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:

Matariki

Daniel’s Matariki Feast

The Promise of Puanga: A Story for Matariki

Danbi Leads the School Parade

Today I’m Strong

The Bomb

Hot Pot Night!

Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes

Tiger in My Soup

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

Tomatoes for Neela

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

Watercress Tuna and the Children of Champion Street

Hundred Years of Happiness

The Seven Kites of Matariki

A Gift for Ana

Luli and the Language of Tea

Beginnings and Endings With Lifetimes In Between

Cannonball

Shubh Diwali!

Cora Cooks Pancit

Mumapalooza

My Footprints

Pono, the Garden Guardian

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

Tane Steals the Show

Hurrah for Yum Cha!

The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk

Real to Me

A Map Into the World

Not That Pet!

The Paper Kingdom

Same, Same But Different

Shadow

Stop That Yawn!

The Star Festival

Mama’s Saris
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:

I Lalai i Bilembaotuyan

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

Home is in Between

Whiti te Rā!

Te Wai Tama and the Moon

Grace for President

Beautifully Me

Haka

I Am Kiki! I Love Me!

White Sunday

Halu Bongo!: Be Quiet Bongo!

The Big Bath House

The Kuia and the Spider

What I Like Most

Tiger Brother: A Tale Told in English and Chinese

Wildlife of Aotearoa

Hair Twins

Ngā Taonga e Waru mā Te Wheke

The Greatest Haka Festival On Earth

When I Found Grandma

Wave

My Monster and Me

Fatima’s Great Outdoors

The Eight Gifts of Te Wheke

The Promise of Puanga: A Story for Matariki

Lift

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

‘Ohana Means Family

The Girl Who Heard the Music

Mokopuna Matatini

The Boy & The Bindi

The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story

Snow Angel, Sand Angel

Koko and the Coconut

Punky Aloha

Aloha is…
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:

The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh

Samoan Heroes

Mokopuna Matatini

My Tree

The Stolen Stars of Matariki

Nanny Mihi and the rainbow

The Library Bus

Bilal Cooks Daal

Cook Islands Heroes

Honu, Honu, Where Are You?

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

Hats Off to You!

Kapaemahu

I Am the Universe

The inventor

Thread of Love

Gibberish

Grandpa’s Mixed-Up Lu’au

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

The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky

The Greatest Haka Festival On Earth

That’s Not My Name

The Little Book of Joy

When Lola Visits

I Love Me

Little Nic’s Big World

Weaving Earth and Sky: Myths & Legends of Aotearoa

Ho’onani: Hula Warrior

How to Wear a Sari

Peace Bird

Under My Hijab

Koro / Pops

Sam & Eva
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:

Nanny Mihi and the Bellbird

One Lonely Kākāpō: A New Zealand Counting Book

Whetū the Little Blue Duck

Kākāpō Moon

Ways to Welcome

Tu Meke Tuatara

Malala’s Magic Pencil

My Mother’s Sari

Cowshed Christmas

Pele and Poliahu: A Tale of Fire and Ice

Outside, Inside

Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji

There Are No Moa, e Hoa

Mr Kiwi Has an Important Job

Slinky Malinki’s Christmas Crackers

Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome

One Weka Went Walking

Wildlife of Aotearoa

Meet the ANZACs

Tamanui: The Brave Kōkako of Taranaki

Hettie’s Christmas Gift

Laxmi’s Mooch

Ruru: Night Hunter

Te Ngahere i te Pō: The Forest at Night

It’s My Egg (And You Can’t Have it)

Manu-rere-i-te-rangi

Naupaka

Lest We Forget

True story

Weaving Earth and Sky: Myths & Legends of Aotearoa

Atua: Māori Gods and Heroes

Haka

Blue, Blue Christmas

Grandad’s Medals

The Most Beautiful Thing

This is me!

The beach they called Gallipoli

A Pūkeko in a Ponga Tree

Kaewa the Kororā

I Really Want to See You, Grandma

Kororā and the Sushi Shop

Aotearoa: the New Zealand story

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

Suki’s Kimono

A Sky-Blue Bench

Iti: The Hungry Fairy Tern

The House That Jack Built

I Am Lupe

Hauraki Broo

Watson the Detective Dog

Rere Atu Taku Poi!: Let My Poi Fly!

Tongan Heroes

Five Wee Pūteketeke

Jim’s Letters

Malia Shares

Nanny Mihi’s Christmas

The Trolley

Wētā: A Knight in Shining Armour

The Little Yellow Digger Saves Christmas

Nature’s Alphabet: A New Zealand Nature Trail

My Paati’s Saris

You Are Life

Pekapeka: Secret Forest Bat

The Proud Pūteketeke

We Are The Rock!

Pūkeko Who-keko?

Caesar the Anzac Dog

The Water Bottle

Nanny Mihi and the rainbow

The Eels of ANZAC Bridge

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

Te Ngahere i te Rā: The Forest by Day

Sirocco: the Rock-star Kākāpō

Christmas in Summer

Roly, the Anzac Donkey

It’s Diwali!

Anahera

Nanny Mihi’s Treasure Hunt

Saving Wānanga: The True Story of a Kea Rescue

Koro Wētā

My Grandad Marches on Anzac Day

Raj’s Rule (for the Bathroom at School)

The Butterfly Fluttered By

Kākāpō Dance

Little Hector Meets Mini Māui

Drawn Together

Laxmi’s Mooch

The Donkey Man

Tuatara: A Living Treasure

Anzac Day Parade

I Am a Rainbow!

Pavlova & Presents

Ginger and Chrysanthemum





