Best Books for Kids 2022

18 Books Found

Filtered by 'AAPI Experiences'
  • The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky

    A stunning wordless picture book in deep blue watercolor depicts a summer exploration through forest, lake, and field. A calming escape from the city that children and their caregivers can make their own with every read.

    Cover of The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky
  • A Duet for Home

    After the unexpected death of her father, June's family is evicted and lands in Huey House shelter. June is befriended by Tyrell and the other residents and begins to find herself again. When the shelter is threatened, June and her friends must find a way to save it.

    Cover of A Duet for Home
  • The Flamingo

    A visit to Lao Lao and a found feather launch a universal story about longing, family connection, and legacy. Sparse text and evocative illustrations create space for an individual experience in fantasy storytelling that readers can make their own.

    Cover of The Flamingo
  • Gibberish

    Dat struggles to adjust on his first day of school in a new country. Imaginative illustrations empathetically portray the experience of learning a new language and feeling out of place in unfamiliar surroundings.

    Cover of Gibberish
  • Gigi and Ojiji

    Gigi is thrilled that her grandfather is coming to live with her! But when Ojiji arrives from Japan, Gigi discovers that change can be both exciting and difficult.

    Cover of Gigi and Ojiji
  • In the Beautiful Country

    In this lyrical novel in verse, Taiwanese-born Ai Shi becomes Anna when she immigrates to "the beautiful country." California brings unexpected difficulties: bullying, money problems, and vandalization of her family's restaurant. Can they overcome their troubles and find home?

    Cover of In the Beautiful Country
  • Kunoichi Bunny

    Illustrated by Brayden Sato | On an outing with her dad, Saya secretly deploys her lovable stuffed bunny to keep their neighbors safe from danger. This spunky, almost-wordless graphic picture book will have readers cheering on an unassuming pair of heroes.

    Cover of Kunoichi Bunny
  • The Last Mapmaker

    Determined to plot her own destiny, mapmaker apprentice Sai sets sail aboard a ship bound for the mythical Sunderlands. As the ship enters uncharted territory, rumored to be home to a fierce dragon and untold riches, Sai finds herself in deeper waters than she'd anticipated.

    Cover of The Last Mapmaker
  • Maizy Chen's Last Chance

    Maizy is dreading summer in Last Chance, Minnesota, where she'll help care for her ailing opa. But soon, Maizy is captivated by the history of her grandparents' restaurant, her family story, and how these narratives intertwine with the history of Chinese immigrants in America.

    Cover of Maizy Chen's Last Chance
  • Morning Sun in Wuhan

    With her father working around the clock at a hospital, Mei uses her love of cooking and computer games to help her community band together during the chaotic first weeks of the pandemic in Wuhan.

    Cover of Morning Sun in Wuhan
  • My Paati's Saris

    Illustrated by Art Twink | In vibrant illustrations and joyful text, a young child helps their paati (the Tamil word for grandmother) get ready for a night of festivities while admiring and finding refuge in all the beautiful textures and patterns of her many colorful saris.

    Cover of My Paati's Saris
  • The Nguyen Kids: The Secret of the Jade Bangle

    Illustrated by Clayton Nguyen | Through the magic of a gifted jade bangle, the spirit of Anne's late Grandma Nội materializes to help her navigate grief, explore her Vietnamese cultural identity, and confront the racism she experiences in ballet class.

    Cover of The Nguyen Kids: The Secret of the Jade Bangle
  • Seen and Unseen

    Illustrated by Lauren Tamaki | An insightful look at the unjust internment of Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II through the lenses of three important photographers. | Full title: Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams's Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration

    Cover of Seen and Unseen
  • Shapes, Lines, and Light: My Grandfather's American Journey

    An honest yet concise and sentimental account of the life of World Trade Center architect Minoru Yamasaki. Personal touches abound in this biography authored and illustrated by his artist granddaughter.

    Cover of Shapes, Lines, and Light: My Grandfather's American Journey
  • Ten Blocks to the Big Wok: A Chinatown Counting Book

    Young Mia and Uncle Eddy stroll through Chinatown counting all the enriching cultural items in their community that embody a Chinese American experience. Told in Mandarin and English with soft watercolor illustrations, this joyous story will leave readers hungry for some dim sum!

    Cover of Ten Blocks to the Big Wok: A Chinatown Counting Book
  • Troublemaker

    This fast-paced, action-packed historical fiction follows Jordan as he navigates the streets of LA to his father's store on the first night of the 1992 riots sparked by the brutal police beating of Rodney King.

    Cover of Troublemaker
  • The Tryout

    Illustrated by Joanna Cacao | Struggling to fit in as one of the few Asian American kids in her Texas town, Christina jumps at the opportunity to try out for the cheerleading squad with her best friend, Megan. If Christina makes it, she would finally belong... right?

    Cover of The Tryout
  • Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor

    When Chinese American Muslim Zack meets the new kid at school, his world is turned upside down. First, an ancient Chinese emperor attempts to take over Zack’s body. Then, his mom is abducted. AR gaming, myth, and history combine as Zack embarks on an epic adventure across China.

    Cover of Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor