Best Children's Asian & Asian American Books

With a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark — and follow where it takes us. To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable and angry mark.

“I haven't read anything that has moved me this much since Wonder .”. —Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places A space-obsessed boy and his dog, Carl Sagan, take a journey toward family, love, hope, and awe in this funny and moving novel for fans of Counting by 7s , Walk Two Moons, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time . 11-year-old Alex Petroski loves space and rockets, his mom, his brother, and his dog Carl Sagan—named for his hero, the real-life astronomer. — The New York Times Book Review “Irresistible.” — The Chicago Tribune “The best I've read in a long, long time.” —Holly Goldberg Sloan, author of Counting by 7s “Riveting, inspiring, and sometimes hilarious.” —Kirkus , starred review “A propulsive stream-of-conscious dive.” — Publishers Weekly , starred review “A gift—a miracle.” —Paul Griffin, author When Friendship Followed Me Home “Exuberant.” —Booklist "Full of the real kind of magic." “I love this book—the characters, the story, but most of all, the voice that writer Jack Cheng has created. It’s a story that changes the way you see the world.” —Holly Goldberg Sloan, author of Counting by 7s "Stellar." If extraterrestrials ever did find his Golden iPod, they would think Earthlings were wonderful". I wanted to stay forever in this funny, wise, beautiful world.” —Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places. Alex’s strong voice drives this compelling personal journey with resonant themes of family, friendship, and resilience.” — Publishers Weekly , starred review. “What makes this novel irresistible is Alex himself, a boy who's at once brilliant, clueless and alive with wonder.” — The Chicago Tribune. ★ “A sweet, soulful debut novel with a brilliant, refreshing structure . Taking inspiration from the Voyager Golden Record released to space in 1977, Alex . “[A] life-embracing, stream-of-consciousness tale of family lost and found.” —. The Wall Street Journal. “This novel is a gift—a miracle. Alex fights with all of his magnificent, compassionate heart to remind us that we humans are first, last, and always creatures of hope. His novel made me want to be a better person.” —Paul Griffin, author When Friendship Followed Me Home “Beauty . this unique novel’s journey [is] one totally worth taking.” — The Christian Science Monitor. Mr. Cheng’s incredible storytelling reaffirmed my belief that creativity is still very much alive . His story is full of the real kind of magic—friends well-met, surprising journeys, and heartbreak and hope. "Full of innocence and unwavering optimism, leaving the reader incapable of not rooting for Alex. This book skillfully explores the many emotions of an eleven-year-old boy and shows how young and old alike can bond over a love of science." "Luminous and heartfelt, 11-year-old Alex Petroski’s story will grab your heart and expand it." “[ See You in the Cosmos ] reminded me a little of T he Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon .

This moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing received four starred reviews, including one from Kirkus which proclaimed it "enlightening, poignant, and unexpectedly funny." Written in accessible, short free–verse poems, Hà’s immediate narrative describes her mistakes—both humorous and heartbreaking; and readers will be moved by Hà’s sorrow as they recognize the anguish of being the outcast.” (Booklist (starred review) ). In her not-to-be-missed debut, Lai evokes a distinct time and place and presents a complex, realistic heroine whom readers will recognize, even if they haven’t found themselves in a strange new country.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review) ).

Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. "The line between dramatic monologue, verse novel, and standup comedy gets unequivocally-and hilariously and triumphantly-bent in this novel. "Nimbly blends sharp with unapologetic emotion....fluid narration deftly mingles raw feelings with funny, sardonic insight. "Alexie's humor and prose are easygoing and well suited to his young audience. "Fierce observations and sharp sense of humor...hilarious language.

Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash. Perfect for exploring together at bedtime or for children to browse independently, a gorgeous invitation for children of all backgrounds, and especially for black girls, to learn about black women who were pioneers. "If you want your young reader to have some insight into the role that black women played in the history of this country, this is the perfect gift. "This appealing book reminds young readers that every great leader began as a little leader, taking their first steps towards something big.

But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California during the Great Depression, and to settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers. Praise for Esperanza Rising : *“Told in a lyrical, fairy tale-like style .