Book picks similar to
Plenty to Watch by Taro Yashima


picture-books
g-2
g-kindergarten
asian

All The Way to Lhasa: A Tale from Tibet


Barbara Helen Berger - 2002
    A young boy and his yak bravely overcome all odds to get to Lhasa, giving a wise and simple message that will inspire children of any age to dream and reach for a shining goal that may seem "very far."

Hiromi's Hands


Lynne Barasch - 2007
    The true story of Hiromi Suzuki, a Japanese American girl who defied tradition to train at her family's restaurant, and who became one of the first female sushi chefs in New York.

Kami and the Yaks


Andrea Stenn Stryer - 2007
    Young Kami, anxious to help his brother and father maintain their livelihood, sets off by himself to find the wandering herd. A spunky deaf child who is unable to speak, Kami attempts to summon the yaks with his shrill whistle. Failing to rout them, he hustles up the steep mountainside to search the yaks' favorite grazing spots. On the way he encounters the rumblings of a fierce storm which quickly becomes more threatening. Surmounting his fear of being alone in the midst of treacherous lightning and hail, Kami uses his heightened sense of observation to finally locate the yaks. Reunited with their animals, the astonished family is once again able to transport their gear and guide the mountain climbers into the majestic terrain.

The Happiest Tree: A Yoga Story


Uma Krishnaswami - 2005
    Embarrassed by her clumsiness, eight-year-old Meena, an Asian Indian American girl, is reluctant to appear in the school play until she gains self-confidence by practicing yoga.

My Mother's Sari


Sandhya Rao - 2006
    The mystery of the sari can be magic for a child, winding and weaving, just like the connection between a child and its mother. The style, the motifs, the interplay of children, colors, and textures, create the rich, mood-filled, and dreamy world of

The Royal Bee


Frances Park - 2000
    One day he discovers a beautiful school sheltered among golden rain trees. Then he does something that changes his life forever. His courage and determination open new doors literally and figuratively, for himself and his offspring.

Hannah is My Name


Belle Yang - 2004
    It doesn't sound at all like myChinese name, Na-Li, which means beautiful.It's a long way from Taiwan to San Francisco, but Hannah's family has made the journey because they want to make America their home. Here in America, Baba tells his daughter, people are free to say what they think, and children can grow up to be whatever they choose. And so Hannah takes a new name, begins a new school, learns a new language, and starts to adjust to a new way of life. Meanwhile, they all wait — and hope — for the arrival of the green cards that will assure they are finally home to stay.

Happy, Happy Chinese New Year!


Demi - 1997
    The last 15 days of the old year are spent cleaning and preparing (‘Wash your hair and get a new haircut. Pay the debts that you owe and collect what is owed to you!’). On the eve of the new moon, a special feast is prepared. . . . The first 15 days of the new year are spent celebrating with lion dances, firecrackers, and other activities. Demi’s characteristic tiny, lively figures illustrate each page, with several spreads devoted to small, labeled pictures identifying things associated with the holiday. Infused with joy and filled with information.”—Booklist

The Gold-Threaded Dress


Carolyn Marsden - 2002
    Other things are not so easy to change, however. When Oy draws a self-portrait that has brown hair and eyes round as coins, her classmate Frankie makes fun and calls her Chinese. And the popular girl, Liliandra, barely speaks to her, until she learns that Oy has something very special: a Thai dancing dress from her grandmother, shimmering with pink silk and golden threads that make her look like a princess. Will Oy risk shaming her family to win Liliandra’s approval - and be part of the club she has envied from afar?With compassion and rare insight, Carolyn Marsden tells a simple tale about a young girl who searches for acceptance in a complex culture, while learning to treasure all that she is.

The Sea Serpent and Me


Dashka Slater - 2008
    As rainy day after rainy day passes, the two sing songs, take baths, and talk about the sea.But little girls live on land, and a growing sea serpent needs wave upon wave of water.Here’s a story about the true meaning of friendship, perfect for children, parents, and anyone who has ever had second thoughts about growing up.

The White Swan Express: A Story about Adoption


Jean Davies Okimoto - 2002
    Far away in North America, the sun rises over four homes as the people who live there get ready to start a long, exciting journey. This lovely story of people who travel to China to be united with their daughters describes the adoption process step by step and the anxiety, suspense, and delight of becoming a family. Told with tenderness and humor, and enlivened by joyous illustrations, The White Swan Express will go straight to readers’ hearts. Afterword.

Star of the Week: A Story of Love, Adoption, and Brownies with Sprinkles


Darlene Friedman - 2009
    She has pictures of all the important people in her life—with one big exception. Cassidy—Li, adopted from China when she was a baby, doesn't have a photo of her birthparents. But with a little help from her family, she comes up with the perfect way to include them!Using their own family's story as a model, Darlene Friedman and Roger Roth celebrate the love of families everywhere through this straightforward and insightful book.

Fresh Princess


Denene Millner - 2019
    With a few reminders from her loving family and after remembering what being the Fresh Princess is all about, she may just take the leap and jump right in!Written by celebrated author, blogger, and editor Denene Millner and illustrated by Gladys Jose, Fresh Princess is the perfect book to encourage kids to proudly stand out and be themselves!

It's Called Dyslexia


Jennifer Moore-Mallinos - 2007
    They are books that take a child's point of view, especially if the child suffers from some physical challenge or lack self-confidence in going about everyday activities. These attractively illustrated picture storybooks encourage kids never to be afraid of a challenge. Following each story are four pages of suggested activities that relate to the book's theme. A final two-page section offers advice to parents. The child in this story knows the alphabet, but she sometimes has trouble putting all the letters together to read words. No matter how hard she tries, she often mixes up the letters or writes them backwards. She's unhappy until her teacher explains that she has dyslexia, and that she can be helped to read and write correctly.

This Book Wants You To Sleep - A Fun Early Reader Story Book for Toddlers, Preschool, Kindergarten and 1st Graders: An Interactive, Simple, Easy to Read Tale for Children for Kids ages 2 to 5


Elisa Anderson - 2021