May 2023 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Literary Resources

Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho

This book tells the story of a young girl who is lifted up by her family to understand how beautiful and valuable they all are, with detailed illustrations that add to each part of the story. Ages 2-5

Butterflies for Kiri by Cathryn Falwell

Kiri is excited when she receives origami papers and a special book of instructions for her birthday. But when she can’t seem to easily make a purple butterfly, she feels frustrated. After working through frustrated feelings and determination, it gets easier each time and Kiri is proud of her work. Ages 5-6

Kiyoshi’s Walk by Mark Karlins

Kiyoshi and his grandfather take a walk through the city and discover that poems, specifically Haiku, come from the ways the world outside of us—sights, sounds, smells, and more—meet the world within each of us and begin to form words in our minds. Ages 5-6

The Boy and the Bindi by Vivek Shraya

In this story, a five-year-old South Asian boy becomes fascinated with his mother’s bindi and wishes to have one of his own. His mother helps him learn how to wear the bindi, and the significance behind this sacred red dot, in a joyful celebration of gender and cultural difference. Ages 4-8

Ho’onani Hula Warrior by Heather Gale

This is the true story of a young girl in Hawai’i who dreams of leading a hula troupe that is traditionally only for boys. Ages 4-8

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

A new girl in school, having just moved from Korea, learns to appreciate her Korean name after her peers initially struggle to pronounce it correctly. Ages 4-8

Watercress by Andrea Wang

This moving, autobiographical story is 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. Ages 6-10

Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix by Jaqueline Briggs Martin and June Jo Lee

A picture book biography of the Korean chef who started the food truck movement in LA.

Ages 8 and up

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang 

Lucy Wu is an aspiring basketball star and interior designer on her way to having the best year ever. Things change quickly, however, when Yi Po, her beloved grandmother’s sister, comes to visit for several months—and will be staying in Lucy’s room. What unfolds is a poignant story about feelings and family. Ages 7-11

Moth and Wasp, Soil and Ocean: Remembering Chinese Scientist Pu Zhelong’s Work for Sustainable Farming by Sigrid Schmatzer 

This is the story of a farm boy who, inspired by Pu Zhelong, became a scientist himself. This story is told through the memories of many young farmers, a composite of people inspired by Pu Zhelong. Readers will learn more about the natural history of insects, and sustainable agriculture. Ages 9 and up

We Are Here: 30 Inspiring Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Have Shaped the United States by Naomi Hirahara

This anthology highlights thirty Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the impact they’ve had on the cultural, social, and political fabric of the United States. Ages 11 and up

Asian American Histories of the United States by Catherine Ceniza Choy

This book contains significant events from the past 200 years emphasizing how essential Asian-American experiences are to any understanding of US history. Age: Adults