Children: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month — a staff-created list from Naperville Public Library (2025)

24 items

• Aloha Everything

  George, Kaylin Melia,

  When Ano, a courageous young girl, begins to dance the hula--a storytelling dance form that carries the knowledge, history and folklore of the Hawaiian people, she comes to understand the true meaning of aloha.

• Dancing Hands

  a Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language

  Que, Joanna,

  Sam is fascinated by her new neighbors and their ability to talk with their hands, and when she meets Mai, she starts to learn Filipino sign language so they can communicate.

• Kailani's Gift

  Gilmore-Young, Dorina Lazo,

  A Filipino-American girl works hard to learn a traditional Filipino dance, the Tinikling, to surprise her grandparents on their anniversary.

• The ABCs of Asian American History

  Macalino Rutledge, Renee, 1976-

  Celebrate and learn about the many cultures that fall under the Asian American umbrella in this alphabetically organized, rhyming, and colorfully illustrated picture book for kids.

• We Who Produce Pearls

  Ho, Joanna,

  This uplifting anthem for Asian America celebrates the richness and diversity within the Asian American identity and serves as a reminder of their self-worth, their legacy and, most of all, their destiny, reminding readers to rise up,…

• Eli and the Uncles

  Madhani, Jehan,

  Young Eli’s eight adoring uncles, each bigger and taller than the last, have a unique personality and beard, each elegant to behold, as Eli says good-nights one by one, in a countdown to bedtime book.

• Love Grows Here

  Ward, Chloe Ito,

  Aiko learns that Japanese Americans were once put in prison camps in her own country—the US—and that there are still some people who don't like her, for no reason. But Aiko also learns that people respond to acts of kindness.

• Smiling Eyes

  Park, Linda Sue,

  For an enthusiastic little boy, an ordinary day is filled with the surprises of seeing and being seen as all around him, people are using their eyes: big eyes, small eyes, eyes that are open wide, or shut tight, or even winking, in a…

• Amy Wu and the Lantern Festival

  Zhang, Kat, 1991-

  When Amy accidentally breaks her family’s lantern that they use on Lantern Festival Day, she learns to mend the old with the new to create a new tradition

• Ali the Great and the Market Mishap

  Faruqi, Saadia,

  Second-grader Ali, his grandfather, and little brother Fateh head to the South Asian market to buy some snacks, but Ali loses Fateh and has to figure out quickly how to find him among the market's many aisles.

• Gigi and Ojiji

  Iwai, Melissa,

  Gigi can’t wait for her Ojiji—Japanese grandpa—to move in. Gigi plans lots of things to do with him, like playing tag, reading books, and teaching Roscoe, the family dog, new tricks. But her plans don’t work out quite the way she’d hoped.…

• Sejal Sinha Battles Superstorms

  Prasad, Maya,

  Sejal Sinha is looking forward to celebrating Diwali with her family. But when a hurricane appears, Sejal and her cousin Mira learn that the house is in danger from the imminent storm. With the help of Sejal’s favorite stuffed animal,…

• Hiʻiaka and Panaʻewa

  a Hawaiian Graphic Legend

  Ahuliʻi, Gabrielle,

  Hi'iaka wants to make the forests of Hawai'i safe for travelers, but she will have to battle an evil lizard named Pana'ewa and his army to do it, and with a little help from her sister and some special powers, she is ready for a great…

• Lei and the Invisible Island

  Maunakea, Malia,

  When Kaipo's essential ʻaumakua pendant disappears, Lei, Kaipo, Ilikea, and newcomer Kaukahi embark on a perilous journey to an invisible island in search of the pendant, where they face challenges from sharks to malevolent spirits…

• The First State of Being

  Kelly, Erin Entrada,

  When a teenage boy appears out of nowhere in 1999, claiming he’s the world’s first time-traveler and has a book outlining the events of the next 20 years, 12-year-old Michael wants to get his hands on the book and must decide how far he’s…

• A Child's Introduction to Asian American and Pacific Islander History

  the Heroes, the Stories, and the Cultures That Helped to Build America

  Hirahara, Naomi, 1962-

  Celebrate the diversity, history, and rich cultures of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and teach kids ages 8-12 about the people, experiences, and events that have shaped AAPI history.

• Fighting to Belong! Vol. I, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History From the 1700s Through the 1800s

  Chu, Amy,

  This book highlights the unique experiences, challenges, and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islanders that are rarely taught in American schools.

• Amazing

  Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All

  Shibutani, Maia, 1994-

  Profiling 36 inspirational Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Olympic medalist siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani introduce readers to the important figures who have shaped life-altering policy, made indelible marks on pop culture and…

• Made in Asian America

  a History for Young Peope

  Lee, Erika,

  This adaptation of the award-winning The Making of Asian America shines a light on the generations of Asian Americans who have transformed the U.S., and who continue to do so today, telling a powerful story of race, racism, bravery and…

• Girls to the Front

  40 Asian American Women Who Blazed a Trail

  Mata, Nina, 1981-

  Meet 40 trailblazing Asian American women in American history, in a nonfiction anthology with biographical text and appealing portraits that bring life to heroes, role models and everyday women who did extraordinary things.

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