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https://immigrationhistory.org/lesson-plan/asian-migration/

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Lesson Plan: Asian Immigration - Immigration History

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https://www.weareteachers.com/resources-anti-asian-discrimination/#:~:text=%20Classroom%20Resources%20and%20Tips%20To%20Address%20Anti-Asian,of%20anti-Asian%20racism.%20Anti-AAPI%20racism%20isn’t...%20More%20

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Classroom Resources and Tips To Address Anti-Asian Discrimination

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https://www.learningforjustice.org/the-moment/march-15-2021-addressing-antiasian-bias

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As COVID-19 infections increase, so too does racism and xenophobia. Use our "Speak Up" strategies to let people know you're not OK with racist or xenophobic comments about coronavirus or anything else.

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Amid the pandemic, Asian American people continue to experience racism, violence and harassment. These resources can help you teach the historical precedents for this moment, introduce ways for students to recognize and speak up against coronavirus racism, and start conversations with even the youngest learners about recognizing and acting to address injustice.

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https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/speaking-up-against-racism-around-the-coronavirus

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A conversation about coronavirus is happening among young people right now, and the focus isn't solely on health. When reports of this novel virus-first detected in China in December of 2019-started spreading to other countries, racialized fear began to manifest in public discourse.

Since the virus began to spread, people who identify as Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI) have been subjected to racist comments and jokes online or in person, and to isolating behavior from those who are afraid of catching the virus.

Times like these remind us that we must continuously disrupt and address issues of hate and bias, which often find their way into schools.

It's important to get ahead of harmful discourse because we know students are watching or listening to this rhetoric online and on social media. Many children spend hours a day on devices, so information-and misinformation-is likely in the hands of most of your students.

What Our Students Are Hearing

So we can assume our students are seeing posts like this one from a college student who considered dropping a class because "only Asians" were in the classrooms, stating, "I hope I don't catch coronavirus."

They may also observe the racist tropes that falsely point to Chinese people's eating habits as the cause of the spread of the virus.

And these messages don't come only from misinformed youth or social media trolls. For example, the University of California at Berkley apologized after an official Instagram account shared a post that was supposed to inform students about the virus. Instead, it listed xenophobia when "interacting with someone who might be from Asia" among "common" or "normal" reactions to anxiety around the illness.

Anti-Chinese sentiment and any racist or xenophobic rhetoric about the AAPI community is not new. Associating this marginalized group of people with disease is also not new.

Educators need to understand the historical context as they prepare to address this narrative in the classroom or other school spaces.

The Historical Context

Members of the AAPI community are targets right now because public health events have always been racialized. Pandemics that originate in areas populated by mostly people of color get more scrutiny, such as SARS in China or Ebola in West Africa. However, when pandemics occur in the United States and other western countries, such as the novel H1N1, citizens in those countries were not viewed as innately diseased. Many people die yearly from the flu, but Westerners aren't seen as suspicious.

Anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States related to disease goes back to when Chinese people began immigrating here. In efforts to bar Chinese workers from entering the country in the late 1800s, white labor unions argued that Chinese people carried diseases that were more virulent than those found in white people.

In the same way junk science was used to justify enslaving Africans, junk science about people from Asia was used to justify laws leading to exclusion and exploitation of Asian immigrants. It solidified fear and phobia against Chinese people. The " yellow peril " narrative was born. It's a racist term that plays on the idea that Asian people would disrupt or harm Westerners' way of life.

These racist tropes are directly tied to the oppression of Asians and Asian Americans in the United States. They were used to justify the Page Act of 1875, which restricted East Asian women from immigrating to the U.S. And they served, in part, as justification for the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned most Chinese people from immigrating to the U.S.

Coupled with racist tropes about health and culture, these laws led to racist violence against Asian Americans. The remnants of that legacy remain in public discourse today.

Interrupting Racism

Educators have a responsibility to interrupt any anti-AAPI and xenophobic narratives. Since students may be exposed to racist posts on social media or racist comments about the coronavirus, you might hear some of this discourse in your classroom or throughout the school building. It is imperative that you interrupt it every time it occurs.

Right now, it's important to have a heightened sense of what your students are saying in spaces inside and outside of the classroom. Respond immediately to any news of a student repeating racist or xenophobic language. It's also vital to attend to any students or colleagues who have been harmed by anti-AAPI speech or rhetoric.

Our Responding to Hate and Bias at School guide can help you address issues at any phase of a hate or bias incident.

Educating Students

Because you won't always catch xenophobic or racist comments as they occur, it's important to equip students with the historical context and relevant skills to discern when something is biased and how they can respond.

Our Speak Up at School guide provides resources to help both educators and students tackle discussions about bias and stereotypes. helps guide educators in facilitating critical conversations.

Even if no incident has occurred yet in your school or classroom, you must still be proactive. Create a welcoming and hate-free environment by ensuring that students can identify hate and bias and then encouraging them to disrupt it. Teachers can use our lessons about upstanders, which show students how to respond to hate speech.

This is also an important time to emphasize the necessity of digital literacy, as students may become aware of hateful or biased speech online. Students must learn how to glean credible news sources and spot biased reporting. Spend time going through the pitfalls of the internet and help sharpen their digital literacy skills with lessons and activities.

Even if your students do not represent the identities likely to be harmed by racist comments around the coronavirus, or you believe they're not spreading misinformation and repeating racist tropes, exploring anti-AAPI rhetoric around the virus is still worthy of critical conversations in the classroom.

