APIDA Literature

Compiled by PanAPIDA Circle, this section offers a variety of literature by APIDA authors for both children and adults, as well as helpful links for finding other diverse literature. This section is currently under construction, so please come back as we continue to add more resources!

Some books for children by and about Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans (Compiled by PanAPIDA Circle)

Picture books / Chapter books:

Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho
Where Three Oceans Meet by Rajani LaRocca
Drawn Together by Minh Lê
The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar
I am an American: The Wong Kim Ark Story by Martha Brockenbrough and Grace Lin
Ohana means Family by Ilima Loomis
Bilaal Cooks Dal by Aisha Saeed
The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho
When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling
Bee-Bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park
Snow Angel, Sand Angel by Lois-Ann Yamanaka
A Different Pond by Bao Phi
A Map Into the World by Kao Kalia Yang When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller Your Place in the Universe by Jason Chin Yasmin by Saadia Faruqi

Middle Grade Books:

Red, White and Whole by Rajani LaRocca
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chockshi

Compiled by PanAPIDA Circle

Other APIDA Book Lists:

May 2023: The Boston Public Library releases a book list during APAHM to honor and celebrate the history and experiences of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American communities.

Websites for diverse books:

We Need Diverse Books: https://diversebooks.org
Diverse Book Finder: https://diversebookfinder.org/
Themed Diverse Lists by culture/issue/topic: https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/