- Share - [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://about.ebsco.com/markdownify/node/40236) - []() - []() - []() # Top Library Resources for Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the culture, traditions and history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. ![Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month blog image ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/Asian-American-Pacific-Islander-Heritage-Month-2023-blog-image-780.png) 29 April 2024 The rich cultural heritage of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) dates back thousands of years. Both groups have shaped the history of the United States and have had their lives dramatically influenced by moments in its history. [**Asian Americans**](https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/09/08/key-facts-about-asian-americans/) include U.S. citizens whose origins are from China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders from Samoa, Fiji, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. According to the Pew Research Center, Asian Americans were the [**fastest-growing population**](https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/04/09/asian-americans-are-the-fastest-growing-racial-or-ethnic-group-in-the-u-s/) in the U.S. between 2000 and 2019. Initially established by U.S. Congress in 1978, Asian Pacific American Heritage Week (first 10 days of May) was expanded to a month in 1992. To help libraries celebrate [**AAPI Heritage Month**](https://asianpacificheritage.gov/), we’ve curated a collection of digital resources to support readers’ advisory, academic research and school curriculum. ### Readers’ Advisory [NoveList Plus](/novelist/products/novelist-plus) can help librarians find fiction, nonfiction and audiobooks that reflect the experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, while [LibraryAware](/novelist/products/libraryaware) offers great templates for promoting these books to readers. For libraries looking to add new books by and about Asian Pacific Americans to their shelves, [Core Collections](/novelist/products/core-collections "Core Collections") has great recommendations. Here are just a few: **Ohana Means Family** by Ilima Loomis; illustrated by Kenard Pak 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. **The Partition Project** by Saadia Faruqi When aspiring journalist Mahnoor's grandmother moves in from Pakistan, their unexpected bond over Dadi's memories of the 1947 Partition inspires Maha's school documentary project. **Breaking Bao** by Clarice Lam A flavorful blend of Asian roots and global technique, this cookbook shares 88 approachable recipes from chef Clarice Lam’s journey of self-discovery and culinary heritage. **Boat Baby** by Vicky Nguyen In a memoir where heroism meets humor, NBC News anchor and correspondent Vicky Nguyen tells the story of her family's daring escape from communist Vietnam and her unlikely journey from refugee to reporter. ### High-Quality Academic Resources to Support Asian-American Studies For researchers and students seeking information on the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, EBSCO’s [Academic Search Ultimate](/products/research-databases/academic-search-ultimate), [America: History & Life with Full Text](/products/research-databases/america-history-life-full-text) and [Ethnic Diversity Source](/products/research-databases/ethnic-diversity-source) databases offer current and historical articles from magazines and scholarly journals covering a wide range of topics. They provide information on AAPI leaders, culture, arts and traditions as well as insights into more recent social movements. Librarians can save researchers time by adding a dedicated e-book collection of best-selling fiction and nonfiction e-books by and about Asian Americans. Curated by the EBSCO eBooks team of collection development experts, the Asian-American Studies Collection is available to browse and purchase via [EBSCOhost Collection Manager](https://ecm.ebscohost.com/Books/Browse/Collections). Geared toward undergraduate and graduate students, this featured collection contains e-books on the history, literature and culture of Asian American women, Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, Korean Americans and more. Not yet an EBSCO eBooks customer? [Request a free trial](https://more.ebsco.com/try-ebsco-ebooks-2022.html). ### School Curriculum Support A search of the web also yields a variety of resources to support classroom learning during AAPI Heritage Month. Start with [We Are Not a Stereotype](https://apa.si.edu/learn/not-a-stereotype/), a video series from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. Educators can also find [videos from PBS](https://www.pbs.org/show/asian-americans/) as well as lesson plans, activities and professional development resources from these websites: - [Anti-Defamation League](https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/asian-american-pacific-islander-aapi-heritage-month) - [AsiaSociety.org Center for Global Education](https://asiasociety.org/education/asian-americans-then-and-now) - [NCTE ReadWriteThink](http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/calendar-activities/asian-pacific-american-heritage-20723.html) - [Sikh Coalition](https://www.sikhcoalition.org/get-involved/resources-for-educators/) - [TeacherVision](https://www.teachervision.com/holidays/asian-pacific-american-heritage-month) EBSCO’s school databases also offer content to support teaching and learning about AAPI writers and poets. [Literary Reference Ultimate](/products/research-databases/literary-reference-center-plus) includes biographies, plot summaries and literary criticism to support students researching the works of Amy Tan, Celeste Ng, Jenny Han, Gene Luen Yang and many more. Meanwhile, [Poetry & Short Story Reference Source ](/products/research-databases/poetry-short-story-reference-center) contains Poetry Showcases by *The Paris Review* for Monica Youn, Tishani Doshi, Wendy Xu, Tan Lin and Vijay Seshadri. Each showcase includes a biography, three poems for discussion, and an interview with the poet. *Last updated: April 11, 2025* ### Print and hang this colorful AAPI Heritage Month poster in your library. [ Download poster ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/Asian-American-Pacific-Islander-Heritage-Month-Poster-2023.pdf) [ Browse previous years posters ](/promotional-materials?search=asian%20american&f%5B0%5D=promo_resource_type%3Aposter) Category: [Library Resources ](/blogs/ebscopost/category/library-resources) Tags: [Public libraries](/blogs/ebscopost/tag/public-libraries) [School libraries](/blogs/ebscopost/tag/school-libraries) [Collection development](/blogs/ebscopost/tag/collection-development) - Share - [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://about.ebsco.com/markdownify/node/40236) - []() - []() - []() ## Related Posts [ ![National Hispanic Heritage Month blog image ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/National-Hispanic-Heritage-Month-blog-image-780.png) ](/blogs/ebscopost/top-resources-national-hispanic-heritage-month) [Top Resources for National Hispanic Heritage Month](/blogs/ebscopost/top-resources-national-hispanic-heritage-month) 14 September 2023 [ ![](https://assets.ebsco.com/asset/86c3a627-e1a5-41ed-8970-19ac926e036a/Top-Resources-for-Native-American-Heritage-Month-Image-780.jpg) ](/blogs/ebscopost/top-resources-native-american-heritage-month) [Top Resources for Native American Heritage Month](/blogs/ebscopost/top-resources-native-american-heritage-month) 7 November 2024 [ ![AAPI Heritage Month Guest post from ABC CLIO blog image ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/AAPI-Heritage-Month-Guest-post-from-ABC-CLIO-blog-image-780.jpg) ](/blogs/ebscopost/2277456/whats-your-story-explore-power-personal-narratives-during-aanhpi-month) [What’s Your Story? Explore the Power of Personal Narratives During AANHPI Month](/blogs/ebscopost/2277456/whats-your-story-explore-power-personal-narratives-during-aanhpi-month) 25 April 2023