Grade Level: Elementary 3–5
-

Fighting to Belong!: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History from the 1700s through the 1800s
Witness key events in American history through the valiant work of AANHPI Americans.
-

Kareem Between
Kareem discovers the U.S. isn’t always a safe place for his family and people, and learns how to find his power and voice. This novel provides a new perspective we desperately need to find hope and empathy in our divided world.
-

New From Here
Knox tries to stand up to hate, while finding his place in his new country. Can you belong if you’re feared; can you protect if you’re new? And how do you keep a family together when you’re oceans apart?
-

With Twice the Love, Dessie Mei
Dessie struggles to understand who she is. When Amah is the victim of an anti-Asian hate crime, Dessie finds that the values she has learned from her adoptive family, especially her activist Granny, can help build a community where everyone belongs.
-

Martee Dares to Dance
Martee loves dancing, but after an embarrassing moment, he hesitates to show off his moves. As his school’s Halloween dance approaches, Martee meets an unexpected friend—a Martian—who helps him regain his confidence. Together, they show that creative expression has no limits.
-

Martee Dares to Dance – Author Talk with Harry Shum Jr and Shelby Rabara
-

Drawing Deena
Drawing Deena by the award-winning author of Amina’s Voice is a heartfelt middle-grade novel about a young Pakistani American artist navigating anxiety and self-expression. Deena often feels a knot of anxiety when facing her parents’ financial struggles or her own school challenges. She finds solace in art and takes on the idea of promoting her…
-

Isabel in Bloom
Bloom Where You’re Planted by Mae Respicio is a beautifully crafted novel-in-verse about twelve-year-old Isabel, who moves from the Philippines to San Francisco to live with her mother for the first time in years. Struggling to adjust to a new school, city, and country, Isabel feels disconnected from her mom and her new life. But…
-

The First State of Being
The First State of Being by Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly is a captivating middle-grade novel about twelve-year-old Michael Rosario, whose life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Ridge, a mysterious teenage boy claiming to be the world’s first time traveler. Set in August 1999, with the Y2K crisis looming, Michael is fascinated by…
-

Your Vote Matters: How We Elect the US President
Learn about campaigning, the difference between caucuses and primaries, and how the Electoral College works, plus information about who is eligible to vote.
-

We Shall Not Be Denied: A Timeline of Voting Rights and Suppression in America
This book will help you learn more about voting and understand why the right to vote is important. Be informed about our country’s leaders. And spread the word about the importance of voting!



