Please note:
This is a dynamic and living document and will be updated as we add more resources.
We have a number of related posts in the works as of 10 May 2023 - so watch this space!
Let's celebrate and highlight these brilliant creators all the year around, and not just one month.
~ Anne.
As you can tell by the full name – Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI) is a United States creation.
As someone of Pāhekā (white settler) descent, living in an archipelago in the Pacific, I needed to do some research on this topic before putting my hand up to help collate this post.
I remember friends, in the US, posting around this time of year – about how the focus is on Asia (and a very narrow laser beam at that): where are the posts and resources highlighting the Pacific Islander aspect!?
Since 1 May 2023, I have seen posts and comments asking this exact question.
Storytime Solidarity is committed to being as representative as we can.
To know better. To do better.
To learn.
So, this post is part of my commitment to making sure ALL letters in the acronym are represented and celebrated this month – and every day.
~ Anne, Tāmaki Makarau Auckland; Aotearoa New Zealand.
What countries and cultures are included?
This is not an exhaustive list. Nor does it cover all aspects of a person’s identity. The below groups are taken from the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence:
Asian Americans:
The US Census bureau, defines this as people with origins in the indigenous / original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent. However, that is NOT all the areas covered by the blanket term ‘Asian’.
Try to think more widely than the obvious groups. From my reading of social media, and recommended booklists, the majority of material focuses on those of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese heritage.
- Central Asian: Afghan, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgians, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Mongolian, Tajik, Turkmen, Uzbek.
- East Asian: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Okinawan, Taiwanese, Tibetan.
- Southeast Asian: Bruneian, Burmese, Cambodian, Filipino, Hmong, Indonesian, Laotian, Malaysian, Mien, Singaporean, Timorese, Thai, Vietnamese.
- South Asian: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Indian, Maldivians, Nepali, Pakistani, Sri Lankan.
- West Asians: This is a contested term, and refers to the area more commonly known as the Middle East. I have not included these resources in this post.
Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders:
- (In the U.S. Jurisdictions & Territories) Carolinian, Chamorro, Chuukese, Fijian, Guamanian, Hawaiian, Kosraean, Marshallesse, Native Hawaiian, Niuean, Palauan, Pohnpeian, Papua New Guinean, Samoan, Tokelauan, Tongan, Yapese.
Think of the wider groupings of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
For the purposes of this I have included some Indigenous Australian creators. Their culture deserves to be celebrated and acknowledged as the taonga (treasure) they are. They are descended from those who first left Africa up to 75,000 years ago.
Books by creators of AANHPI heritage: Part One:

Mumapalooza

One Wish: Fatima Al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University

Not That Pet!

Hurrah for Yum Cha!

Today I’m Strong

My Footprints

Pa and the Dolphins: A True Story of Pa, Rarotongan Hero and His Return Journey to Tahiti

The Seven Kites of Matariki

Hot Pot Night!

The Promise of Puanga: A Story for Matariki

Matariki around the World: A Cluster of Stars, A Cluster of Stories

Daniel’s Matariki Feast

The Star Festival

Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes

Cannonball

Shubh Diwali!

Matariki

Tiger in My Soup

A Map Into the World

Hundred Years of Happiness

Tomatoes for Neela

The Bomb

The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk

A Gift for Ana

Cora Cooks Pancit

Watercress Tuna and the Children of Champion Street

Danbi Leads the School Parade

Same, Same But Different

Luli and the Language of Tea

Pono, the Garden Guardian

The Paper Kingdom

Shadow

Beginnings and Endings With Lifetimes In Between

Stop That Yawn!

Mama’s Saris

Real to Me

Tane Steals the Show
Interviews and posts to explore:
The Storytime Solidarity site has some wonderful interviews and posts, which cover aspects of AANHPI Heritage Month:
Books by creators of AANHPI heritage: Part Two:

Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon

Beautifully Me

The Girl Who Heard the Music

‘Ohana Means Family

Ngā Taonga e Waru mā Te Wheke

Grace for President

Wave

The Greatest Haka Festival On Earth

The Promise of Puanga: A Story for Matariki

When I Found Grandma

Wildlife of Aotearoa

Halu Bongo!: Be Quiet Bongo!

I Am Kiki! I Love Me!

Haka

My Monster and Me

The Kuia and the Spider

Mohala Mai’o Hau / How Hau Became ‘Hau’Ula

Te Wai Tama and the Moon

Aloha is…

The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story

Punky Aloha

Snow Angel, Sand Angel

The Big Bath House

Koko and the Coconut

I Lalai i Bilembaotuyan

The Boy & The Bindi

Mokopuna Matatini

Home is in Between

Fatima’s Great Outdoors

The Eight Gifts of Te Wheke

What I Like Most

Lift

Hair Twins

Tiger Brother: A Tale Told in English and Chinese

Whiti te Rā!