The truth is all students are affected by hate and bias. It's up to educators to protect those who are targeted by it and give students and other adults the tools to stop perpetrating harm in the future.

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Speaking Up Against Racism Around the Coronavirus

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A conversation about coronavirus is happening among young people right now, and the focus isn't solely on health. When reports of this novel virus-first detected in China in December of 2019-started spreading to other countries, racialized fear began to manifest in public discourse.

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https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/summer-2013/i-am-asian-american

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On a Monday morning in September, ESL teacher Susan Azzu found she had a new student. Poh was entering the third grade. He was born in Thailand after his mother and sister escaped war and ethnic persecution in Myanmar. Through a refugee program, Poh had just arrived in Chapel Hill, N.C. He spoke no English.

Five miles down the road in a middle school, Hyun-Ju entered a classroom. Her family had relocated from Pittsburgh, so her father could teach at the local university. The teacher immediately paired her with a Chinese student and asked her to help translate, not realizing that Hyun-Ju's grandparents were Korean or that she had been born in the United States and spoke only English.

Across town, Gao entered the 10th grade. His parents had come to the United States from China to work in his uncle's restaurant. He didn't speak much English, but he had been a good student in Beijing. At lunchtime, he was dismayed when other Chinese boys moved away from him. One boy eyed him, muttering "F.O.B" under his breath.

One district, three new Asian students with completely different needs.

Who Is Asian-American?

The term Asian American is a relatively new one. Yuji Ichioka, a pioneer in Asian-American studies, coined the term in the early 1970s to help unify different Asian ethnic groups for political strength and study. But the meaning of the term can be elusive.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Asian refers to people having origins in East or Southeast Asia or the Indian subcontinent. Other definitions are broader and might include Iraq or Israel. In the 2000 Census, the U.S. government added the term NHPI for "Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders." Combined, these groups include people from more than 18 countries of origin as well as numerous ethnic groups. In addition, about 15 percent of Asian Americans are of mixed race.

Historically, people of Asian descent have faced racial discrimination in the United States. The earliest Asian-American immigrants were met with resistance and violence. Later, restrictive legislation, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, was put in place to prevent Asian immigrants from entering the country. In 1945, while at war with Japan, the U.S. government incarcerated more than 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry in remote internment camps. Most of those people were U.S. citizens or legal residents who were forced to abandon their homes and businesses until the war ended.

Only in 1965 were discriminatory anti-Asian immigration policies removed, paving the way for the Asian-American population growth we see today. Asian Americans are now the fastest-growing racial group in the United States, outpacing both Latinos and African Americans. More than 17.3 million Asian Americans live in the United States-6 percent of the population-and this number is projected to increase further, reaching 41 million by 2050.

These changing demographics are reflected in our classrooms. In 1970, 80 percent of American students were white. Today, that number is closer to 54 percent.

Invisible Students

Asian-American students bring with them unique and vibrant cultural backgrounds, but educators often assume that these students share similar circumstances or lump them in with other racial groups. Lack of individual acknowledgement can lead students to feel invisible in their own schools. "My teacher keeps giving me papers in Spanish," says Joy, a Filipino-American high school student in Los Angeles. "I don't speak that language."

In the media, Asian Americans are often stereotyped as nerds, scientists, office workers or martial artists speaking broken English-the "forever foreigner" with poor language and social skills. "The media perpetuates stereotypes and these messages sneak into the classroom," says Dr. Nellie Tran, a social psychologist at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell.

No matter how long Asian-American students have lived in the United States, they are inevitably asked, "Where are you from?" by people who assume they are not American. In reaction to this continual questioning, Asian-American students may reject their home language, clothing, attitudes or behavior in order to appear more "American." They may even choose not to associate with other members of the Asian community, particularly those who are new to the country.

Vanessa Leung, deputy director at the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, describes the phenomenon: "We see struggles within the same ethnic groups ... often it's second- or third-generation vs. new immigrants." The expression Gao encountered in the cafeteria, 'F.O.B.,' is a derogatory term referring to new immigrants who are "fresh off the boat."

Seemingly positive, but just as harmful, is the myth that all Asian-Americans are high-achieving, hardworking, quiet and nonconfrontational members of a "model minority" that has overcome the challenges of immigration and minority status.

This misconception can cause teachers to assume Asian-American students do not need academic, social or emotional support. According to Leung, "The myth of the model minority is that these kids will all do well, but we know that so many kids are struggling. In fact, there's a huge achievement gap within [the Asian-American] community." Leung sees Asian-American students both excelling and dropping out of high school. For those who struggle, the model-minority stereotype adds pressure to perform and makes students reluctant to ask for help.

Both the forever-foreign and model-minority stereotypes have a negative effect on students' psychological and social well-being, particularly during adolescence, when a sense of ethnic identity is developing. Research that focuses specifically on Asian Americans has found racial bias affects self-esteem, causes psychological distress (including depression) and can affect the academic and social lives of students.

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On a Monday morning in September, ESL teacher Susan Azzu found she had a new student. Poh was entering the third grade. He was born in Thailand after his mother and sister escaped war and ethnic persecution in Myanmar. Through a refugee program, Poh had just arrived in Chapel Hill, N.C.

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https://www.metmuseum.org/art/online-features/metkids/

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art, i.e. The Met Museum

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#MetKids is a digital feature made for, with, and by kids.

