Beyond the Bookshelf

AANHPI Heritage Month Reading Guides

Discover the rich tapestry of Asian American experiences with our specially curated book bundle! Dive into three heartwarming and enlightening stories featuring characters of Indian, Japanese, and Korean heritage.

These captivating narratives celebrate diversity, fostering empathy, curiosity, and activism while immersing readers in the vibrant cultures of Asia. Each book is a window into unique perspectives, offering insights and connections that inspire understanding and appreciation for our shared humanity.

Explore the beauty of Asian American lives and the power of storytelling with this thoughtfully selected book bundle. Start your journey of discovery today!

See the other Beyond the Bookshelf bundles! These sets are carefully curated to include diverse themes that meet varied interests and learning requirements. Ignite curiosity and nurture a passion for reading today. Bring these titles home today!

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CLI Annual Report 2022 - Regional Impact

Bindu’s Bindis

Supriya Kelkar

Summary

Bindu expresses herself with the bindis her grandmother sends from India. When her grandmother comes to visit, they play and celebrate together and help each other through difficult moments, wearing matching bindis all the while.

Ideas to Spark Conversation

If your classmate is wearing something you’ve never seen before and you are curious about it, what could you say to them? If you wore something to school you’d never worn before and wanted to tell someone about it, what would you say?

Activities to Try

Draw yourself in your favorite outfit and label each piece of clothing like a diagram.
Look around you for shapes that match Bindu’s bindis. Can you find stars, circles, teardrops, diamonds, or hearts?
Write a postcard to a grandparent or elder in your life and tell them about this book.

Your purchase helps CLI support teachers, improve literacy instruction, and create transformative educational experiences.

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Take Me Out to the Yakyu

Aaron Meshon

Summary

The narrator of this book has family in the US and in Japan and loves going to baseball games in both countries. Read about different modes of transportation, foods, standards of measurement, and cheers to compare these exciting events happening in two different cultures.

Ideas to Spark Conversation

What’s your favorite thing to do with your family? If you did that activity in another country, how do you think it would be different? How might it be the same?

Activities to Try

Sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Change the words if you want to!
Visit duolingo.com to learn some Japanese words.
Draw a Venn Diagram showing elements of baseball games in the US, Japan, and both.

Your purchase helps CLI support teachers, improve literacy instruction, and create transformative educational experiences.

Get the AANHPI Month Bundle

Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix

Jacqueline Briggs Martin
and June Jo Lee

Summary

In this biography, we meet Roy Choi, a Korean American chef who worked in fancy restaurants and food trucks, combining street foods from different cultures to create exciting new flavors. When he saw hungry families in his neighborhood, he found ways to share tasty foods with the whole community.

Ideas to Spark Conversation

If you had a food truck, what kind of food would you serve? How would you encourage people to try your food? How would you make everyone feel welcome? What would you do with the leftover food at the end of the day?

Activities to Try

Follow the suggestions in the book to make your own Awesome Sauce. Write a list of the ingredients you used.
Try a food you’ve never eaten before, then rate it. How many stars do you give it?
Write a review of your favorite food truck or restaurant and share it with a friend.

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Check out CLI's Limited-Edition Literacy to Liberation T-Shirts available in Youth and Adult sizes.

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