13 Books for Kids That Celebrate
Asian Cultures
by Laura Lambert
Even though I grew up eating kimchi and saying ko-map-sup-ni-da, the only “Asian” book I read as a child was Tikki Tikki Tembo. It was a favorite of mine, but looking back, I’m not sure that I learned much about Asian cultures. People even argue whether the folktale is Chinese or Japanese.
My two kids also love the breathless tongue twister of Tikki’s full name. But I’m happy to report that thirty-some years later, there are some truly great books about the various Asian cultures — almost all with a focus on family and food. (But mostly food.)
-
Dim Sum for Everyone!
Buy from:If you believe, as I do, that culture begins and ends in the stomach, you’ll know why nothing is more comforting to me than dim sum, a traditional Chinese meal made up of small plates of dumplings and other snack dishes and is usually accompanied by tea. This book features the à la carte yumminess that is the Chinese dim sum tradition and highlights a key Asian cultural tradition — eating together.
Buy from: -
Mr. Chow's Night Market
Buy from:Mr. Chow has a problem: he’s a night owl who runs a morning grocery store — and it’s not going well. When everything goes wrong, he come up with a bold idea that transforms their shop into something entirely new. This whimsical origin story brings the sights, sounds, and flavors of a Taiwanese night market to life.
Buy from: -
Happy Songkran Day!
Buy from:Tida can’t wait for Songkran, the Thai New Year, filled with food, family, and joyful celebration. But in her excitement, she keeps making mistakes—including one big spill that dampens the day. With help from her family, Tida learns that Songkran is also about forgiveness, fresh starts, and slowing down to savor what matters most.
Buy from: -
Gwei the Hungry Ghost
Buy from:Gwei is always hungry, especially during the Hungry Ghost Festival, when he can finally feast in the world of the living. But no matter how much he eats, he never feels full — until he meets another ghost in need. Rooted in Chinese folklore, this story offers a gentle, memorable reminder that sharing, and connection, can fill more than any meal.
Buy from: -
Music of the Bells
Buy from:Neela loves dancing ballet in her new home — but she misses Kathak, the classical Indian dance she once performed. When she gets the chance to take the stage again, she must decide whether to blend in or honor the dance that feels most like herself. This lyrical story celebrates identity, movement, and the courage to share your own rhythm.
Buy from: -
Rainbow Shopping
Buy from:There’s nothing quite like New York City’s Chinatown — and this picture book transports you there, in all its technicolor glory. Says Publishers Weekly, “the subdued landscape [of the drab New York City neighborhood the young girl’s family has emigrated to from China] gives way to vivid hues as the two shop amid a kaleidoscope of fruits, vegetables, seafood, and sweets.” The result is “achingly real.”
Buy from: -
Binna’s Dalgona
Buy from:Have you ever wanted to explain something but couldn’t find the right words? This charming picture book illustrates how to navigate language barriers. Binna wants to tell her classmates about her Korean culture, and share a tasty snack she learned how to make, but gets discouraged when she can’t say what she wants. But with the encouragement of her friends and family, Binna finds the courage to keep trying!
Buy from: -
Dim Sum Palace
Buy from:For anyone (like me!) who loved Maurice Sendak’s In the Night Kitchen (1970), Dim Sum Palace is an adorable, AAPI-inspired homage. Kirkus calls it “a real (delicious) trip.” And just about everyone agrees. Fang’s book earned the 2023 Society of Illustrators’ Dilys Evans Founder’s Award and was named one of Brightly‘s Best Picture Books of 2023 and one of Chicago Public Library’s Best Board & Picture Books for the same year.
Buy from: -
Masala Chai, Fast and Slow
Buy from:Another food-focused trip, through India this time. Traditions — like afternoon chai — are what bond us to our families and our culture. And that is the case in Newbery Honoree Rajani LaRocca’s latest picture book. This is a story of a boy and his grandfather, but there are deeper lessons about mindfulness and the power of taking your time. Recipe included.
Buy from: -
Sari-Sari Summers
Buy from:Kirkus calls Lynnor Bontigao’s sweet love-letter to the Phillipines and to Filipina grandmothers, “like a sari-sari store, brimming with joy and heart.”
Buy from: -
Night Market Rescue
Buy from:One of my great joys, when it comes to Asian culture, is the night market — full of delicious street food and one-of-a-kind delights. Charlotte Cheng’s book may be about a stray dog, Gogo, but what’s wonderful is the setting: A richly imagined Taipei night market. Publishers Weekly calls it, “a lively readaloud about finding one’s way home.”
Buy from: -
I Want to Be Spaghetti!
Buy from:A children’s book about ramen that wishes it was spaghetti — until it learns to love all the wonderful, ramen-y things about itself? Sign me up! This well-loved book — an Amazon Best Book of the Month, winner of Good Housekeeping’s 2023 Kids’ Book Award and one of Brightly’s Best Picture Books of 2023 — teaches us all how to love what is unique about us.
Buy from: -
My Grandfather's Song
Buy from:The married authors of My First Day, selected as best book of the year by Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal, revisit the rich landscapes of Southeast Asia with My Grandfather’s Song, a lyrical tribute to the first settlers of South Vietnam, as told through the story of one boy and his grandfather.
Buy from:
So, clearly, this list doesn’t quite cover all things Asian. There are countries we didn’t cover — and cuisines!
You might also like:
- 27 Children’s & YA Books Written by Asian Authors
- Kids’ Books on the Experiences of Asian American Immigrants
- Graphic Novels for Kids by Asian Authors & Illustrators
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2026.