If you didn’t know it already—May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich diversity of cultures that make up this vast group of people. Of course, teaching your kids about AAPI history and reading them books that feature characters with AAPI backgrounds should be happening year-round—no matter your own child’s heritage.

If you don’t already have a library stocked with AAPI books for kids or need to infuse your stacks with new titles, look no further. We’ve asked 17 incredibly inspiring mothers of various AAPI backgrounds to share their own favorite books that celebrate their cultures and others, plus books that feature AAPI kids just being kids!

Along with their top kid-lit books for a variety of ages, these mamas also shared their thoughts on raising children of various AAPI backgrounds in today’s world, especially as hate crimes against the AAPI community are on the rise. We invite you to read their thoughts, scoop up some of their book suggestions, and support many of the projects they are all working on.