White Sunday
Songs to share
A greeting song in te reo Māori (the Māori language) and English.
I am adding more te reo Māori songs to our database, so keep an eye out!
This will become your latest earworm!
Please explore the Lyrics We Love section for more amazing Little Miss Ann songs to share!
Music & words by Rose Oyamot Rodriguez of Ukulele Storytime.
We are adding more of Rose’s songs onto our database!
Savalivali
There are many versions around of this popular Samoan song, but I found this one was perfect for an audience of storytimers.
Ms. Christina shares some inspirational ukulele videos. May they encourage you to pick up this joyful instrument for storytime!
Honoka & Azita – “Bodysurfing.”
Jake Shimabukuro – “Passport.”
Feng E – covers “Classical Gas” by Mason Williams.
Books by creators of AANHPI heritage: Part Three:

Little Nic’s Big World

Gibberish

Under My Hijab

Grandpa’s Mixed-Up Lu’au

The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky

Kapaemahu

I Love Me

The Library Bus

When Lola Visits

Pan de Sal Saves the Day: A Filipino Children’s Story

Nanny Mihi and the rainbow

My Tree

I Am the Universe

Koro / Pops

The Greatest Haka Festival On Earth

Mokopuna Matatini

The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh

Ho’onani: Hula Warrior

Sam & Eva

Peace Bird

Matariki around the World: A Cluster of Stars, A Cluster of Stories

Bilal Cooks Daal

The inventor

Cook Islands Heroes

The Little Book of Joy

That’s Not My Name

How to Wear a Sari

Weaving Earth and Sky: Myths & Legends of Aotearoa

Samoan Heroes

Hats Off to You!

Thread of Love

The Stolen Stars of Matariki

Honu, Honu, Where Are You?
Literature organisations with global focus:
International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY): https://www.ibby.org/
World Kid Lit https://worldkidlit.wordpress.com/
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative https://glli-us.org/
Books by creators of AANHPI heritage: Part Four:

Critters of Aotearoa: 50 Bizarre but Lovable Members of Our Wildlife Community

Raj’s Rule (for the Bathroom at School)

Pele and Poliahu: A Tale of Fire and Ice

Pekapeka: Secret Forest Bat

Drawn Together

Ruru: Night Hunter

Hauraki Broo

Malala’s Magic Pencil

Mr Kiwi Has an Important Job

Laxmi’s Mooch

Watson the Detective Dog

Slinky Malinki’s Christmas Crackers

The Most Beautiful Thing

Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes

Pūkeko Who-keko?

I Am Lupe

Haka

Blue, Blue Christmas

The Donkey Man

It’s My Egg (And You Can’t Have it)

Suki’s Kimono

Kaewa the Kororā

Wildlife of Aotearoa

The beach they called Gallipoli

The Little Yellow Digger Saves Christmas

The House That Jack Built

Kākāpō Moon

Grandpa Grumps

Whetū the Little Blue Duck

It’s Diwali!

A Sky-Blue Bench

Malia Shares

Tu Meke Tuatara

Lest We Forget

Hettie’s Christmas Gift

You Are Life

Grandad’s Medals

Nanny Mihi’s Christmas

Tamanui: The Brave Kōkako of Taranaki

This is me!

Cowshed Christmas

Iti: The Hungry Fairy Tern

Outside, Inside

Nanny Mihi’s Treasure Hunt

Anahera

Anzac Day Parade

Jim’s Letters

Tuatara: A Living Treasure

The Butterfly Fluttered By

Wētā: A Knight in Shining Armour

Sirocco: the Rock-star Kākāpō

Kororā and the Sushi Shop

Laxmi’s Mooch

Pavlova & Presents

Naupaka

True story

My Mother’s Sari

I Really Want to See You, Grandma

Te Ngahere i te Pō: The Forest at Night

Koro Wētā

A Pūkeko in a Ponga Tree

My Grandad Marches on Anzac Day

Saving Wānanga: The True Story of a Kea Rescue

Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji

There Are No Moa, e Hoa

Aotearoa: the New Zealand story

I Am a Rainbow!

Rere Atu Taku Poi!: Let My Poi Fly!

The Proud Pūteketeke

Te Ngahere i te Rā: The Forest by Day

Christmas in Summer

Little Hector Meets Mini Māui

Weaving Earth and Sky: Myths & Legends of Aotearoa

Manu-rere-i-te-rangi

Ways to Welcome

Tongan Heroes

Nanny Mihi and the rainbow

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

One Weka Went Walking

One Lonely Kākāpō: A New Zealand Counting Book

Nanny Mihi and the Bellbird

The Trolley

The Eels of ANZAC Bridge

Five Wee Pūteketeke

Caesar the Anzac Dog

Meet the ANZACs

Roly, the Anzac Donkey

We Are The Rock!

My Paati’s Saris

Nature’s Alphabet: A New Zealand Nature Trail

Ginger and Chrysanthemum

Kākāpō Dance

Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome





