Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month
Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month! Did you know that the origin of AANHPI Heritage Month dates to 1977? This is when a joint resolution was passed by Congress designating a seven-day period beginning May 4 as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week to recognize the history and contributions of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States. President Jimmy Carter signed it into law in 1978. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush expanded the week-long celebration to a month-long celebration. Then in 1992, the official designation of May as Asian/Pacific Islander Month was signed into law. The month of May was chosen to honor two important events: 1) the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant in the United States on May 7, 1843, and 2) the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869.
Later in 2021, President Joe Biden changed the name to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to recognize and include the many diverse groups of the entire community. AANHPI Heritage Month highlights and honors cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The AANHPI community includes over 50 different cultures speaking more than 100 languages.
The Mercer County Library System offers many ways for children and families to celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month.
Visit the library to participate in these special events.
Discover individuals, events and topics in The Asian-American History Online database.
Listen to a picture book in LOTE4Kids. Kids can enjoy over 3,000 digital picture books in 65+ languages. Each book also comes with an English translation.
Cook a new recipe together. Use AtoZ World Food to find a recipe. This database has more than 7,000 traditional recipes from 174 countries.
Check out one of these picture books that celebrate the rich culture and everyday life of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander families.
A girl and her grandmother spend the day making mochi together in this gentle and joyous celebration of family, tradition, and the memories that matter most. Includes information about mochi and a recipe.
This charming picture book is about a little girl who loves her bindis (and the many creative shapes they come in!). The bindis are also a connection to her Nani who lives in India. When Nani comes to visit Bindu and brings the bindis to her, it is just in time to wear something new to the school talent show. Bindu and Nani work together to shine their brightest and embrace their sparkle, even when they stand out from the crowd.
After moving to America from Hong Kong, Jun feels isolated at her new school but discovers a sense of home in the familiar foods and flavors she finds in her lunchbox.
From the shores of Japan to the coast of Hawai'i, old customs are honored, new traditions blossom, and an exuberant narrator defies narrow beauty standards to embrace the skin she's in and her life on the island of Kaua'i.
Priya lives in the United States and her family is from India. She feels the magic of the place her family comes from through her Babi Ba's colorful descriptions of India--from the warm smell of spices to the swish-swish sound of a rustling sari. Together, Priya and Babi Ba make their heritage live on through the traditions that they infuse into their everyday lives.
As a young girl observes that each of six women in her life wears her hijab and hair in a different way, she considers how to express her own style one day.
Punky loves to do a lot of things--except meeting new friends. She doesn't feel brave enough. So when her grandmother asks her to go out and grab butter for her famous banana bread, Punky hesitates. But with the help of her grandmother's magical sunglasses, and with a lot of aloha in her heart, Punky sets off on a BIG adventure for the very first time.
Korean American Maia learns the importance of a mother's love while making a traditional birthday soup.
Today is Sunday and that means it’s dim sum time with my whole family! I can't wait to see everyone, especially Grandma. I'm going to eat lots of shrimp dumplings, rice noodle rolls, egg tarts, and my favorite--char siu buns. We will have to order enough for us all to share. So what are you waiting for? Dim sum, here we come!
A boy and his grandfather cross a language and cultural barrier using their shared love of art, storytelling, and fantasy.
Asiya loves to visit Nanu's house and rummage through her katha chest filled with quilts that tell stories about the bold and brave women in Asiya's family.
A mother shares family memories and stories with her daughter as she applies henna to the young girl's hands.
Finding the most beautiful persimmon to give to her grandma who will be visiting from far away, Joo Hong, a young Korean American girl, wonders what to do as the persimmon looks less and less perfect as time passes by.
In this cumulative rhyme in the style of "The House That Jack Built," a family celebrates Hawaii and its culture while serving poi at a luau.
Chinese American Laila embraces the joys and struggles of translating for her immigrant parents and teaching a new language.
I hope you will enjoy these titles in May and beyond!
- Briana, Hopewell
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