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http://young.dpm.org.cn

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首页 / 故宫博物院青少网站

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https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/04/10-essential-podcasts-from-aapi-creators#:~:text=10%20Essential%20Podcasts%20From%20AAPI%20Creators%201%20Self,Asian%20Americana%20%28Potluck%20Podcast%20Collective%29%2010%20Modern%20Minorities

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These podcasts explore the richness and complexity of Asian American identity, and emphasize how AAPI history is integral to American history.

On last weekend's episode of Saturday Night Live, comedian Bowen Yang appeared on Weekend Update to address the disturbing rise of violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States. Yang, SNL's first Asian American cast member and cohost of the funny and sharp Las Culturistas podcast, had a message for viewers looking to help the AAPI community: "Do more." Donating money? Great! Do more. Supporting Asian restaurants? That's good too, but- do more.

Similarly, listening to podcasts that center the voices and stories of Asian Americans is only a start in understanding and combating the deeply rooted white supremacy, xenophobia, and racism that leads to hate crimes like the shootings at spas in Atlanta. But the work of Asian American podcasters absolutely demands attention, and not only in times of crisis.

The following shows uplift the diverse, complex narratives of Asian Americans, shedding light on lived experiences and histories that are integral to our nation's culture-although they may not always be acknowledged or celebrated as such. And whether implicitly or explicitly, the shows also draw attention to the fact that the umbrella term "Asian American" is in itself an imperfect way to refer to the experiences of 20 million people.

It's difficult to know how to move forward in the face of senseless violence-"I don't have all the answers," said Yang, a sentiment echoed by many podcast hosts in the wake of the Atlanta-area shootings-but that makes open, honest conversations around the subject all the more brave and necessary.

Hosted by the James Beard Award-winning journalist Cathy Erway, and created by James Boo, Talisa Chang, and Julia Shu Self Evident is a beautifully produced show that uses reported narratives, personal stories, and community conversations in order to present a complex, empathetic portrait of Asian American life. Since its launch in 2019, Self Evident has been unafraid to tackle thorny questions of identity and to carefully unpack the specific challenges faced by AAPI communities. The first episode, which questions for whom the "American Dream" can truly be realized, deftly weaves together the stories of immigrants who came to the States 100 years apart. Another reclaims an insensitive query faced by many Asian Americans, asking " So Where Are We Really From?" Self Evident has also been consistently reporting on the rise in racism and hate crimes against Asian Americans over the past year, starting with the episode " Unpacking Pandemic Racism," a conversation from last April with fellow podcasters Paola Mardo and Ahmed Ali Akbar. That coverage continued with investigations of the virality of hate and the rise in neighborhood-watch groups in historic Chinatowns, as well as conversations about how to keep AAPI communities safe in the face of deeply rooted xenophobia. Self Evident and Erway also shine when discussing somewhat lighter topics: The most recent episode, " Saving the Seeds," is a moving, evocative exploration of the relationship between Asian Americans and fruit. Soft and sharp at the same time, Self Evident is a must listen.
Support Self Evident
In this podcast from the L.A. Times, hosts Jen Yamato and Frank Shyong chat with celebrities about the joys and complexities of being Asian American, and invite their guests to share personal stories and unpack identity on their own terms. While Yamato and Shyong's guests are cultural heavyweights-they've spoken with Margaret Cho, Padma Lakshmi, Jon M. Chu, Lulu Wang, John Cho, and Kamala Harris, among other artists, writers, and politicians-the conversations feel distinctly human and grounded. It's clear the interviewees feel comfortable with the hosts, which allows for free-flowing, honest conversations about identity and experience that are, quite simply, a joy to listen to. Another feature of the show is the "Bad Asian Confessions" segment, where guests share times they felt they failed to live up to expectations of how an Asian person "should" act-harking back to the show's title. Said Shyong in an early episode, "There's things Asian Americans say to each other that they never say in public, and I thought, what are we scared of?" In making these private conversations public, Asian Enough gives its esteemed guests the unique opportunity to show up as their full selves, which feels frankly revelatory.

