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Asian Culture
Explore and learn aspects of Chinese, Japanese and other Asian cultures
Bee-bim Bop!
Food, Asian Culture
A Korean American girl celebrates food and family in this cheerful board book about cooking a special meal by Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park.
In bouncy rhyming text, an excited and hungry child tells about helping her mother make bee-bim bop: shopping, preparing ingredients, setting the table, and finally sitting down with her family to enjoy a favorite meal.
The energy and enthusiasm of the young narrator are conveyed in the whimsical illustrations, which bring details from the artist’s childhood in Korea to his depiction of a modern Korean American family.
Counting With Dim Sum
Food, Counting, Asian Culture
Introduce your bitty babes to their first counting book that not only captures their attention and teaches them counting in two languages, but also celebrates Chinese culture!
Counting in two languages is so much fun with our dim sum friends!
Dim sum is everyone’s favorite late-morning-to-lunchtime meal shared between family and friends. Our counting book utilizes dim sum’s little dishes, accompanied by a pot of tea, as the subject for children to practice their counting. Children and adults alike will be delighted to find their favorite snacks included in the book as they turn each page.
Our counting book squeezes in lots of extra learning opportunities and skills, such as encouraging one-to-one correspondence while practicing counting on a numberline, extra fun facts about Chinese language, and a non-fiction page with real-life pictures of dim sum items in the picture glossary.
Parents will adore this eye-catching bilingual Chinese-English read due to its effortless integration of Chinese culture through the introduction of everyone’s favorite dim sum dishes. Children will love the vibrant colors and the expressive faces in the artwork which help to make learning so much fun for everyone!
Dumplings for Lili
Food, Community, Asian Leads
An NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Recommended Book
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
A heartfelt picture book celebration of food, community, and family―and little dumpling treasures from around the world.
Lili loves to cook baos, and Nai Nai has taught her all the secrets to making them, from kneading the dough lovingly and firmly to being thankful for the strong and healthy ingredients in the filling. But when Nai Nai realizes that they are out of cabbage (Secret #8: line the basket with cabbage leaves!), she sends Lili up to Babcia’s apartment on the sixth floor to get some. Babcia is happy to share her cabbage, but she needs some potatoes for her pierogi. . . .
What follows is a race up and down the stairs as Lili helps all the grandmothers in her building borrow ingredients for different dumplings: Jamaican beef patties, Italian ravioli, Lebanese fatayer, and more. Energized by Melissa Iwai’s engaging artwork and kinetic storytelling, Dumplings for Lili is a joyful story of sharing food, friendship, and love in all their forms.
Full color throughout
Everyday Heroes
Asian Culture
There are so many people working hard in our community each and every day. Thank you for all you do! Dedicated with love to all of our hardworking essential workers!
A high-quality, engaging, and culturally relevant Chinese bilingual book for all families. All Bitty Bao books include all of the necessary language elements to support each family member wherever they may be in their language learning journey.
Engaging pictures for the youngest of readers
拼音 (Pīn yīn) for non-native speakers
MANDARIN - Simplified characters version comes with 拼音 (Pīn yīn) for non-native speakers and English
CANTONESE - Traditional characters version comes with jyutping for non-native speakers and English
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners
Diverse Leads, NY Times Best Seller, Asian Culture
This lyrical, stunning picture book tells a story about learning to love and celebrate your Asian-shaped eyes, in the spirit of Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, and is a celebration of diversity.
A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers'. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother’s, her grandmother's, and her little sister's. They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future.
Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her own beauty and discovers a path to self-love and empowerment. This powerful, poetic picture book will resonate with readers of all ages.
"This tale of self-acceptance and respect for one’s roots is breathtaking.” —Kirkus (starred review)
“A young girl finds beauty in her uniqueness.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
“A lyrical celebration of her eyes, their shape, spirit, and legacy.” —Booklist (starred review)
“A poignant testament to familial love and legacy.” —Publishers Weekly
Plus don't miss the beautiful companion book from the same team: Eyes That Speak to the Stars.
Eyes That Speak to the Stars
Diverse Leads, Asian Culture
A young boy comes to recognize his own power and ability to change the future. When a friend at school creates a hurtful drawing, the boy turns to his family for comfort. He realizes that his eyes rise to the skies and speak to the stars, shine like sunlit rays, and glimpse trails of light from those who came before—in fact, his eyes are like his father’s, his agong’s, and his little brother’s, and they are visionary.
