Grade Level: Middle School
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2025-2026 AANHPI Cultural Celebrations Calendar
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Deep Dive: Diwali
Originating in India, Diwali is celebrated in Hindu, Jain and Sikh cultures. Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali entails five days of celebration. Though Diwali is celebrated differently across cultures, a common theme of good and light prevailing over evil and darkness connects the three religions. Dive deeper with us here!
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Deep Dive: Tanabata (Star Festival)
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Deep Dive: Holi
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Deep Dive: Songkran
Songkran, Thailand’s traditional New Year festival, takes place each year from April 13–15. Rooted in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, it marks a time of cleansing, renewal, and fresh beginnings. This deep dive document will share more about the meaning and celebrations of the holiday.
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Deep Dive: Mid-Autumn Festival
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What’s Eating Jackie Oh?
Jackie is tired of pleasing her Korean American parents with academic achievements because she secretly wants to become a chef. She wins a spot on a competitive cooking show. Will her parents understand her dreams? Patricia Park’s parents immigrated from Korea to the US.
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Alterations: A Graphic Novel
Being one of the few Asian kids, Kevin has been receiving unwanted attention from some of the students in his class. Will going to the local theme park change his situation? This humorous graphic novel explores prejudice, identity, and self-esteem. Ray Xu is a Chinese Canadian “Story Artist.”
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Cultural Celebrations Calendar 2025-2026
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Deep Dive: Tanabata Star Festival
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Rick Kotani’s 400 Million Dollar Summer
Rick is a baseball-obsessed twelve-year-old who moves to Oregon to help take care of his grandfather, but ends up learning unexpected truths about his family and how they mysteriously parallel the Japanese folktale of the fisherman Urashima Taro.
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Wat Takes His Shot: The Life & Legacy of Basketball Hero Wataru Misaka
Wat was a college student when the US government forced more than 122,000 Japanese Americans living on the West Coast into incarceration camps during WWII. He overcame racism and segregation to join his college’s basketball team, but he was treated as an outsider because he was Japanese American. After helping Utah University’s basketball team win…