Hosted by Paola Mardo, Long Distance is the first documentary podcast about the Filipino diaspora. Mardo, who was born in Los Angeles but grew up in Manila, Kuala Lumpur, and the San Francisco Bay area, was working on an audio project in Los Angeles's historic Filipinotown when she realized the deep need for well-reported stories about the Filipino community in America-particularly the narratives of young Filipino people navigating their identities and trying to trace their diasporic history. Listeners should start at the very beginning with " Little Manila," a two-episode story about the first wave of Filipino immigrants (also known as the manong generation) to arrive en masse in America. Later episodes alternate between other history lessons-including the stories of labor organizer Larry Itliong and underground activist Myrla Baldonado-and personal narratives, from trailblazing activists who opened a Filipino restaurant in New York in the '90s to ex-high school sweethearts and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who reconnected 40 years later. Each episode of Long Distance feels like a small gem; not only has Mardo done the impressive work of excavating these untold or obscured stories, but she's polished them, through thoughtful storytelling and excellent production, so they can truly shine.
Support Long Distance
With the recent release of Minari, Lee Isaac Chung's Oscar-nominated film about a Korean family living on a farm in Arkansas, the specific experiences of Asian Americans living in the rural South have become more visible. But when Keith Chow launched his show Southern Fried Asian in 2017, this representation was almost nowhere to be found. As Chow noted, most stories about Asian Americans usually took place on the coasts-New York, Southern California, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the past five years, Chow has chatted with a wide range of guests who identify as AAPI and grew up in a southern state, including journalist Jia Tolentino, actress Eva Noblezada ( Hadestown, Yellow Rose), author Jenny Han ( To All the Boys I've Loved Before), and Vanity Fair's own Sonia Saraiya. As host, Chow is both an incisive interviewer and chummy conversationalist, just as eager to unpack the unexpected twists and turns of his guests' careers as he is to discuss their favorite hometown doughnut spot. And on this podcast, both topics are equally important and valid ways of mapping identity.
Support Southern Fried Asian
Almost 20 years ago, Phil Yu started the groundbreaking blog Angry Asian Man, which was called "a daily must-read for the media-savvy, socially conscious, pop-cultured Asian American" and made a lasting impact on a generation of readers. As a pioneering voice in contemporary Asian American media, Yu-along with his cohost, writer Jeff Yang-is well-positioned to facilitate compelling conversations and provide sharp commentary about pop culture, identity, politics, and technology. Recent guests have included FBI agent Asha Rangappa, TikTok sensation Nick Cho (aka "Your Korean Dad"), and filmmakers like Alice Gu ( The Donut King), Diane Paragas ( Yellow Rose), Quoc Bao Tran ( The Paper Tigers), and Sujata Day ( Insecure, Definition Please). There's also a particularly sweet, nostalgic episode about the "Asian American icon" Claudia Kishi from The Baby-Sitter's Club book series that's sure to delight any child of the '90s. Yu and Yang describe their conversations as "unfiltered," and episodes are indeed freeform in nature, often running over an hour. In other hands, such long chats could lose steam, but Yu and Yang are able to keep the momentum going and even leave listeners wanting more.

In recent years, much attention has been drawn to the lack of complex, multidimensional Asian American representation in Hollywood, and the AAPI filmmakers and artists working to rectify that. But as the hosts of Saturday School, Ada Tseng and Brian Hu want to reveal the "deep and buried history" of Asian American storytelling in pop culture, and raise awareness about existing films and cultural staples that may have been overlooked or underappreciated at the time they were released. The name Saturday School comes from the classes Tseng and Hu had to take as children, while their friends watched cartoons; now, they cheekily turn the tables, indulging in their own love of pop culture each Saturday while providing their listeners with an education in Asian American cinema. Over the course of seven seasons-each one highlighting a different theme, including comedies, music movies, onscreen romances, "troublemakers"-Tseng and Hu have spotlighted over 70 films, and in doing so, have created an incredibly comprehensive and valuable archive of AAPI film history.

Produced by the Asian American Writers' Workshop, an NYC literary arts space that serves as "a sanctuary for the immigrant imagination," AAWW Radio is sure to please listeners who miss the heady thrill of witnessing a tête-à-tête between culture's foremost thinkers and creatives.

AAWW Radio features selected audio from the organization's current and past events, as well as occasional original episodes, and has featured authors like Min Jin Lee, Cathy Park Hong, Esme Weijun Wang, and R.O. Kwon in sharp, enlightening conversations with their peers. While conversations are usually centered around literature and poetry, AAWW Radio recently paired Min Jin Lee, author of Pachinko, with Minari director Lee Isaac Chung, in which the pair expressed mutual admiration for the others' work while also unpacking their artistic processes and careers.
Listen: "Minari ft. Lee Isaac Chung and Min Jin Lee"
Hosted by Sylvia Peng and Janrey Serapio, At the Moment is a podcast about Asian Americans that is rooted in solidarity with other BIPOC and marginalized communities. Launched at the beginning of 2021, At the Moment tackles the "weird, messy, intersectional and complex issues in Asian America" and puts a particular emphasis on topics of social and racial justice. The podcast has featured guests like Kabzuag Vaj, a Hmong American activist and the founder of Freedom, Inc, and Pauline Park, a transgender activist and founder of the Queens Pride House; other episodes shed light on the experiences of marginalized groups within the AAPI community, including Filipino frontline workers and Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese refugee communities in the Bronx, and follow two Asian American teenagers who are balancing schoolwork and family businesses during COVID-19 crisis. Though At the Moment is a new podcast, its existence already feels impactful, as it creates an important space to share and celebrate the stories of AAPI individuals who exist at the intersection of multiple, complex identities.

Support At the Moment: Asian American News
Hosted by Quincy Surasmith, Asian Americana was born out of a desire to show more "slices" of Asian American life, and to emphasize how narratives about AAPI communities are central-and essential-to American culture. "We weren't just present" for American history, writes Surasmith. "We've actively built and shaped this nation with endless stories and contributions." Since its launch in 2016, Asian Americana has covered an eclectic range of topics, including the evolution of an Asian American punk-rock zine into a cultural institution, the experiences of Hmong farmers in California's Central Valley, the relationship between Asian American men and facial hair, the "Asian American literary icon" Claudia Kishi, and the ways Asian Americans organized direct aid within their communities during the COVID-19 crisis. Surasmith, who is second-generation Thai Chinese American, is an actor, journalist, and audio producer, and all of these skills contribute to Asian Americana 's excellent production and compelling storytelling style.

