{"id":82144,"date":"2022-04-29T07:00:58","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T11:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/?p=82144"},"modified":"2025-04-15T12:06:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T16:06:53","slug":"kids-books-experiences-asian-american-immigrants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/kids-books-experiences-asian-american-immigrants\/","title":{"rendered":"Kids’ Books on the Experiences of Asian American Immigrants"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since 1978, the United States has celebrated Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. And for over 18 million Asian immigrants in the country, it\u2019s a chance to celebrate our stories. My family came to the US from the Philippines when I was three, and I can tell you first-hand that my experience growing up as an Asian immigrant wasn\u2019t always easy. I was often the only Asian in my class, and people didn\u2019t understand why my eyes were monolid, why my mom packed rice with my lunch, or why I spoke a different language that wasn\u2019t Spanish, French, or German (AKA the \u2018standards\u2019). <\/p>\n

Books have always been an escape for me, but finding Asian immigrant stories that I could relate to was challenging. Thankfully, there\u2019s been an increase in raising Asian authors\u2019 voices and sharing the complex, multi-layered experiences that millions of children and teens have when they journey from the East. <\/p>\n

While Asian Hate is still a concern for the millions of Asian immigrants, it\u2019s imperative that the community\u2019s stories \u2014 happy, sad, and every emotion in between \u2014 get heard and shared. Here are ten books to get you started.<\/p>\n

no no 9780451478894 Danbi Leads the School Parade<\/i> by Anna Kim <\/p>\n

Being the new girl in school is downright terrifying. Danbi is new to America \u2014 her family just moved from Korea \u2014 but she won\u2019t let that stop her from making her new home a happy one. With a deep breath of courage and a spark of imagination, Danbi turns what could\u2019ve been a terrible first day into a positive one. Anna Kim uses her experience as a young Korean immigrant to tell a story about courage for little ones starting a new school or adventure, brought to life by gorgeous illustrations.
\nAges 3 – 7<\/i><\/p>\n

9780823446247 Watercress<\/i> by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin <\/p>\n

Too often, immigrant children become embarrassed by their homeland’s customs and traditions when they move to a new country. They hide them in an attempt to conform to the new culture. Named Best Children\u2019s Book of the Year by The Wall Street Journal<\/i> and The New York Times<\/i>, author Andrea Wang sheds light on the emotional struggle countless immigrant children experience when caught between two cultures. Award-winning artist Jason Chin gives Wang\u2019s story a classic feel with breathtaking illustrations inspired by Chinese painting techniques.
\nAges 4 – 8<\/i><\/p>\n

9781524771874 Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist<\/i> by Julie Leung, illustrated by Chris Sasaki <\/p>\n

For almost a century, Disney\u2019s movie, Bambi<\/i>, has captured the hearts of children and adults. One story that hasn\u2019t been told as much but certainly needs to is Tyrus Wong\u2019s. Tyrus was born in China as Wong Geng Yeo. He came to America with barely anything and went from being a night janitor to the artistic genius that created the breathtaking backgrounds for the world\u2019s most famous deer. Readers will feel inspired by his unforgettable story.
\nAges 4 – 8<\/i><\/p>\n

9780142500552 Coolies<\/i> by Yin, illustrated by Chris Soentpiet <\/p>\n

Yin reminds readers of a time often neglected in American history. In 1865, while America builds its transcontinental railroad, Shek and his brother take the opportunity to travel to the United States for a new life. The brothers go to California and work as laborers setting railways. They remain dedicated to their work and committed to saving enough money to bring the rest of their family from China to the US. Unfortunately, racism, discrimination, and danger mark every day of their new lives. Accompanied with Soentpiet\u2019s bold illustrations, we see how much Asian Americans\u2019 ancestors sacrificed for a life in America.
\nAges 7 – 10<\/i><\/p>\n

9780593111284 The Many Meanings of Meilan<\/i> by Andrea Wang <\/p>\n

Meilan Hua\u2019s home is in Boston\u2019s Chinatown, where her parents and Nai Nai\u2019s bakery are located. But when her beloved Nai Nai dies, Meilan Hua and her parents must move to Ohio. Everything she knows from Boston\u2019s Chinatown is different in Ohio, and her cherished Chinese stories and traditions get thrown out the window. Even her name gets changed! Newbery Honor-winning author Andrea Wang makes her middle-grade debut with a story about a protagonist who learns to accept herself and her heritage, delivered in beautiful prose.
\nAges 9 – 12<\/i><\/p>\n

9781984846082 Front Desk<\/i> by Kelly Yang <\/p>\n

Introduce your middle schooler to the Front Desk<\/i> series! Mia Tang\u2019s family moved to America for a better life. The whole family \u2014 little Mia included \u2014 runs the Calivista Motel. Mia\u2019s job is to help guests and watch over the front desk. But her family has a big secret \u2014 they hide immigrants at the motel. Through Mia\u2019s adventures, Kelly Yang delivers a complex and wholesome story about first-generation immigrants\u2019 hardships, discoveries, and joys. Yang also tackles tough topics like poverty, bullying, robbery, and systemic oppression.
\nAges 9 – 12<\/i><\/p>\n

9780593112229 We Belong<\/i> by Cookie Hiponia <\/p>\n

From debut novelist Cookie Hiponia comes the story of Stella and Luna, two second-generation sisters who know nothing about their mother\u2019s past in the Philippines. When they ask about her childhood in the island nation, they get a combination of Filipino folklore tales and stories about the harsh realities of young immigrants. Discover the magic of the Filipino culture from an author whose personal experiences parallel those in this unforgettable book.
\nAges 10+<\/i><\/p>\n

9781984897152 American Betiya<\/i> by Anuradha D. Rajurkar <\/p>\n

First love can sometimes be the most heartbreaking. For Rani Kelkar, her first love is Arthur, a tattoo-covered art enthusiast that her Indian parents would NOT approve of. As their love story takes a downward turn, Rani isn\u2019t sure how much of herself to give. Rajurkar\u2019s writing transports us into the characters\u2019 world, and readers will feel the intense emotions, heartbreak, and racism that come with an interracial relationship.
\nAges 13+<\/i><\/p>\n

9781524740979 The Downstairs Girl<\/i> by Stacey Lee <\/p>\n

Lose yourself in Stacey Lee\u2019s New York Times<\/i> bestselling novel, The Downstairs Girl<\/i>. Set in Atlanta in the late 1880s, Jo Kuan is a 17-year-old Chinese girl working for the cruelest man in the city. To everyone else, she\u2019s just a Chinese girl \u2014 overlooked and rarely heard. But Jo Kuan is keeping a big secret \u2014 she\u2019s the anonymous writer behind \u201cDear Miss Sweetie,\u201d a newspaper advice column for the ladies of the upper echelons of Southern society. Lee gives us an unforgettable novel featuring complex characters and complicated topics like social inequality, racism, and loss.
\nAges 13+<\/i><\/p>\n

9781984812223 Frankly in Love<\/i> by David Yoon <\/p>\n

In this New York Times<\/i> instant bestseller, Frank is head-over-heels in love, but he has one big problem \u2014 his girlfriend is white. This is something his traditional Korean parents would never approve of. Thankfully, his bestie, Joy Song, agrees to fake date him to get his (and her) parents off their backs. Their plan sounds full-proof, but when he gets thrown a curveball, Frank must re-examine everything he knows about love.
\nAges 13+<\/i><\/p>\n

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