AAPI Picture Book Recommendations from the Teen Reading Ambassadors

written by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Jason Chin
Ages 5–8
Recommended by Jamilee C., Macomb’s Bridge Library

Everyone is unique—we all have different cultures that identify who we are. Food from our culture is something that we hold dear to our hearts. What's your favorite cultural dish? In this book we dive deep into the importance of our heritage and the story behind it. We shouldn't be ashamed of our culture and instead maybe learn how to embrace it. The main character is a young girl who is riding in a car with her parents when her parents pull off by a ditch near the road. They find watercress that’s covered with dirt and a tiny snail. The narrator finds it embarrassing as she tries to hide anytime a vehicle passes by. She would instead like to have store-bought goods. Her mom then shares the story about her younger brother who was very badly affected from the famine that was happening back in China, which shows the narrator how she should appreciate the watercress and be up to trying new things. We shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, so let's dive deep into this book and the uniqueness of one's culture!

written by Shelly Anand and illustrated by Nabi H. Ali
Ages 5–8
Recommended by Jalonda F., Harlem Library

Laxmi’s Mooch is a book about body positivity. It teaches children that body hair is a normal thing that they should not be ashamed of—especially young girls. It encourages self-love and acceptance of oneself. The book tells the story of a young girl named Laxmi who had become self-conscious about her mooch (which is Hindi for mustache) after her friends pointed it out. When she brought the issue to her parents, they handled it very maturely. Instead of making it out to be a negative issue, they provided her with examples of positive female role models with facial hair, such as the famous icon Frida Kahlo, to encourage her to become more accepting of her body hair. Laxmi learns to accept and appreciate her mooch and other body hair. She goes on to share this appreciation with her friends and classmates who also welcome and accept body hair. Laxmi's Mooch does a fantastic job of teaching acceptance of one's physical characteristics, as well as representing different cultures by including Hindi words throughout the book and a range of diversity seen through the characters. It creates a very loving and playful setting that children can enjoy and connect with. 

Also recommended by Jeba A., Parkchester Library

The book Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand is a mirror picture book about an American Indian girl who got sarcastic comments based on her body hair and mustache. The message of this story is we need to accept and feel happy about the way we look. I recommend this book because it also shows how it is normal to have body hair for girls. It's not something I need to feel insecure about. Having a unibrow is unique and everyone has a mustache. We need to acknowledge in our society that having hair on our body is natural and not shameful. Many girls try to shave their body hair or to cover it by wearing long clothes just to avoid what others say about them. Don’t care about what others say about you. Just create a positive mindset—be yourself and be happy! I recommend this book to almost every kid who comes into my library and I hope you read it!

written by Lyla Lee and illustrated by Dung Ho
Ages 7–8
Recommended by Lina L., Bloomingdale Library

Mindy Kim really wants a puppy. She just turned eight years old and thinks she is responsible enough to deserve one. Surprisingly, her dad decides to give her a very cute puppy, and she names him Theodore. But she realizes that taking care of a puppy requires a lot of hard work such as bathing the puppy, house training it, and teaching him how to walk on a leash. She does all of this to prove to her father that she is responsible and capable enough to have her own puppy. Do you think you could take care of a puppy?
 

written by Livia Blackburne and illustrated by Julia Kuo
Ages 5–8
Recommended by Arlin R., Bronx Library Center

In this book it talks about a young girl moving from Taiwan to San Diego with her mama and baba. However Popo, who is her grandmother, doesn't go to San Diego with her. They still talk as often as possible and during their talks they sing their song, and the girl tells Popo every adventure she has and everything new she is learning. For example, she is learning a new language, making new friends, and writing in both her new language and her native language. Then the girl goes to visit her Popo, but something feels off. She learns that she is ill and sings their song and prays for her Popo. The author herself states, "Although I Dream of Popo is fiction, I drew deeply from my own life to write it."

written by Ilima Loomis and illustrated by Kenard Pak
Ages 5–8
Recommended by Reign H., Francis Martin Library

