Over the past two months, we have celebrated Women’s History Month and Black History Month, sharing some children’s reading recommendations for both. This month, we are celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. Did you know that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the two fastest-growing populations in the US?
About Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia:
- New Guinea
- New Caledonia
- Vanuatu
- Fiji
- Solomon Islands
Micronesia:
- Marianas
- Guam
- Wake Island
- Palau
- Marshall Islands
- Kiribati
- Nauru
- The Federated States of Micronesia
Polynesia:
- New Zealand
- Hawaiian Islands
- Rotuma
- Midway Islands
- Samoa
- American Samoa
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Cook Islands
- French Polynesia
- Easter Island
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month Reading Recommendations
Ten Blocks to the Big Wok: A Chinatown Counting Book
By Ying-Hwa Hu
This sweet story about a girl, her uncle, and a little cat they meet on the way accomplishes multiple fun and useful aims: It’s a fully bilingual counting book that teaches readers the numbers one through ten in both simplified Mandarin and English. It provides a fun tour of a typical Chinatown–a beloved neighborhood in many cities around the world. Children will enjoy spotting the kitten in every illustration as it trails Mia and Uncle Eddie through the streets. And with each item that Mia encounters on her walk, the book introduces some fascinating new aspect of Chinese culture or myth, as explained in the friendly backmatter. Join Mia and Uncle Eddie as they wander Ten Blocks to the Big Wok!
The ABCs of Asian American History: A Celebration from A to Z of All Asian Americans, from Bangladeshi Americans to Vietnamese Americans
By Renee Macalino Rutledge
Illustrated by Lauren Akazawa Mendez
Perfect for kids ages five and up, this book explores Asian Americans in the US cultural landscape, from the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal to the first Indian American woman to travel to space, as well as the names of famous Asian American inventors, artists, and political leaders. Kids will also learn about traditions, from Diwali to Chinese New Year; music and fashion styles, from the tabla to the sari; and signature dishes, like laksa and pho, giving greater visibility to Asian Americans for the youngest of learners.
Tala Learns to Siva
By Kealani Netane
Tala wishes that she could dance the traditional Samoan dance, the taualuga, just like her Aunty Sina. But Tala’s legs are too bouncy, her arms are too stiff, and she doesn’t have Aunty’s ‘glow’ when she dances. When Tala prepares to perform at her Grandma’s birthday, she freezes on the stage. Will she find the strength and inspiration to help her dance? Newcomer Kealani Netane crafts a heartwarming story about finding your inner strength through the love and guidance of your family.