Hosted by Sharon Lee Thony and Raman Sehgal, a self-described "Chinese American girl from New York"' and an "Indian American boy who came from Alabama with a banjo on [his] knee," Modern Minorities is a collection of conversations about work and life, told through the lens of race and gender. Thony and Sehgal, both branding and marketing experts based in New York, invite other successful people of color to chat about their careers and how their unique cultural backgrounds have shaped the way they experience the world. As longtime friends, Thony and Sehgal have a rapport that feels easy and authentic, and they drew on that established trust to have a recent, difficult conversation about violence against AAPI communities. On the episode, Thony, Sehgal, and their friend Ryan Joe processed the Atlanta shootings and its implications in real time, admitting they didn't fully know how to feel or speak about it, but felt an obligation to try: "We don't have all the answers, but we need to start asking the questions." It's this belief in the power of conversation to bring clarity that makes Modern Minorities such a compelling listen.

Listen: "Let's Talk (About) Asian Violence"

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10 Essential Podcasts From AAPI Creators

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These podcasts explore the richness and complexity of Asian American identity, and emphasize how AAPI history is integral to American history. On last weekend's episode of Saturday Night Live, comedian Bowen Yang appeared on Weekend Update to address the disturbing rise of violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States.

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Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors

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Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors

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https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V78lmCMfwek

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Asian Americans Who Inspire Us (Ellison Onizuka)

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art, i.e. The Met Museum

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art, i.e. The Met Museum

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Our world has been shaped by people on the move. At the World Culture Festival that took place on November 4, 2017, guests discovered connections between art and culture that travel beyond borders. They also celebrated their families' own journeys through performances, storytelling, interactive gallery activities, and artist-led workshops.

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These stories recommended by Asian American children's book authors make excellent conversation starters about different cultures and the importance of respecting others.

Studies show reading fosters empathy. However, a 2019 study published in The Frontiers of Psychology showed that reading alone isn't enough. The types of books matter, too. The study found that children's books help develop empathy the most when children read about and identify with characters dissimilar to themselves. Not to mention, it's also equally important for children to see themselves in the books they read.

But despite overwhelming research that reading diverse books is vital for fostering confident, empathetic kids, Asian American stories and other minority stories are still underpublished. According to The Cooperative Children's Book Center 2019 children's book survey, only 8.7 percent of children's books published in 2019 contained Asian or Asian American main characters. Meanwhile, 41.8 percent contained white main characters, and 29.2 percent contained animal main characters.

"Fear and misunderstanding of people who aren't like ourselves can have tragic and heartbreaking consequences, as we've seen recently with the rise in violence against Asians and Asian Americans," explains Asian American children's book author Andrea Wang. "Learning about different cultures fosters empathy and understanding, leading to a more just and peaceful world."

"The more stories kids read," author Mượn Thị Văn adds, "and the greater the variety of stories, the more kids will understand that life is not about me vs. you, or us vs. them. It's about you and me, and all of us together, because we're fundamentally the same, and everyone and everything affects everyone else and everything else."

Books alone cannot do the work of raising empathic children. The conversations parents and educators have about diversity as well as the actions they take toward others are just as important. But books are a great tool to have in your back pocket.

To help you diversify your library, we chatted with Wang and Văn, along with authors Hope Lim and Joanna Ho to create this collection of kid's books that depict Asian children coming to America. Within these picture books and middle grade stories, characters learn to make delicious foods from their heritage, embrace their bodies, and more, making them an amazing place to start when it comes to learning about the Asian American culture.
To learn more about the crucial conversations we need to have with our children about anti-Asian violence, check out this article for Asian families about how to address racism during the pandemic, as well as this one about how to talk to children about anti-Asian violence.

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15 Asian American Children's Books to Read As a Family Right Now

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These stories recommended by Asian American children's book authors make excellent conversation starters about different cultures and the importance of respecting others. Studies show reading fosters empathy. However, a 2019 study published in The Frontiers of Psychology showed that reading alone isn't enough. The types of books matter, too.

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As a Chinese-Korean American family, we're honored to share children's picture books that celebrate Asians! Did you know that only 8.7% of children's books published in the United States feature Asian main characters? In contrast, books with non-Asians and anthropomorphic animals are far more accessible. Therefore, I want to amplify our favorite stories that include Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Pakistani, Singaporean, Taiwanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and multiracial families.

Since we're raising bilingual children, this list has English and/or Chinese versions when available. ISBN information is included to help you find picture books with Asian protagonists at your favorite library and bookstore! Please also share with me your favorite picture books about Asians!
Related: Where to Buy Chinese Children's Books Online Related: Where to Buy Korean Books for Kids in the United States This post may have some affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission which supports my blog and free printables at no additional cost to you. Please see the disclosure policy for details.
How these picture books about Asians are organized

In our bilingual home, we organize our large collection of Chinese language books by topic. On the other hand, we organize our smaller collection of English language picture books by color. Picture books about Asians are mostly mixed with other races! However, in this post, I have categorized the books by ethnicity for the following reasons:

Asia, the largest continent, includes a diverse variety of countries and cultures.

In 1968, Yuji Ichioka & Emma Gee coined the term "Asian American" to unite people of Asian ancestry for social justice. However, individual identities are often erased & blurred into harmful stereotypes (eg, model monority myth). Too often, we are generalized as a monolith, including in literature.

Most websites with "Asian book lists" mix us all together, including board, picture, and chapter books. It's hard to know whether the authors of those websites have actually read those books or just pulled covers and descriptions from Amazon to earn affiliate income...

Since our kids have Chinese and Korean heritage, most of our books fall in these categories. However, you may want to jump to a different section and start with books that reflect your family or friends' ethnicity.

Knowing general categories makes me aware of the representation and gaps in our home. In addition to @asianlitforkids on Instagram, I recommend following other Asian blogs that are authentic sources for other ethnicities (listed with the book recs). Feel free to chime in with your book recommendations and suggestions, too!