Learning about different cultures is important, because we can learn about different traditions. For example, what food people eat in different cultures, what clothing they wear, and what music they enjoy listening to. In the book 'Ohana Means Family you will read about a family preparing a dinner to celebrate for a traditional luau. A traditional luau is a Hawaiian party or feast that usually includes dancing and singing. After reading this book ask yourself the following questions: How does “a traditional luau” compare to a family tradition or celebration your family enjoys doing? Why is your family important to you?

by Melissa Iwai 
Ages 6–8
Recommended by Kelechi A., Woodstock Library

The story takes us into the home of a young girl and her grandma. As you can see from the title, our main character, Lili, loves dumplings and when her grandma asks her to help make them, she is ecstatic. Her grandma then decides to teach her how to make the dumplings step-by-step and give Lili the secret formula. The author shows us a family dynamic between granddaughter and grandmother that warms the hearts of the readers. However, the main character has an issue when there’s no more cabbage to make dumplings. She goes around the community asking people for extra food, and through this we see a sense of a strong community within the place that she lives. By the end of the book she’s reunited with all the people in her community and they’re sharing food. This book is targeted towards children 6-8, and it stresses the importance of community and family throughout the book.

Also recommended by Valentina S., Seward Park Library

Lili is a little girl who loves to make baos with her Grandma, Nai Nai. When Lili and Nai Nai are ready to put the baos to steam, Nai Nai realizes there's no cabbage leaves in order to cook the baos. Nai Nai sends Lili to go get cabbage from her neighbor. When Lili leaves the apartment to go to the neighbor's house she realizes the elevator is out of service and must go up the stairs. She embarks on an adventure from apartment to apartment of her grandmother’s friends in order to find cabbage for her baos and help the other grandmas find their missing ingredients to their traditional cultural dishes. At the end all the other grandmothers gather for a picnic and share their stories and their country’s version of a dumpling.
 

written by Nabela Noor and illustrated by Nabi H. Ali
Ages 5–8
Recommended by Sakia T., Stapleton Library

Beautifully Me by Naela Noor is a wonderful book about self-love and embracing your true self. In this book, the main character Zubi is excited about her first day of school. While getting ready, Zubi overhears conversations from her own family about their negative view on being a bigger size. Words such as these are hard for little Zubi to hear. Zubi does not understand why looking a little bigger is a bad thing. How come whenever someone talks about being large, it’s a bad thing? Why can’t it be a good thing? How does Zubi, a cheerful and bright girl, deal with these issues and confront her loved ones?

written by Hena Khan and illustrated by Saffa Khan
Ages 5–7
Recommended by Dewou M., Kingsbridge Library

“Inshallah” is a phrase that has many meanings tied to it: to have faith in everything you do, to carry love in your heart everywhere you go, to learn how to forgive those who have hurt you, and to apologize to those you have hurt. These are all things that are encouraged by Like the Moon Loves the Sky, a book inspired by the Qur’an. Following a girl as she grows up in a life with the supportive care of her mother, this book teaches multiple lessons about what it means to wonder and to give back to the world. With soft tones and beautifully detailed scenery that create a warm and inviting atmosphere, we learn about the importance of gratitude towards our friends and family. 

written by Cindy Trumbore and illustrated by Susan L. Roth 
Ages 6–8
Recommended by Yuneydy P., Bronx Library Center

In this amazing book highlighting the Kamehameha butterfly, we learn the importance of this insect and how people united to protect it from being gone forever. In the state of Hawai'i, a special orange, black, and white butterfly was named the Kamehameha Butterfly after the king who brought all of Hawai'i's islands together. The Project Pulelehua is brought to the government of Hawai'i by kids JUST LIKE YOU, who realized how the very important butterflies were slowly dying. Not only does this book help learn the beauty and rarity of butterflies, but highlights what coming together, with the hopes of saving an amazing history, truly means. Losing the Kamehameha meant losing the unity of the Hawai'i islands. The butterfly of Hawai'i is a symbol that the islands come together to help save and prosper, a true meaning of unity and care.