In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, below are a few videos, books and information that highlights different AAPI cultures and experiences. Share them with your children, grandchildren, students, or any other youth that you know!
By showing children different cultures at a young age, it encourages validation and acknowledgement of diversity, and the importance of being aware of differences to promote inclusion and value.
THE MAP
Did you know that Asia includes 48 countries? When we think of Asia, we often think of Japan and China, but there are so many other incredible countries in the continent of Asia, and it's important to learn about all the different cultures when we think about Asia or Asian Americans.
FUN ACTIVITY #1: Pick a country from the map below, and have an adult help you find out information about the people and the country itself. An adult can help you print out the template below for you to color and write in the information you find.
A few things you could learn about are:
What is the weather like?
What do people wear?
What kind of food do people eat?
What language(s) do they speak?
What do their homes look like?
What kind of music do they listen to?
VIDEOS
BOOK SUGGESTIONS
Bee-bim bop (the name translates as “mix-mix rice”) is a traditional Korean dish of rice topped, and then mixed, with meat and vegetables. In bouncy rhyming text, a hungry child tells about helping her mother make bee-bim bop: shopping, preparing ingredients, setting the table, and finally sitting down with her family to enjoy a favorite meal. The energy and enthusiasm of the young narrator are conveyed in the whimsical illustrations, which bring details from the artist’s childhood in Korea to his depiction of a modern Korean American family. Even young readers who aren’t familiar with the dish will recognize the pride that comes from helping Mama, the fun of mixing ingredients together in a bowl, and the pleasure of sharing delicious food. Includes author’s own recipe.
Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it—Yoon-Hey.
It's Chinese New Year, and Goldy Luck’s mother wants her to take a plate of turnip cakes to the neighbors. The Chans aren’t home, but that doesn’t stop Goldy from trying out their rice porridge, their chairs, and their beds—with disastrous results.
In this funny and festive retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Natasha Yim and Grace Zong introduce a plucky heroine who takes responsibility for her actions and makes a new friend (and a whole plate of turnip cakes!), just in time for Chinese New Year.
Includes back matter about Chinese New Year and a recipe for turnip cakes.
Meet the funny, fierce, and fearless Amy Wu, who is determined to make a perfect bao bun today. Can she rise to the occasion?
Amy loves to make bao with her family. But it takes skill to make the bao taste and look delicious. And her bao keep coming out all wrong.
Then she has an idea that may give her a second chance…Will Amy ever make the perfect bao?
A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers'. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother’s, her grandmother's, and her little sister's. They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future.
Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her own beauty and discovers a path to self-love and empowerment. This powerful, poetic picture book will resonate with readers of all ages.
This genuine exchange provides a window into traditions that may be different from our own as well as mirrors reflecting our common experiences. Inspired by his own travels, Matt Lamonthe transports readers across the globe and back with this luminous and thoughtful picture book.
Perfect for kids learning about new cultures and customs
Educates children on the importance of similarities and differences
Gives kids a unique look into the lives of others across the globe
FUN ACTIVITY #2: Visit one of the local Asian stores, and pick out a few foods or drinks to try! Have an open mind. Some things may taste different from what you are used to. Think about the tastes and textures, the smells and colors. Look at where the foods are from, and what types of foods other people eat! This gives you a great experience into what different cultures eat and enjoy, and also helps support local AAPI businesses.
AMERASIAN FOOD PLUS - 2116 Cameron St. Eau Claire, WI
LORIENTAL STORE - 1607 Bellinger St. Eau Claire, WI
WATER STREET DELI - 628 Water St. Eau Claire, WI
YANG ASIAN MARKET - 416 Putnam St. Eau Claire, WI
FUN ACTIVITY #3: Heart Origami craft!