With that said, many of our experiences as immigrants overlap, and some books have ethnically ambiguous characters. When I read these stories with my children, patterns of nostalgia for family, food culture, language struggles, and racism stood out. In addition, connection with friends and family will be familiar to all.

What age and level are these picture books about Asians?

These picture books with Asian characters are great for preschoolers to elementary school kids! I've taken photos of the inside of most books so you can see which reading level is most appropriate. For reference, at the time of this review, my daughter is 7 years old and my son is 4 years old. However, I also learned so much by reading these picture books about Asians.

With younger kids, you can focus on illustrations and discuss observations. Even if your kids are reading chapter books like my daughter, you can explore deeper questions such as:

What emotions did the main character experience? How can you tell?

What would you have done if you were this person?

Do you think these biographical summaries are accurate? What information might be missing?

Are these stories realistic or portraying a stereotype?

What details and patterns do you notice with the text and illustrations?

Children's picture books that celebrate Asians in English

Asian Americans Who Inspire Us

This collection of short biographies of Asian American trailblazers features Maya Lin, Kristi Yamaguchi, Yo-Yo Ma, Ellison Onizuka, Lisa and Laura Ling, Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz, Duke Kahanamoku, Patsy Takumoto Mink, Tammy Duckworth, Sal Khan, Andrew Youn, David Ho, Margaret Chung, Grace Lin, and Haing Ngor. The large font and colorful illustrations are great for kids in Kindergarten and lower elementary grades, including my 7-year-old daughter. Note that these summaries lack dates, so inquisitive kids will likely want to more context.

Author: Analiza Quiroz Wolf

Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Stars Who Made America Amazing

This is a chronologically organized anthology of a diverse array of Asian Americans, including Tyrus Wong, Bruce Lee, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Mindy Kaling, Jeremy Lin, Lea Salonga, Steven Chu, Satya Nadella, David Chang, Yuri Kochiyama, Sammy Lee, Helen Zia, Chrissy Teigen, Dr. Jane Luu, Daniel K. Inouye, Dolly Gee, Shahid Khan, Victoria Manolo Draves, Sono Osato, and Flossie Wong-Staal. Given the length and detail of each biography, this would be most suitable for mid-to-upper elementary students and middle schoolers.

Picture books with Cambodian protagonists

Cambodian Dancer

Based on a true story of a Cambodian refugee named Sophany Bay, this book looks into a life of a dancer and teacher who fled Cambodia after the Khmer Rouge. We learn about the joy she had in teaching and that the genocide of most Cambodians also included loss of dance and ancient temples.

When Sophany arrives to the US, she struggles to heal and feels that she and other children are like shadows without their home. Over time, she finds purpose in creating a Cambodian dance school and teaching young children.

Beautiful illustrations, and the back of the book includes a song written in Khmer language.

Author: Daryn Reicherter

Translator: Bophal Penh

Illustrator: Christy Hale

Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

Where to buy / English ISBN: 9780804845168

Picture books with Chinese and Taiwanese protagonists

Since we have the most amount of these books, please see this dedicated review post: 50 Picture Books About Chinese and Taiwanese Americans for Kids. Whether or not you are Chinese / Taiwanese, you'll find great stories about life, food, family, science, culture, and trailblazers!

Picture books with Filipino protagonists

Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore

Cora is thrilled to have a chance to help her Mama cook in the kitchen! She gets the honor of considering which favorite Filipino dish to cook, and decides to make a noodle dish. Through relatable experiences of fun with exploring and creating delicious food, we learn a few words in Tagalog as well as the special family bond. Really adore this book! This is an "own voices" book written by Filipina-Italian American author Dorina Lazo Gilmore.

Journey for Justice - The Life of Larry Itliong

This is a well-researched, detailed biographical picture book about Larry Itliong for older kids and even adults! We learn about Larry Itliong's childhood and his immigration to the United States where he devotes his life to social justice and co-founds the United Farm Workers Union. Each page is accompanied by expressive, realistic illustrations.

Author: Dawn B. Mabalon, Gayle Romasanta

Illustrator: Andre Sibayan

Publisher: Bridge and Delta Publishing

Where to buy / English ISBN: 9781732199323

On our to-read list:

All About the Philippines: Stories, Songs, Crafts and Games for Kids

Filipino Celebrations: A Treasury of Feasts and Festivals

Picture books with Hmong protagonists

The Most Beautiful Thing

This incredibly stunning and heartwarming "own voices" book celebrates a little girl, Kalia, who is grounded by her strong and softhearted Hmong grandmother. The story begins with the child sharing how "nobody knows how old grandma is". Kalia (and all of us readers) learn about grandma's stories, experience, and wisdom through the intimate experience that family only understands - trimming grandma's toenails: "I squeezed her feet in my arms and pulled them close to my heart, a hug for the hard road she's walked to get to me."

Although we are a different ethnicity from the protagonist, the story reminded me of my own grandmother who had few teeth and an estimated age. This wonderful story triggered memories that I could share with my children.

Picture books with Korean protagonists

Bee-Bim Bop

Bibimbap (비빔밥) is my FAVORITE Korean dish, and it's also one of the very first books we bought after our first child was born. Fun, rhyming text pairs engaging illustrations of a little kid trying to help in the kitchen. The illustrations are so cute and realistic. Highly recommend!

