Finding the right books for May isn't just about checking a box. It’s about the kids. When you look for aapi month read alouds elementary students actually care about, you often run into the same five titles that have been circulating since 2010. That's a problem. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage is not a monolith. It’s massive. We are talking about over 50 ethnic groups and dozens of languages. If your classroom library only features "traditional" folktales, you're missing the point of modern representation.
Kids want to see themselves in pajamas eating cereal, not just in "cultural" clothing during a festival. They want stories about friendship, anxiety, and magic. Honestly, the best way to celebrate AAPI month is to stop treating these books like "special event" items and start treating them like essential literature.
The Trouble with "The First" and "The Only"
For a long time, the publishing industry focused on "struggle" stories. You know the ones. Stories about immigration, being the only kid with a "smelly" lunch, or the pain of not fitting in. While those stories are valid and real, they shouldn't be the only stories. If every book about an Asian character involves a struggle to assimilate, what message does that send to our AAPI students? It tells them their identity is a problem to be solved.
We need more "joy" books.
Think about Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Choi. Yes, it’s a first-day-of-school story, but it’s rooted in the leadership and imagination of the protagonist. It isn't just about her being different; it’s about her being a spark. When you're picking your aapi month read alouds elementary lineup, look for the joy. Look for the kids solving mysteries, going on space adventures, or just being goofy.
Moving Beyond East Asian Representation
One of the biggest pitfalls in elementary classrooms is the tendency to lean heavily on East Asian stories—specifically Chinese, Japanese, and Korean narratives. While these are vital, AAPI month includes Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Pacific Islanders.
Where are the Hmong stories? Where are the stories from the Filipino diaspora?
Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly (though a middle-grade novel, it works great as a long-form read aloud for 4th or 5th grade) brings in Filipino folklore with a lush, high-stakes fantasy feel. For the younger ones, Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore is a classic for a reason. It’s tactile. You can almost smell the garlic. It’s about the bond between a girl and her mama. It’s universal, yet specifically Filipino-American.
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4 Books You Probably Haven’t Used Yet (But Should)
If you want to move the needle, you have to find the titles that haven't been read to death.
1. Watercress by Andrea Wang
This book is a masterpiece. Period. It won the Caldecott and a Newbery Honor. It’s about a family stopping their car to pick watercress from a ditch. At first, the daughter is embarrassed. But the story shifts into a deep, emotional memory of the family's history in China. It’s short. It’s powerful. It’s the kind of book that leaves a classroom silent in the best way possible.
2. Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand
Every elementary teacher knows the "body hair" talk happens way earlier than we expect. Laxmi is a young Indian American girl who is self-conscious about her mustache (her mooch). This book is funny. It’s bright. It celebrates body positivity in a way that feels incredibly grounded. Kids love it because it’s relatable. Everyone has something they’re self-conscious about.
3. Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis
This is a gorgeous look at Native Hawaiian culture. It follows the structure of "The House That Jack Built," which makes it an incredible aapi month read alouds elementary choice for repetitive text practice in K-1. It focuses on the poi for a luau and the connection to the land (the 'aina). It’s rhythmic. It’s calming.
4. Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee
This one is for the kids whose parents work late. It’s about a boy whose parents are night janitors. They have to take him to work with them, and to make it better, they tell him the office building is a "Paper Kingdom" ruled by "Dragon Kings" (the librarians) and "Chocolate Kings" (the office workers). It’s a stunningly beautiful look at labor, sacrifice, and the power of imagination.
Why "The Name Jar" is a Double-Edged Sword
We have to talk about The Name Jar. It’s in every AAPI book list. It’s about Unhei, a Korean girl who considers changing her name to something "American" because kids can’t pronounce it.
It’s a good book. It really is.
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But sometimes, reading it every single year reinforces the idea that Asian names are "hard." If you read The Name Jar, you should pair it with something like Always Anjali by Sheetal Sheth. In Anjali’s story, she doesn't want to change her name; she wants to find a personalized license plate for her bike just like everyone else. It’s about the frustration of being left out of the "norm," rather than the shame of the name itself. Subtle difference, but a big impact on how kids perceive themselves.
Making the Read Aloud Stick
Reading the book is 20% of the work. The other 80% is what you do with it. Don’t just read and put it back on the shelf.
Ask the "messy" questions.
"Why do you think the characters felt like they had to hide their food?"
"Have you ever felt like you had to be a different version of yourself at school?"
When you use aapi month read alouds elementary students can connect with, you’re building empathy muscles. You’re showing them that "American" looks a million different ways.
You should also look into the "Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors" framework by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop. It’s the gold standard for diverse literature. Is this book a mirror for your AAPI students? Is it a window for your non-AAPI students to see a new world? If all your books are only windows for the majority and never mirrors for the minority, your library is out of balance.
Digital Resources and Authentic Voices
Always check the "About the Author" section.
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OwnVoices is a term that has seen some debate lately, but the core principle remains: people should be able to tell their own stories. When looking for aapi month read alouds elementary content, prioritize authors like Grace Lin, Joanna Ho, Minh Lê, and Tami Charles.
Minh Lê’s Drawn Together is a visual triumph. It has almost no words. It’s about a grandfather and grandson who don't speak the same language but communicate through art. It’s a great way to show students that "language" isn't just about what you say. It’s perfect for ELL (English Language Learner) students because they can see the story without needing to decode complex text.
The Pacific Islander "Gap"
One major oversight in many May curriculum plans is the total absence of Pacific Islander voices. We often lump "AAPI" together and then forget the "PI" part.
Seek out The Shark King by R. Kikuo Johnson (a graphic novel style) or Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu. These stories bring in the indigenous perspectives of Hawaii and other islands. They are vital. They are not "extra." They are a fundamental part of the history we are supposed to be teaching.
Actionable Steps for Your Classroom Library
Stop buying "collections" from big box retailers that aren't vetted. They often include outdated tropes. Instead, do this:
- Audit your current bin. Count how many AAPI books you have. Now, count how many of them are about "history/struggle" versus "modern day fun." If it's 90% history, you need more contemporary fiction.
- Follow Social Justice Books. They have a curated AAPI list that is incredible and vetted by actual educators who care about accuracy.
- Listen to the kids. Ask your students what stories they want to hear. Sometimes they just want a story about a kid who likes Pokémon, who happens to be Hmong.
- Check the illustrations. Are the characters drawn with "slanted" lines for eyes? This is an old, racist caricature style that unfortunately still pops up in some older titles. Look for nuanced, varied facial features that reflect real people.
- Look for the "Everyday." Find books where the character’s ethnicity is just a fact of their life, not the plot of the story. Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho is a beautiful example of self-love that doesn't rely on a "conflict" with others to make its point.
Integrating these stories shouldn't feel like a chore. It’s an opportunity to widen the world for your students. If you start now, by the time May rolls around, these books won't feel like "special guests"—they'll feel like old friends.
The best aapi month read alouds elementary selections are the ones that stay in a child's head long after the bell rings. They are the stories that make a kid feel seen for the first time or make another kid realize their neighbor's life is way cooler than they thought. It’s about building a better, more nuanced world, one picture book at a time.
Start by swapping out one "classic" that feels a bit dusty for something published in the last three years. Notice the difference in engagement. Notice the questions the kids ask. That’s where the real teaching happens.