Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

May marks Asian American Heritage Month: we cannot miss this incredible opportunity to celebrate the stories, achievements and contributions of people of Asian heritage that, throughout the years, have come from across the eastern side of Eurasia and from the Pacific islands.

Asian Heritage Month allows us to learn more about their many cultures and backgrounds. Due to the vast extension of the territory and the diversity of the populations that live there, this region presents an outstanding cultural variety, with underlying tropes and traditions taking on new life and interpretations within each nation's unique context.

This book's selection tries to capture the “splendor” of Asia, contributing to express the holiday’s message of equality and pride for the Asian-American community, which continues to make valuable contributions to our society at large. Please join us in this fascinating journey across the vast lands of the continent and through its long history.

Fun facts

Its origins

A former congressional staff member, Jeanie Jew, suggested designating a month to recognize Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. In 1977, her efforts came to fruition, with the U.S. celebrating the first-ever Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Why it is celebrated in May

May 7, 1843, marks the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States. And May 10, 1869, or Golden Spike Day, recognizes the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S., which had significant contributions from Chinese workers.

*Sharing a House with the Never-Ending Man*

By Steve Alpert
Published by Stone Bridge Press
**Rights sold: Chinese (Traditional), Russian, Spanish, Thai, Japanese**

This highly entertaining business memoir describes what it was like to work for Japan’s premiere animation studio, Studio Ghibli, and its reigning genius Hayao Miyazaki. Steve Alpert, a Japanese-speaking American, was the “resident foreigner” in the offices of Ghibli and its parent Tokuma Shoten and played a central role when Miyazaki’s films were starting to take off in international markets. His one-of-a-kind portraits of Miyazaki and long-time producer Toshio Suzuki, and of sly, gruff, and brilliant businessman Yasuyoshi Tokuma, capture the hard work and artistry that have made Ghibli films synonymous with cinematic excellence. And as the lone gaijin in a demanding company run by some of the most famous and influential people in modern Japan, Steve Alpert tackles his own challenges of language and culture. No one else could have written this book.

*This Monk Wears Heels: Be Who You Are*

By Kodo Nishimura
Published by Sunmark Publishing, Inc.
**Rights sold: English, German, French, Estonian, Spanish, , Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified)**

Kodo Nishimura, an international makeup artist and Buddhist monk, has had an extraordinary life. Last year, he rose to instant stardom following his appearance in The Fab Five’s Queer Eye: We’re In Japan! series special that aired to massive viewership on Netflix in 2019. Behind his wide smile however hid a life that has been faced with endless challenges. The book starts with Kodo’s childhood, playing dress up as Little Mermaid, to his lonely adolescence where despite being born into a family of priests, all he wanted to do was wear pretty dresses and become a princess. Feeling like an outsider in a society that celebrates uniformity, Kodo’s time in New York at Parsons and his work as a leading make-up artist brought him to ultimately embrace his true calling and to find beauty in this realization. Kodo’s first book is full of practical tips for positive thinking and the unique philosophies he has attained as a Buddhist monk. Detailing his journey to self-love, the book provides a gentle, loving, and encouraging voice for all those who dare to be different.

*Eating Wild Japan*

By Winifred Bird
Published by Stone Bridge Press
**Rights sold: Japanese**

From bracken to butterbur to "princess" bamboo, some of Japan's most iconic foods are foraged, not grown, in its forests, fields, and coastal waters--yet most Westerners have never heard of them. In this book, journalist Winifred Bird eats her way from one end of the country to the other in search of the hidden stories of Japan's wild foods, the people who pick them, and the places whose histories they've shaped.

*Kyoto Stories*

By Steve Alpert
Published by Stone Bridge Press
**World Rights Available**

A collection of stories based on the author's own experiences living in Kyoto as a student. The stories comprise a naturalistic depiction of a student's unusual life in Kyoto in the early years of the 1970s. In part a contemplative guide to and homage to the timeless beauty of the city at the heart of traditional Japan; seen by an outsider and with insights gained by having been in the right place at the right time and open to learning's path in whatever form it took.

*The Discovery of Anime and Manga*

By Phil Amara, Oliver Chin
Illustrated by Juan Calle
Published by Immedium Publishing
**World Rights Available**

Enjoy the first English children’s picture book on how Japanese animation and comics were created! Amazingly illustrated, this storybook features a bilingual Japanese translation. This is the third adventure in our series on cool inventions created in Asia. The cute red panda Dao makes history come alive by transporting the kids Emma and Ethan back in time. Together they learn how fantastic creations came to be and zip back to the future! This dynamic journey explores the evolution of Japanese animation and comic books. Published in newspapers, magazines, books, and graphic novels, comics became TV shows, movies, and games. These entertainment brought Japanese pop culture across the globe and influenced artists everywhere. This quest features 100 of your favorite characters and creators.

*The Year of the Tiger*

By Oliver Chin
Illustrated by Justin Roth
Published by Immedium Publishing
**World Rights Available**

"Year of the Tiger was a great book to read to my students prior to our school Lunar New Year celebration. The illustrations are very appealing, kid friendly and seem to jump right off the page. The explanation of the Chinese Zodiac animals on the opening page helps to set the playful and informative tone of the story. Oliver Chin effortlessly weaves the animals of the Chinese Zodiac throughout and creates lovable characters and situations that the students can identify with. The book led to a wonderful discussion on how it is easy to make assumptions and form incorrect opinions about people you don't know! My students simply could not get enough, and have since come to my library to re-read The Year of the Tiger, I would highly recommend this book as well as Oliver Chin's Tales from the Chinese Zodiac books." -Julie Griffin, Ohlone Elementary School Librarian, Palo Alto, CA

*I am Panda from China*

By Yang Hongying
Published by Jiang Boyan, LLC
**Rights sold: Chinese (Traditional and Simplified) - China, Hong Kong, Taiwan**

Yang Hongying is one of the most successful and popular Chinese children authors in modern time. Madam Yang’s children’s books have been enthusiastically embraced by Chinese children over the past two decades, making her as the most admired author among Chinese children. In the past 40 years, she has created more than 80 children’s novels. To date, she has sold more than 180 million copies.

We hope you have enjoyed this book selection. If you want to discover more about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage, please visit our Instagram where we regularly feature new and exciting content.