The Paper Kingdom

I absolutely adore this story - probably more than my kids - but it's such a heartwarming message. A little boy has to stay up at night and accompanies his parents to work. Based on the author's own story, the boy's immigrant parents are custodial staff in corporate building. Seeing that the boy is tired and bored, his parents turn the night into adventure through the power of storytelling. They teach him about hard work, responsibility, compassion, and hope. My son was intrigued by the parents' story about the imaginary dragons!

The Name Jar

The Name Jar is a story about acceptance and friendship. Unhei recently moved to the United States from Korea, and she's anxious about fitting in. Instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she decides to have her classmates pick out a new name for her. None of the names seem to fit, and Unhei makes friends who welcome her Korean name.

Dear Juno

Dear Juno is about a special relationship between a American boy and his grandmother who lives in Korea. They send letters to each other - Korean handwriting and photos from grandma and sweet drawings from Juno. And they understand that they miss each other and long to visit.

Danbi Leads the School Parade

Danbi is excited but nervous to start school in America. Initially, she has a rough start trying to figure out how to play and dance with the other kids. But with her creative imagination, she makes up her own game, leading her classmates in a fun, colorful, whimsical parade.

隐形男孩 / 隱形男孩 / Invisible Boy / 보이지 않는 아이
Related: Bullying Prevention Resources for Multilingual and Multicultural Kids
A boy named, Brian, feels invisible as he is continuously excluded from lunch, gym, and parties. One day, a new Korean student, Justin, joins the school and is teased for eating bulgogi at lunch. Brian draws a picture and leaves a note for Justin to tell him that he likes his lunch. As Justin makes new friends, he makes sure to include Brian with the group. This is an important story about inclusion and speaking up for peers.

Where to buy

Traditional Chinese with Zhuyin / ISBN: 9789578640931

Simplified Chinese / ISBN: 9787556201471

Korean / ISBN: 9788994077642

Narration

Books about Korean culture, festivals, Lunar New Year

Check out our 10 favorite Korean Lunar New Year books for kids in English and Korean in this post!

On our to-read list

Turtle Ship

The Firekeeper's Son

Korean American family blogs:

Picture books with Japanese protagonists

Books by Allen Say

Allen Say is a Japanese American author and illustrator who has written several books based on his own family. His books came highly recommended by my Japanese American friend.

Tea with Milk

This story is about how author Allen Say's own parents met! His mother, May, grows up in California with Japanese traditions at home and American customs outside of her house. When they move back to Japan, she struggles with the traditional culture and longs for America. Soon enough, she meets a man at work who understands her and they decide to create their own home together.

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Grandfather's Journey

This Caldecott medal winner book is another personal tribute to Allen Say's family. His illustrations capture emotions like old photographs, and we get a glimpse at his Grandparents balancing Japanese and American culture. Please note that this phrase "yellow men and red men" is used, but we should make it clear to our children that these descriptions are outdated and offensive. In addition, the Japanese child in the book has a blond and blue-eyed doll, the only option during this time in history. This can be a discussion point about diversity in toys.

The Piano Recital

This is a cute story about a girl, Momo, who's nervous about her first piano recital. As she tries to reassure herself "I'll be okay ... I'll be okay ...", she hears a little mouse saying the same words! Momo discovers a tiny theater with fancily-dressed mice performers; she keeps the little mouse company but then realizes she was the one performing all along!

Shark Lady

Shark Lady is a favorite of both of my children! This science picture book celebrates Eugenie Clark, a Japanese-White American marine biologist who passionately studied sharks.

Eugenie quickly discovered that many people believed sharks to be ugly and scary―and they didn't think women should be scientists.

Determined to prove them wrong, Eugenie devoted her life to learning about sharks. After earning several college degrees and making countless discoveries, Eugenie wrote herself into the history of science, earning the nickname "Shark Lady." Through her accomplishments, she taught the world that sharks were to be admired rather than feared and that women can do anything they set their minds to.

An inspiring story by critically acclaimed zoologist

On our to-read list:

All About Japan: Stories, Songs, Crafts and Games for Kids

A Life Made by Hand: The Story of Ruth Asawa

Baseball Saved Us

Picture books with South Asian protagonists

马拉拉的神奇画笔 / 馬拉拉的魔法鉛筆 Malala's Magic Pencil

马拉拉的神奇画笔 / 馬拉拉的魔法鉛筆 Malala's Magic Pencil

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai wrote this autobiographical story about the power of the human voice. She starts with a childhood memory about a TV show that inspired her to dream of a magic pencil. As she grows up, she realizes the magic is her own voice and bravery to speak and write for human rights. Of note, Malala alludes to thetime she was shot by a Taliban gunman vaguely as: "My voice became so powerful that the dangerous men tried to silence me. But they failed." Highly recommend along with Malala's video introduction of her book!

Author: Malala Yousafzai

Illustrator: Kerascoët

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Where to buy:

Simplified Chinese ISBN: 9787556087242

Traditional Chinese ISBN: 9789869633178

Books.com.tw

Kamala and Maya's Big Idea

This picture book is based on a childhood memory of vice president Kamala Harris and her sister. While the family is South Asian (Indian) and Black American, the story focuses on the kids' passion and perseverance for creating a lovely community play space!

Holi · Festival of Colors

Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, is a popular Hindu holiday. This is a gorgeous book geared for preschoolers and Kindergartners, but the vibrant illustrations are attractive for myself! The story focuses on hos the Holi colors are made from natural flowers. Many of our close friends are Indian American, so this was a fun introduction to this festival!

