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:

The Star Festival

Today I’m Strong

The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk

Daniel’s Matariki Feast

The Bomb

Matariki

The Promise of Puanga: A Story for Matariki

Real to Me

A Map Into the World

Cannonball

A Gift for Ana

Tomatoes for Neela

Tane Steals the Show

Watercress Tuna and the Children of Champion Street

Hurrah for Yum Cha!

Beginnings and Endings With Lifetimes In Between

Danbi Leads the School Parade

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

The Seven Kites of Matariki

Hot Pot Night!

The Paper Kingdom

Luli and the Language of Tea

My Footprints

Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes

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

Mumapalooza

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

Shubh Diwali!

Tiger in My Soup

Cora Cooks Pancit

Pono, the Garden Guardian

Stop That Yawn!

Not That Pet!

Shadow

Same, Same But Different

Mama’s Saris

Hundred Years of Happiness
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:

Grace for President

Tiger Brother: A Tale Told in English and Chinese

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

Halu Bongo!: Be Quiet Bongo!

Mokopuna Matatini

The Kuia and the Spider

Whiti te Rā!

Home is in Between

The Big Bath House

Punky Aloha

‘Ohana Means Family

Koko and the Coconut

Snow Angel, Sand Angel

The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story

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

Beautifully Me

The Girl Who Heard the Music

What I Like Most

The Promise of Puanga: A Story for Matariki

Fatima’s Great Outdoors

I Lalai i Bilembaotuyan

Aloha is…

Lift

White Sunday

The Greatest Haka Festival On Earth

The Boy & The Bindi

Ngā Taonga e Waru mā Te Wheke

Wildlife of Aotearoa

Haka

I Am Kiki! I Love Me!

The Eight Gifts of Te Wheke

Wave

Te Wai Tama and the Moon

My Monster and Me

When I Found Grandma

Hair Twins
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:

Samoan Heroes

The inventor

Thread of Love

When Lola Visits

Koro / Pops

Bilal Cooks Daal

Cook Islands Heroes

Little Nic’s Big World

I Love Me

Kapaemahu

Mokopuna Matatini

My Tree

The Little Book of Joy

The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh

Hats Off to You!

Honu, Honu, Where Are You?

Weaving Earth and Sky: Myths & Legends of Aotearoa

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

Gibberish

How to Wear a Sari

Under My Hijab

The Stolen Stars of Matariki

Sam & Eva

The Library Bus

I Am the Universe

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

Grandpa’s Mixed-Up Lu’au

Peace Bird

The Greatest Haka Festival On Earth

Ho’onani: Hula Warrior

Nanny Mihi and the rainbow

The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky

That’s Not My Name
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:

I Am a Rainbow!

It’s My Egg (And You Can’t Have it)

Suki’s Kimono

Lest We Forget

Tuatara: A Living Treasure

Outside, Inside

Raj’s Rule (for the Bathroom at School)

Nanny Mihi’s Christmas

Kaewa the Kororā

One Weka Went Walking

It’s Diwali!

Tongan Heroes

Mr Kiwi Has an Important Job

Jim’s Letters

Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji

Koro Wētā

The Proud Pūteketeke

Meet the ANZACs

Five Wee Pūteketeke

Pele and Poliahu: A Tale of Fire and Ice

The Most Beautiful Thing

Nanny Mihi and the rainbow

Kākāpō Moon

Nanny Mihi and the Bellbird

Whetū the Little Blue Duck

Pekapeka: Secret Forest Bat

A Pūkeko in a Ponga Tree

Ginger and Chrysanthemum

Drawn Together

Tu Meke Tuatara

The Water Bottle

Malia Shares

The Donkey Man

Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome

I Really Want to See You, Grandma

Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes

My Paati’s Saris

Haka

Naupaka

This is me!

A Sky-Blue Bench

Roly, the Anzac Donkey

We Are The Rock!

The House That Jack Built

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

Manu-rere-i-te-rangi

Kororā and the Sushi Shop

I Am Lupe

Hauraki Broo

Rere Atu Taku Poi!: Let My Poi Fly!

My Mother’s Sari

Caesar the Anzac Dog

Wētā: A Knight in Shining Armour

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

Anzac Day Parade

Hettie’s Christmas Gift

Pūkeko Who-keko?

The Little Yellow Digger Saves Christmas

Laxmi’s Mooch

Christmas in Summer

Aotearoa: the New Zealand story

Sirocco: the Rock-star Kākāpō

True story

Te Ngahere i te Rā: The Forest by Day

You Are Life

Weaving Earth and Sky: Myths & Legends of Aotearoa

Grandad’s Medals

Cowshed Christmas

The Trolley

Little Hector Meets Mini Māui

My Grandad Marches on Anzac Day

One Lonely Kākāpō: A New Zealand Counting Book

Laxmi’s Mooch

Ways to Welcome

Te Ngahere i te Pō: The Forest at Night

Iti: The Hungry Fairy Tern

Wildlife of Aotearoa

Grandpa Grumps

There Are No Moa, e Hoa

Malala’s Magic Pencil

Nature’s Alphabet: A New Zealand Nature Trail

The beach they called Gallipoli

Blue, Blue Christmas

Nanny Mihi’s Treasure Hunt

Kākāpō Dance

Anahera

Pavlova & Presents

The Butterfly Fluttered By

Tamanui: The Brave Kōkako of Taranaki

Saving Wānanga: The True Story of a Kea Rescue

Watson the Detective Dog

Ruru: Night Hunter

Slinky Malinki’s Christmas Crackers





