The Best AAPI Books for Young Readers, Teens, and College Students

Every May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to uplift the voices, histories, and cultures of AAPI communities across the U.S. And what better way to celebrate than with a stack of incredible reads? From laugh-out-loud picture books to moving memoirs, this ultimate book list has something for every age group and classroom.

Whether you teach preschoolers or college students, these AAPI books will bring fresh perspectives, spark meaningful conversations, and help students see themselves and each other reflected in the pages they read. You’ll find AAPI children’s books full of heart and humor, Asian American books that dive into history and identity, and unforgettable books about diversity that shine a light on the many experiences within the AAPI community.

For educators looking to build inclusive classroom libraries or add new titles to their curriculum, this list is your go-to resource for AAPI Heritage Month (and beyond!). Featuring AAPI authors, stories about Asian American history, and tales rooted in heritage, family, resilience, and joy, these books are perfect for any lesson plan or read-aloud moment. 

Let’s make Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month a time of exploration, empathy, and education, one amazing book at a time.

Picture Books:

Little Bird Laila by Kelly Yang

Mai's Áo Dài by Thai Nguyen and Monique Truong

Smiling Eyes by Linda Sue Park

Waiting for Hanami by J.P. Takahashi

Binna's Dalgona by Sojung Kim-McCarthy

Elementary School:

The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon by Grace Lin

Outsider Kids by Betty C. Tang

Anika and the Great Dog Rescue by Sayantani DasGupta

How to Draw a Secret by Cindy Chang

Don't Cause Trouble by Arree Chung

Middle School:

Dreamslinger by Graci Kim

The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu

Rainbow Fair by Diana Ma

The Best Worst Summer of Esme Sun by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

 On Thin Ice by Jessica Kim

Young Adult:

They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran

The Floating World by Axie Oh

On Again, Awkward Again by Erin Entrada Kelly and Kwame Mbalia

Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee

Never Thought I’d End Up Here by Ann Liang

The Singular Life of Aria Patel by Samira Ahmed

Fiction:

The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei

Homeseeking by Karissa Chen

We Do Not Part by Han Kang

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan

History:

Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America by Michael Luo

The Six: The Untold Story of the Titanic's Chinese Survivors by Steven Schwankert

Kuleana: A Story of Family, Land, and Legacy in Old Hawai'i by Sara Kehaulani Goo

Voice for the Voiceless: Over Seven Decades of Struggle with China for My Land and My People by Dalai Lama

The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World by William Dalrymple

Biography & Autobiography:

Walk Like a Girl: A Memoir by Prabal Gurung

Boat Baby: A Memoir by Vicky Nguyen

Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish

Love, Queenie: Merle Oberon, Hollywood's First South Asian Star by Mayukh Sen

Sucker Punch: Essays by Scaachi Koul

Business & Self Help:

Big Asian Energy: An Unapologetic Guide for Breaking Barriers to Leadership and Success by John Wang

Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career by Lorraine K. Lee

Joy Prescriptions: How I Learned to Stop Chasing Perfection and Embrace Connection by Tiffany Moon, MD

The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World's Most Coveted Microchip by Stephen Witt

The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life by Sahil Bloom

We hope this list sparked some inspiration to celebrate Asian American History Month with your students in a meaningful and memorable way. Including stories by and about Asian and Pacific Islanders isn’t just important for representation. It’s a powerful way to foster empathy, curiosity, and connection in the classroom.

Whether you’re adding a few picture books to your reading corner or building an entire unit around these voices, we’re cheering you on! If any of these titles caught your eye, you can request a quote to connect with one of our account managers.

This Asian American History Month, we encourage you to keep celebrating diverse voices, deepening classroom conversations, and building inclusive libraries for learners of all ages.