May has a lot of “holidays”: Mother’s Day, May Day, Star Wars Day, Cinco de Mayo (and that’s just the first week!). But it’s also Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and I thought we’d celebrate by highlighting (in a non-comprehensive list) some of the great books we’ve had by and about the AAPI experience.
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51zZys5UfEL._SY398_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
Watercress
by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin
Neal Porter Books
2021 winner, Fiction Picture Books
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51nCfRtDB-L._SX342_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
Measuring Up
by Lily LaMotte, illustrated by Ann Xu
HarperAlley
2021 winner, Middle Grade Graphic Novels
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51pcUnCBxUL._SY425_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
Sakamoto’s Swim Club: How a Teacher Led an Unlikely Team to Victory
by Julie Abery, illustrated by Chris Sasaki
Kids Can Press, Ltd
2021 Finalist, Elementary Nonfiction
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51XSXVcT1TL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom
by Sangu Mandanna
Viking Books for Young Readers
2021 finalist, Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51HXsZvW+nL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners
by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dung Ho
HarperCollins
2021 nominee, Fiction Picture Books
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51xUNsiQgKL._SX330_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
Superman Smashes the Clan
by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Gurihiru
DC Zoom
2020 Winner, Young Adult Graphic Novels
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Gyxj9+mrL._SX350_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
A Wish in the Dark
by Christina Soontornvat
Candlewick Press
2020 Finalist, Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51O4ES5lx2L._SY498_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
‘Ohana Means Family
by Ilima Loomis, illustrated by Kenard Pak
Neal Porter Books
2020 Nominee, Fiction Picture Book
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/415YACK2ROL._SX344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
They Called Us Enemy
by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and illustrated by Harmony Becker
Top Shelf Productions
2019 Finalist, Young Adult Graphic Novels
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51+i3oSvLrL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl
by Debbi Michiko Florence
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
2018 Winner, Early Chapter Books