Inspired by the men in his family, he recognizes his own power and strength from within. This extraordinary picture book redefines what it means to be truly you.
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners received three starred reviews and was embraced as "breathtaking," "lyrical," and "poignant." This companion volume is sure to be welcomed with equal joy.
January/February 2021 Kids’ Indie Next List
An Amazon January Best Book of the Month
Filipino Celebrations
Asian Culture
This multicultural children's book is full of Filipino holidays, culture, language and stories!
In the Philippines, people love to celebrate—holidays are filled with music and dancing, sometimes with colorful costumes, and always with great food! Rich with detailed watercolors and cultural flavor, Filipino Celebrations: A Treasury of Feasts and Festivals makes major holidays (like Christmas) and family gatherings (like weddings and birthdays) come alive.
From these pages, children will learn the history of each holiday, its cultural influences, the varied ways in which people celebrate in different regions of the Philippines, special customs and food, key words and phrases (in English and Tagalog), and more. Games, songs, and other activities invite young readers to join in the fun. New and familiar holidays take on a special flavor as children learn about the diverse cultures that make up this wonderful island nation. Perfect for Filipino-American families looking to share the unique culture of the Philippines, educators interested in promoting multiculturalism in the classroom, or anyone interested in the country, Filipino Celebrations will encourage children ages five to ten to participate and learn while having fun.
Celebrations and festivals include:
Mga Kaarawan—Birthdays
Semana Santa—Holy Week
Mga Barrio Fiestas—Town Festivals
Mga Binyag—Baptisms
Araw ng Kalayaan—Independence Day and more!
Filipino Children's Favorite Stories
Asian Culture, Folktales
Filipino Children's Favorite Stories presents thirteen well-loved myths and tales from the Philippines. These stories will enchant six to ten-year-old readers around the world with their wit and charm. Many of the tales have been transmitted from mother to child over centuries, and cover classic childhood themes—such as the forces of good triumphing over evil, children rebelling against adults and the weak prevailing over the strong. They make perfect new additions for story time or bedtime reading.
Narrated with an international audience in mind and illustrated with whimsical watercolors by award-winning artist Joanne de Leon, this is a must-have collection of tales for anyone interested in the Philippines.
Featured Filipino stories include:
Why Mosquitoes Buzz Around Our Ears
The Magic Lake>
The Deer and the Snail
Why the Cock Crows
The Prince's Bride
Filipino Friends and More
Asian Culture
From the author of Filipino Children's Favorite Stories comes a book for young children that features a Filipino-American boy visiting the Philippines for the very first time. Each watercolor illustration is labeled with English words and their Filipino translations and shows readers both the similarities and differences between Western and Philippine lifestyles. Filipino Friends, perfect for Filipino-American's or those just interested in the culture, is indispensable in bridging the gap between the two cultures.
Following the sweet multicultural children's story, kids will learn about Philippine customs and traditions, including:
Filipino festivals and celebrations
Traditional dress
Snacks and meals
Songs and games
The Filipino language—Tagalog—and more!
First Book of Sushi
Food, Asian Culture
Miso in my sippy cup, tofu in my bowl! From tekka maki to wasabi, tasty treats await young readers in this colorful, rhyming ode to Japanese cuisine. With pages full of tummy-tempting foods, the books in the World Snacks series are a delicious way to introduce even the littlest eaters to cuisines from all around the globe.
My First Book of Japanese Words
Asian Culture, Alphabet
The words profiled in this book are all commonly used in the Japanese language and are both informative and fun for English-speaking children to learn. The goals of My First Book of Japanese Words are multiple: to familiarize children with the sounds and structure of Japanese speech, to introduce core elements of Japanese culture, to illustrate the ways in which languages differ in their treatment of everyday sounds and to show how, through cultural importation, a single word can be shared between languages.
Both teachers and parents will welcome the book's cultural and linguistic notes and appreciate how the book is organized in a familiar ABC structure. Each word is presented in Kanji (when applicable), Kana, and Romanized form (Romaji).
With the help of this book, we hope more children (and adults) will soon be a part of the 125 million people worldwide that speak Japanese!
My First Book of Tagalog Words
Asian Culture
My First Book of Tagalog Words is a beautifully illustrated book that introduces young children to Filipino language and culture through everyday words.
The words profiled in this book are all commonly used in the Filipino language and are both informative and fun for English-speaking children to learn. The goals of My First Book of Tagalog Words are multiple: to familiarize children with the sounds and structure of the Tagalog language; to introduce core elements of Filipino culture; to illustrate the ways in which languages differ in their treatment of everyday sounds; and to show how, through cultural importation, a single word can be shared between languages.
