AsianLit for Kids Book Diverse Book List for Inclusive Bookshop
As you diversify your bookshelves, consider these recent releases that include characters that represent our vast, diverse world.
Shuli (she/her) is creator of the Instagram @AsianLitforKids, and the Content Lead at LittleFeminist.com – a monthly book club subscription and publishing house. By day, she is an assistant principal at an elementary school.
She is proudly a third culture kid who holds her Chinese Malaysian American identity with gratitude. Much of her perspective she attributes to her ability to stand in multiple places and to wrestle with what home and belonging means.
Shuli lives in Oakland, California with her husband and two strong, spirited, and vibrant daughters.
Little Heroes of Color by David Heredia
Recommended age: 3-5 years
In a society where whiteness is constantly centered and where so many contributions of people of color have been scrubbed from history books, this gem of a book is such a great springboard for all children.
Storytelling Math: Usha and the Big Digger by Amitha Jagannath Knight and Sandhya Prabhat
Recommended age: 3-6 years
Usha and her sisters are enjoying an evening of sta
rgazing, but they keep seeing the constellations as different shapes. This clever book about perspective centers on a sibling relationship and about flexibility of thought is a super fun read.
El Cucuy Is Scared Too by Donna Barba Higuera and Juliana Perdomo
Recommended age: 4-8 years
This book spins on the head the concept of the scary bedtime monster. Taking a common Latinx childhood fear, El Cucuy, the story is instead anchored in the fact that he is scared too. The main character helps him feel brave, and when doing so, helps himself feel brave.
Amara and the Bats by Emma Reynolds
Recommended age: 4-8 years
This is such a wonderful book about youth passion that turns into youth activism. When Amara notices that it’s been a long while since she’s seen the bats, she shows perseverance and hope as she learns about their changed environment, and builds new homes for them. What a great example of caring about the world and doing small things that make big differences.
Zonia’s Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal
Recommended age: 4-8 years
This lovely book that showcases a number of animals that make their home in the Amazon rainforests is also a book that packs impact into its simple text. Zonia, an indigenous girl who makes the rainforest her home, is negatively impacted along with the animals she lives alongside by the deforestation and harm to her home.
Bella’s Recipe for Success by Ana Siqueira and Geraldine Rodriguez
Recommended age: 4-7 years
Have a perfectionist in your home? Need an inspiring book about how to approach mistakes and frustrations? This delightful read about Bella who is trying to make a great Polvorones con Dulce de Leche but fails along the way is a wonderful example of the importance of having a growth mindset. This immensely relatable book is a great reminder for us all.
Bubbles Up! By Jacqueline Davies and Sonia Sánchez
Recommended age: 4-8 years old
This is the perfect summer read, a read for all those who are learning how to swim, how to be brave, and who need a reminder about the joy of a summer swim. This one is filled with vibrant art and captivating language.
Like a Dandelion by Huy Voun Lee
Recommended age: 4-8 years
This is a book for all the immigrants and refugees who find themselves transplanted to a new home. Inspired by the author’s own experience as a refugee from Cambodia, this simple book is about the initial shyness of stepping into a new school, and the seasons that follow. The metaphor of a dandelion, both delicate and tough, is a powerful one.
Moon Pops by Heena Baek and Jieun Kiaer
Recommended age: 4 – 7 years
This lovely tale is a wonderful modern story, spun with the stuff of legends that reach back in time – a story about rabbits on the moon during the Korean thanksgiving. With its mixed media art, and moody and suspenseful backdrop – this book is a delight.
We Move the World by Kari Lavelle and Nabi H. Ali
Recommended age: 4-8 years
We Move the World is a celebration for all the milestones our littles make: first steps, first words, learning to care for others. Each milestone is accompanied with a blurb about spectacular individuals (mainly American, but not all) who, with their actions, have made significant change and shown great bravery.
Shuli (she/her) is creator of the Instagram @AsianLitforKids, and the Content Lead at LittleFeminist.com – a monthly book club subscription and publishing house. By day, she is an assistant principal at an elementary school.
She is proudly a third culture kid who holds her Chinese Malaysian American identity with gratitude. Much of her perspective she attributes to her ability to stand in multiple places and to wrestle with what home and belonging means.
Shuli lives in Oakland, California with her husband and two strong, spirited, and vibrant daughters.
