- Children's Room
- Friday, June 05, 2020
iRead features the best ebooks and eaudiobooks for children and teens curated by the Children's Room and Teen Center staff.
"May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), celebrating the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States."--The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, apaics.org
Read these books to discover wonderful stories.
Read these books to honor your own culture and heritage or someone else's.
Read these books to learn about history.
Read these books to open your heart and mind.
Read these books to embrace the diversity of humanity.
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
available as an ebook through Hoopla and Overdrive
available as an eaudiobook through Overdrive
In Korea, a young orphan named Tree-ear lives under a bridge with Crane-man. Because of Crane-man’s twisted leg, he has never been able to get a job. Tree-ear enjoys watching a local potter create masterful vases on his potter’s wheel. Soon, Tree-ear is helping the stern potter in exchange for food.
Tree-ear has a hidden hope that he will be able to learn the potter’s trade. The potter also has a hidden hope that he will receive a commission from the King’s Court. This story brings to light the traditional rhythms of life in Korea, and within this tight structure we see friendships forged and boundaries broken.
A great book for middle grade readers.
2002 Newbery Medal Winner | 2001-2003 Asian/Pacific American Honor Award for Children and Young Adult Authors
Recommended by Paula Coonce | Children's Room Associate
Ahimsa by Supriya Kelkar
available as an eaudiobook through Hoopla and Overdrive
This debut novel is set in colonial India in the 1940’s when citizens fought to be independent from British rule. Winner of the 2015 New Visions Award, this gripping story centers around 10 year-old Anjali, whose mother has quit working to join the freedom fight. She is eventually arrested, imprisoned, and goes on a hunger strike in prison. At first, Anjali does not want to support the cause, as doing so will require her to give up her beautiful decorated skirts to wear simple home-spun cotton instead. But she changes her mind, taking on the fight as well.
Due to the author’s great-grandmother Anasuyabai Kali’s biography, which inspires this novel, readers come to also see a more complex picture of Gandhi, and are introduced to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, an important but sometimes forgotten figure in India’s history, as a champion for the rights of the Dalits, India’s lower caste. A story of courage in the face of injustice.
Recommended by Leslie Tetreault | Children and Teen Department Manager
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
currently available in print only
11 year-old Lily has a secret superpower. She can turn invisible without anyone noticing, especially her mother and her older sister who are constantly fighting. Lily’s favorite person, her Korean grandmother, Halmoni, prevents her from disappearing by wrapping her in hugs, feeding her rice cakes, but most importantly, by telling her magical Korean folktales. When Halmoni becomes sick, Lily uses these stories along with trickster tiger to find a cure. Lily discovers her voice and gains the courage to conquer her worst fears.
Reminiscent of Life of Pi, When You Trap a Tiger is an excellent and interesting mixture of a coming-of-age story and Korean folklore.
2020 Boston Globe-Horn Book Fiction and Poetry Honor Book
Recommended by Emily Johansson | Children's Room Reading Specialist
Download and start reading (or listening to) these great titles today.
All you need is your Richland Library card, a laptop or mobile device and Wi-Fi access.
If you don't have a Richland Library card, apply online and start accessing all of our online resources immediately.
A friendly reminder, Wi-Fi remains active at our library locations - with the exception of Richland Library Sandhills (763 Fashion Drive). If customers are seeking high-speed internet or broadband services, they can access it from the parking lots of 12 library locations.