Let's Celebrate 5 Days of Diwali!

This vivacious books gives an overview of Diwali India's Festival of Lights. Told from the perspective of the children, Maya and Neel, we learn about family bonding, Dhanteras, Diwali sweets, Rangoli drawings, and fireworks!

South Asian American family blogs:

Picture books with Thai protagonists

Mela and the Elephant

This adorable fable is about a girl, Mela, who explores the river outside her village but ends up lost when her boat ends up in a jungle. She asks for help from various animals and offers them a reward in return. However, they all take Mela's reward without helping her. Finally, she meets an elephant who volunteers to help without asking for anything in return. Great message about true kindness and generosity.

Hush! A Thai Lullaby

This beautiful book is so calming and peaceful to read for bedtime! Through rhythmic repetition, a Thai mother asks various animals to hush because her baby is sleeping!

On our to-read list:

All About Thailand: Stories, Songs, Crafts and Games for Kids

Picture books with Vietnamese protagonists

A Different Pond

On our to-read list:

All About Vietnam: Stories, Songs, Crafts and Games for Kids

Available for pre-order! Anticipated release July 2021.

10 Khúc Đồng Dao 10 Nursery Rhymes from Vietnam

Author and illustrator: Tiny Wrist

Where to buy / English ISBN: 9798721248795

Vietnamese American blogs:

Picture books with children of diverse abilities

Lianne Ong books - A Place for Us series

A Place for Us is an encouraging series that centers people of all ages with diverse abilities. While the focus is on their struggles and successes rather than Asian culture, it brings awareness and compassion to a topic that is normally taboo in Asian culture. ( Read my interview with Singaporean author, Lianne Ong, in this post).

Author: Lianne Ong

Illustrator: Nicolas Liem

Publisher: Armour Publishing

Where to buy:

A Friend for Henry

This endearing book is from the perspective of an east-Asian appearing boy named Henry who is trying to make friends. Social discussions are challenging for Henry to decode, and it takes time for him to find a friend (Katie) who is compatible with his rules. While his diagnosis isn't explicitly mentioned in the book, the story was inspired by the author's son who has autism spectrum disorder. ( Read interview with author Jenn Bailey on the Los Angeles Public Library Website.)

Gracie's Ears
Related: Living with Hearing Loss and Becoming a Bilingual Audiologist and Mom
Inspired by her adoptive daughter, author Debbie Blackington, shares this story about a girl, Gracie, who is getting hearing aids. Once Gracie gets her hearing device, she is excited about all of the sounds, and her family and friends were happy for her. While this book is lauded for getting kids excited about hearing amplification, please note that it does n persons in the Deaf community prefer no hearing devices.

Author and illustrator: Debbie Blackington

Publisher: Pebbleton Press

Where to buy / English ISBN: 9780976001119

Picture books with multiracial Asian children

In the most recently published Pew Research data, 17% of newlyweds (670,000 people) "entered into a marriage with someone of a different race or ethnicity" in 2015. However, very few picture books with mixed race Asian families exist. The following 3 books are long-standing favorites with white/Asian families. For black/white families, please check out these books about preparing for new siblings and 米可 Chinese books about potty training, new baby, and school. To aspiring authors reading this post, please consider featuring stories about multiracial families!

The Favorite Daughter

As mentioned earlier, Allen Say is a well-known Japanese American author who writes many stories about his family. This story is about his biracial Japanese-White daughter, Yuriko, who's classmates make fun of her name. Even the teacher accidentally calls her "Eureka!" When she wants to rename herself "Michelle", ther father patiently listens and guides her through this difficult time.

Let's Go on a Hike! 我们去远足吧！我們去遠足吧！

This cute rhyming picture book features a little boy who enjoys a hike with his Asian mom and White dad!

Author: Katrina Liu

Illustrator: Heru Setiawan

Where to buy:

You Were the First

We got this book just before my second child was born! It's a beautiful ode to the firstborn, a reminder that they are loved so much even with new younger siblings around. In this picture books, the mother appears Asian while the father is white-passing.

Nine Months

Chinese-American author Jason Chin is known for his science-based books, including Nine Months which has true-to-life-sized embryo/fetus pictures! The family in the story is based on Jason's brother's family: Chinese American father and Mexican American mother.

Kamala and Maya's Big Idea

As mentioned above, this picture book is based on true experiences of vice president Kamala Harris and her sister. While the family is South Asian (Indian) and Black American, the story focuses on the kids' passion and perseverance for creating a lovely community play space!

Children's picture books that celebrate Asians in Chinese

Finding interesting and relatable picture books about Asians by native Chinese / Taiwanese authors has been a challenge. Culturally, fables, comics, and anthropomorphic stories have been the most common in Chinese culture. For Chinese books with realistic Asian protagonists, we have been reading translated Japanese books.

What other favorite picture books with Asian characters do you recommend?

If you end up reading this book, let me know what you think in the comments below!

We'd love to hear about your learning experience and if you agree or disagree with our review! What other books do you recommend?

On Instagram and Facebook, tag a photo @chalkacademy and @chalkacademybooks and use the hashtag #ChalkAcademy so our family can check it out!

Happy reading, friends!

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100 Picture Books That Celebrate Asians in English and Chinese

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As a Chinese-Korean American family, we're honored to share children's picture books that celebrate Asians! Did you know that only 8.7% of children's books published in the United States feature Asian main characters? In contrast, books with non-Asians and anthropomorphic animals are far more accessible.