Both teachers and parents will welcome the book's cultural references and appreciate how the book is organized in a familiar ABC structure. With the help of this book, we hope more children (and adults) will soon be a part of the 22 million people worldwide that speak Tagalog!
Rapunzel
Diverse Leads, Asian Culture, Modernized Classics
The classic story of Rapunzel gets a fresh twist in this vibrant Indian spin on the beloved fairy tale!
Once upon a time, there was a girl with long, long hair, who lived in a tall, tall tower...
The classic tale of Rapunzel gets a fresh twist in this third book of a brand-new board book series, Once Upon a World. With India as the backdrop, and vibrant artwork from illustrator Archana Sreenivasan, Rapunzel is still the same girl who lets down her beautiful hair—but she’s totally reimagined. Once Upon a World offers a multicultural take on the fairy tales we all know and love. Because these tales are for everyone, everywhere.
The Empty Pot
Diverse Leads, Asian Culture, Gardening
The Empty Pot is Demi's beloved picture book about an honest schoolboy
A long time ago in China there was a boy named Ping who loved flowers. Anything he planted burst into bloom.
The Emperor loved flowers too. When it was time to choose an heir, he gave a flower seed to each child in the kingdom. "Whoever can show me their best in a year's time," he proclaimed, "shall succeed me to the throne!"
Ping plants his seed and tends it every day. But month after month passes, and nothing grows. When spring comes, Ping must go to the Emperor with nothing but an empty pot.
Demi's exquisite art and beautifully simple text show how Ping's embarrassing failure is turned triumphant in this satisfying tale of honesty rewarded.
The Name Jar
Diverse Leads
Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it—Yoon-Hey.
The Ugly Vegetables
Food, Diverse Leads
A Chinese-American girl and her mother grow a vegetable garden in a neighborhood where everyone else grows flowers. The girl thinks their plants are ugly compared to flowers, but soon learns that vegetables can make a very delicious soup one that the whole neighborhood wants to try. Soon everyone is growing Chinese vegetables as well as flowers.
Tikki Tikki Tembo
Asian Culture, Folktales
Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-
chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo!
Three decades and more than one million copies later children still love hearing about the boy with the long name who fell down the well. Arlene Mosel and Blair Lent's classic re-creation of an ancient Chinese folktale has hooked legions of children, teachers, and parents, who return, generation after generation, to learn about the danger of having such an honorable name as Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo.
Tikki Tikki Tembo is the winner of the 1968 Boston Globe - Horn Book Award for Picture Books.
Watercress
Caldecott Medal, Asian Culture, Diverse Leads
While driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl's Chinese immigrant parents spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. They stop the car, grabbing rusty scissors and an old paper bag, and the whole family wades into the mud to gather as much as they can.
At first, she's embarrassed. Why can't her family just get food from the grocery store, like everyone else? But when her mother shares a bittersweet story of her family history in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged—and the memories left behind in pursuit of a new life.
Together, they make a new memory of watercress.
Author Andrea Wang calls this moving, autobiographical story “both an apology and a love letter to my parents.” It’s a bittersweet, delicate look at how sharing the difficult parts of our histories can create powerful new moments of family history, and help connect us to our roots.
Jason Chin’s illustrations move between China and the American Midwest and were created with a mixture of traditional Chinese brushes and western media. The dreamy, nostalgic color palette brings this beautiful story to life.
An endnote from the author describes her personal connection to the story, and an illustrator’s note touches on both the process of the painting, and the emotional meaning brought to the work.
Zen Shorts
Asian Culture, Gratitude, Caldecott Medal
"Michael," said Karl. "There's a really big bear in the backyard." This is how three children meet Stillwater, a giant panda who moves into the neighborhood and tells amazing tales. To Addy he tells a story about the value of material goods. To Michael he pushes the boundaries of good and bad. And to Karl he demonstrates what it means to hold on to frustration. With graceful art and simple stories that are filled with love and enlightenment, Jon Muth -- and Stillwater the bear -- present three ancient Zen tales that are sure to strike a chord in everyone they touch.
meaningful additions
Children hear more than we think. Books provide context for new and potentially confusing topics, and give caregivers a way to approach complex topics.
Amazing, highly curated books organized by topics, including strong female leads, LGBTQ family, Black Lives Matter, grandparents and more.

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