What our Students are Saying…

  • “The first time I read a book about an Asian character was in third grade and that was because I was seeking it out.” - Prishaa
  • “People just judge Asian people, assuming they look the same and their culture are the same, but there’s actually very big differences.” - Chelsey
  • “I notice illustrations where [characters] are made to look extra white.” - Olivia
  • “Kids shouldn’t have to start reading books about Asian Americans until they have a teacher who happens to have it in their library.” - Prishaa
  • “I don’t just want to read books where a character is Asian and that’s THE MAIN THING about them. I want a story where like a South Asian girl has an adventure, too.”
  • “Everyone deserves to see themselves in a book.” - Perla

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Early Ed Titles

  • No Kimchi for Me by Aram Kim
  • Soup Day by Melissa Iwai
  • Under My Hijab by Hena Khan
  • A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
  • Thirty Minutes Over Oregon: A Japanese Pilot's World War II Story by Marc Tyler Nobleman
  • Let’s Go to the Hardware Store, Melissa Iwai
  • Good Night Engines, Melissa Iwai
  • Turtle Ship by Helena Ku Rhee
  • Meet Yasmin! (series) by Saadia Faruqi
  • A Pair of Twins by Kavitha Mandana
  • Cilla Lee Jenkins (series) by Susan Tan
  • Mystery Bottle by Kristen Balouch
  • Tree of Cranes and Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say
  • My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits
  • The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
  • The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin
  • Umbrella by Taro Yashima
  • Yoshi’s Feast by Kimiko Kajikawa

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Middle Grade Titles

  • The Gauntlet (series) by by Karuna Riazi
  • Front Desk by Kelly Yang
  • Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
  • Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh
  • Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
  • Hello Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
  • Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani
  • Amina’s Voice by Hena Kahn
  • Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
  • The Bridge Home by T.V. Padma
  • Chime in with your own favorites!
  • Click Here to Start

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YA Titles

  • The Gauntlet (series) by by Karuna Riazi
  • The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
  • Internment by Samira Ahmed
  • Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro
  • The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan
  • To All the Boys I've Loved Before (series) by Jenny Han
  • Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert
  • American Panda by Gloria Chao
  • Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
  • Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix by Julie C. Dao
  • Want, Ruse, Serpentine - 3 books by Cindy Pon
  • American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
  • Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
  • Boxers Saints by Gene Luen Yang

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Additional Notes/Resources