Japanese Americans in Childrens Books
Discover the best Japanese American children's books, featuring moving stories like Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata and Whale Talk. Explore curated juvenile fiction that celebrates Japanese American culture, identity, and resilience—perfect for young readers and educators seeking diverse, meaningful literature.
Book
Kira-Kira
by Cynthia Kadohata
Katie Takeshima's sister, Lynn, makes everything seem glittering and shining. But when Lynn becomes desperately ill, and the whole family begins to fall apart, it is up to Katie to find a way to remind them all that there is always something glittering in the future.
Book
Whale Talk
by Chris Crutcher
A high-school bus provides surprising sanctuary for seven unlikely swim teammates who are, in the words of their coach, "A perennial road team. Mermen without a pond." These invisible kids resonate because of how the author sees them, believes in them, and lets them speak.
