May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada. Celebrate with these books for all ages!
A Garden In My Hands by Meera Sriram and Sandhya Prabhat
A mother shares family memories and stories with her daughter as she applies henna to the young girl's hands. Ages 4 to 8.
Lolo's Sari-Sari Store by Sophia N. Lee and Christine Almeda
After moving to the United States, a young girl reminisces about her time helping her Lolo run his sari-sari store in the Philippines and uses some of his wisdom to make herself feel more at home. Ages 4 to 8.
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi and Shannon Tyo
The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she? Ages 4 to 8.
Ramen for Everyone by Patricia Tanumihardja and Shiho Pate
A young boy aspires to make a bowl of ramen as delicious as his dad's, and runs into some surprises—both delightful and disastrous—on his first attempt. Ages 4 to 8.
The Door Is Open by Hena Khan
Discover stories of fear, triumph and spectacular celebration in this warm-hearted novel of interconnected stories that celebrate the diversity of South Asian American experiences in a local community center. Ages 8 to 12.
Finally Seen by Kelly Yang
When ten-year-old Lina Gao leaves China to live with her parents and sister after five years apart, she must reckon with her hurt, anger and curiosity and find a way to get her bearings in this new country—and the almost-new family that comes along with it. Ages 9 to 12.
Soul Lanterns by Shaw Kuzki and Emily Balistrieri
The haunting and poignant story of how a young Japanese girl's understanding of the historic and tragic bombing of Hiroshima is transformed by a memorial lantern-floating ceremony. Ages 10+.
Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim by Patricia Park
Patricia Park’s coming-of-age novel about a multicultural (Korean and Latinx) teen caught between worlds and the future she is building for herself is an incisive, laugh-out-loud, provocative read.
Chasing Pacquiao by Rod Pulido
Being out and queer would put an unavoidable target on Bobby's back, especially in a Filipino community that frowns on homosexuality. When he is unwillingly outed, he no longer has the luxury of being invisible. A vicious encounter has him scrambling for a new way to survive: fighting back. Inspired by champion Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, he takes up boxing and challenges his tormentor. Then Pacquiao publicly declares his stance against queer people, and Bobby's faith in his hero and himself is shaken to the core.
Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao
Laura Gao illustrates her coming-of-age as the “friendly neighbourhood alien” who simply wants to make the basketball team, escape Chinese school and figure out why girls make her heart flutter, so she can fit in with her white and straight American friends. But as she revisits Wuhan, she wonders if she can ever be Chinese enough in the place she once belonged or American enough in the place she now calls home.
Home of the Floating Lily: Stories by Silmy Abdullah
Set in Canada and Bangladesh, the eight stories in Home of the Floating Lily follow the lives of everyday people as they navigate the complexities of migration, displacement, love, friendship and familial conflict.
Toward the North: Stories by Chinese Canadian Writers edited by Hua Laura Wu, Xueqing Xu and Corinne Bieman Davies
An anthology of thirteen short fiction pieces written and translated by Chinese Canadian writers during the last two decades, each depicting the contemporary lives of new Chinese immigrants to Canada and illustrating newcomers' perspectives of multicultural Canada.
My Name is Not Harry: A Memoir by Haroon Siddiqui
Toronto Star editor Haroon Siddiqui shows how Canada let him succeed on his terms. Coming from India in 1967, he refused to forget his past. He didn't change his name, didn't dilute his dignity, or compromise his conscience or dissident views.
Southeast Asia: A Very Short Introduction James R. Rush
This Very Short Introduction explores the contemporary character of Southeast Asia's national societies through the lens of their historical evolution, from the eras of Indigenous kingdoms and colonies under Western rule to the present's independent nation-states.
