May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in the United States. These thirteen nonfiction titles feature AANHPI politicians, restaurateurs, Nobel Peace Prize recipients, and more. Reading about their lives will inspire young people from all backgrounds.

Growing Up Under a Red Flag: A Memoir of Surviving the Chinese Cultural Revolution by Ying Chang Compestine. illus. by Xinmei Liu. Penguin/Rocky Pond. 2024.
Gr 3-6–Ying vividly describes the impacts of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution on Chinese citizens. A fascinating memoir of living during a tumultuous time and its impact on China, this is matched with rich illustrations and will engage readers.

Patsy Mink by Tae Keller & Chelsea Clinton. illus. by Alexandra Boiger & Gillian Flint. Philomel. 2022.
Gr 1-4–Mink became the first woman of color and the first Asian American woman elected to Congress in 1964. Mink is best known for being a coauthor of the Title IX amendment of the Higher Education Act.

A Banquet for Cecilia: How Cecilia Chiang Revolutionized Chinese Food in America by Julie Leung. illus. by Melissa Iwai. Little, Brown. 2025.
Gr 1-5–As a young girl growing up in a wealthy family in Beijing, Cecilia Chiang (1920–2020) developed a strong interest in learning how the meals she was served were prepared. She ultimately became a successful restaurateur in the U.S., serving authentic Chinese cuisine that reflected the food of many different provinces and changed people’s understanding of it.

Pedro’s Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys by Rob Peñas. illus. by Carl Angel. Lee & Low. 2024.
Gr 1-4–When Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States in 1898, a teenage Pedro Flores came to this country. He taught the family he lived with one of his favorite pastimes, playing with his handmade yo-yo and showcasing various tricks. Though he didn’t invent it, Flores made the yo-yo what it is today.

The Lion Queen: Rasila Vadher, the First Woman Guardian of the Last Asiatic Lions by Rina Singh. illus. by Tara Anand. Cameron. 2023.
K-Gr 2–Vadher wanted to work at the Gir National Park in Gujarat, India, when she grew up, taking care of the endangered Asiatic lions. But “handling wild animals is a man’s job.” When Vadher passed all the required tests, she was given a desk job. Soon, she was rescuing animals and training more women to join her.

A Life of Service: The Story of Senator Tammy Duckworth by Christina Soontornvat. illus. by Dow Phumiruk. Candlewick. 2022.
K-Gr 3–This picture book biography chronicles the life of Duckworth, beginning with her childhood in Thailand and leading to her groundbreaking election as a U.S. senator. Powerful details about Duckworth’s childhood and her experiences in the National Guard impart a sense of the senator’s resilient spirit.

My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story by George Takei. illus. by Michelle Lee. Crown. 2024.
Gr 1-4–Takei recounts his childhood experiences in American concentration camps during World War II in this powerful and emotional book. The narrative masterfully conveys the mixed emotions of life in the camps—feelings of loss, fear, and resilience—as well as the confusing and bittersweet experience, once the war was over, of leaving the camps that had become home.

Seeker of Truth: Kailash Satyarthi’s Fight to End Child Labor by Srividhya Venkat. illus. by Danica da Silva Pereira. little bee. 2024.
Gr 2-5–Informative and clever in concept and design, this book follows the unfolding of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Kailash Satyarthi’s life. He bucks his family’s expectations and his society’s norms, and begins to take action that leads to new child labor laws in India and other countries.

Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains by Anita Yasuda. illus. by Yuko Shimizu. HarperCollins/Clarion. 2024.
Gr 2-5–“Junko’s hill was her entire world” opens this biography of an amazing mountaineer. At age 10, after climbing Mount Chausu, Tabei found her passion. She became the first woman to ascend Everest. Tabei’s life and accomplishments are succinctly delivered with engaging text and brilliant illustrations.

Collective Biographies

A is for Asian American: An Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Alphabet by Virginia Loh-Hagan. illus. by Tracy Nishimura Bishop. Sleeping Bear. 2022. 
Gr 1-5–From Awkwafina to Jerry Yang, this this fact-filled picture book celebrates the milestones and achievements of Americans whose ancestry includes East, Central, South, or Southeast Asia or Pacific Islands. This upbeat collection of fascinating facts is supplemented by lively illustrations and appendices. A great resource for teachers; young readers will also be inspired to follow up and learn more.

Amazing!: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All by Maia Shibutani, Alex Shibutani & Dane Liu. illus. by Aaliya Jaleel. Viking. 2023.
Gr 2-5–In this uplifting collected biography, the young Olympic medalists known as the ShibSibs introduce readers to influential Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. This slim volume presents trailblazers from the late 1800s through to present day, and includes a thoughtful balance of genders, abilities, areas of achievement, and ethnic backgrounds. 

Incredible: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Changed the World by Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani. illus. by Dion MBD. Viking. 2025. 
Gr 2-4–Olympic ice dancing medalists and siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani team up again to highlight Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have changed and are changing the world by breaking down barriers and being an inspiration to others. Most individuals featured have a short paragraph that shares where they are from and their contributions and accomplishments. As a starting place for research, readers will find this book informational.

Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country by Kelly Yang. illus. by various. Dial. 2022. 
Gr 2-4–Dancers. Gymnasts. Politicians. Inventors. Actors. Rock stars. These are just a few of the Asian Americans readers meet in Yang’s clear and concise commemoration of 200 years of accomplishments and contributions. A must-have book for all collections, offering an array of personalities and contributors under Yang’s thoughtful gaze.