Even though I grew up eating kimchi<\/em> and saying ko-map-sup-ni-da<\/em>, the only \u201cAsian\u201d book I read as a child was Tikki Tikki Tembo<\/em>.<\/em> It was a favorite of mine, but looking back, I\u2019m not sure that I learned much about Asian cultures. People even argue whether the folktale is Chinese or Japanese.<\/p>\n My two kids also love the breathless tongue twister of Tikki\u2019s full name. But I\u2019m happy to report that thirty-some years later, there are some truly great books about the various Asian cultures \u2014 almost all with a focus on family and food. (But mostly food.)<\/p>\n no no Beginner Books 9780440417705 Dim Sum for Everyone!<\/i> by Grace Lin <\/p>\n If you believe, as I do, that culture begins and ends in the stomach, you\u2019ll know why nothing is more comforting to me than dim sum, a traditional Chinese meal made up of small plates of dumplings and other snack dishes and is usually accompanied by tea. This book features the \u00e0 la carte yumminess that is the Chinese dim sum tradition and highlights a key Asian cultural tradition \u2014 eating together. <\/p>\n 9780823449774 Rainbow Shopping<\/i> by Qing Zhuang <\/p>\n There\u2019s nothing quite like New York City\u2019s Chinatown \u2014 and this picture book transports you there, in all its technicolor glory. Says Publishers Weekly<\/a><\/i>, \u201cthe subdued landscape [of the drab New York City neighborhood the young girl\u2019s family has emigrated to from China] gives way to vivid hues as the two shop amid a kaleidoscope of fruits, vegetables, seafood, and sweets.\u201d The result is \u201cachingly real.\u201d<\/p>\n 9780593856550 Binna\u2019s Dalgona<\/i> by Sojung Kim-McCarthy <\/p>\n Have you ever wanted to explain something but couldn\u2019t find the right words? This charming picture book illustrates how to navigate language barriers. Binna wants to tell her classmates about her Korean culture, and share a tasty snack she learned how to make, but gets discouraged when she can\u2019t say what she wants. But with the encouragement of her friends and family, Binna finds the courage to keep trying!<\/p>\n 9781774881989 Dim Sum Palace<\/i> by X. Fang <\/p>\n For anyone (like me!) who loved Maurice Sendak\u2019s In the Night Kitchen<\/i> (1970), Dim Sum Palace<\/i> is an adorable, AAPI-inspired homage. Kirkus<\/a><\/i> calls it \u201ca real (delicious) trip.\u201d And just about everyone agrees. Fang\u2019s book earned the 2023 Society of Illustrators\u2019 Dilys Evans Founder\u2019s Award and was named one of Brightly<\/i>\u2018s Best Picture Books of 2023<\/a> and one of Chicago Public Library\u2019s Best Board & Picture Books for the same year.<\/p>\n 9781536219401 Masala Chai, Fast and Slow <\/i> by Rajani LaRocca <\/p>\n Another food-focused trip, through India this time. Traditions \u2014 like afternoon chai \u2014 are what bond us to our families and our culture. And that is the case in Newbery Honoree Rajani LaRocca\u2019s latest picture book. This is a story of a boy and his grandfather, but there are deeper lessons about mindfulness and the power of taking your time. Recipe included. <\/p>\n 9780593407110 Little Bird Laila<\/i> by Kelly Yang, illustrated by Xindi Yan <\/p>\n In this sweet and joyful immigrant story, Laila takes it upon herself to teach her parents English. Even though she is still learning the language herself, she knows she can help her parents express how clever, kind, and funny they are in their new home. <\/p>\n 9781536226140 Sari-Sari Summers <\/i> by Lynnor Bontigao <\/p>\n Kirkus<\/a><\/i> calls Lynnor Bontigao\u2019s sweet love-letter to the Phillipines and to Filipina grandmothers, \u201clike a sari-sari store, brimming with joy and heart.\u201d<\/p>\n 9780593531723 Night Market Rescue <\/i> by Charlotte Cheng <\/p>\n One of my great joys, when it comes to Asian culture, is the night market \u2014 full of delicious street food and one-of-a-kind delights. Charlotte Cheng\u2019s book may be about a stray dog, Gogo, but what\u2019s wonderful is the setting: A richly imagined Taipei night market. Publishers Weekly<\/a><\/i> calls it, \u201ca lively readaloud about finding one\u2019s way home.\u201d<\/p>\n 9780593526125 Mustafa\u2019s Mithai<\/i> by Sana Rafi, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali <\/p>\n Mustafa loves happy occasions because he gets to eat mithai, a collection of sweets from South Asia. He wishes he could have these treats every day, but his Ammi reminds him that mithai are sweetest when shared, and so Mustafa decides to turn an ordinary day into a happy occasion! He invites all his friends and family over to share mithai together. A beautiful celebration of culture, and a reminder to celebrate each moment with loved ones. <\/p>\n 9780593529874 I Want to Be Spaghetti! <\/i> by Kiera Wright-Ruiz <\/p>\n A children\u2019s book about ramen that wishes it was spaghetti \u2014 until it learns to love all the wonderful, ramen-y things about itself? Sign me up! This well-loved book \u2014 an Amazon Best Book of the Month, winner of Good Housekeeping<\/i>\u2019s 2023 Kids\u2019 Book Award and one of Brightly\u2019s Best Picture Books of 2023 \u2014 teaches us all how to love what is unique about us. <\/p>\n 9780593488614 My Grandfather’s Song <\/i> by Ph\u00f9ng Nguy\u00ean Quang and Huynh Kim Li\u00ean <\/p>\n The married authors of My First Day<\/a><\/i>, selected as best book of the year by Kirkus Reviews<\/i> and School Library Journal<\/i>, revisit the rich landscapes of Southeast Asia with My Grandfather\u2019s Song<\/i>, a lyrical tribute to the first settlers of South Vietnam, as told through the story of one boy and his grandfather.<\/p>\n 9781623546236 Picking Tea with Baba<\/i> by Xu Bin, illustrated by Yu Yin, translated by Shan Chen <\/p>\n Follow a young boy and his family as they pick tea leaves in their tea garden in the mountains. It can be a lot of hard work, but it is so rewarding to work together as a family! Filled with bright illustrations, this day-in-the-life picture book is a treat for the senses as the family celebrates Chinese culture and togetherness. <\/p>\n 9780593649466 Lunar New Year <\/i> by Mary Man-Kong <\/p>\n A sweet addition to any child\u2019s Golden Book library, Lunar New Year<\/i> teaches young readers about the Chinese zodiac, the celebratory food and the Asian traditions that arrive each lunar new year \u2014 one of the most important holidays in China and other Asian countries.<\/p>\n So, clearly, this list doesn’t quite cover all<\/em> things Asian. There are countries we didn’t cover \u2014 and cuisines!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2025.<\/small><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are some truly great books out there about the various Asian cultures for young readers \u2014 almost all with a focus on family and food.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":114606,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[59,131,249,264,737,954,1110,1327],"coauthors":[43],"class_list":["post-1882","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-picture-books","tag-history","tag-asian","tag-food","tag-diversity","tag-educators","tag-diverse-books","tag-aanhpi","ages_stages-pre-k","ages_stages-growing-reader"],"yoast_head":"\nYou might also like:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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