Asian American Book Collections Given to National Elementary Schools

In the last year Asian Americans reported 3,795+ incidents of hate to the organization Stop AAPI Hate —incidents were 2.3 times greater for women. At least 6 Asian American women lost their lives to this unchecked hatred.

Hate and discrimination thrive on false narratives, on “othering” our neighbors.

I’m Your Neighbor Books puts new narratives into the hands of American educators, librarians, parents, readers, and citizens.

Reading books set in our New Arrival and New American communities reduces prejudice by allowing us to meet neighbors on the page. Hate does not thrive when a reader’s empathy is engaged.

I’m Your Neighbor Books gifted Asian American children’s book collections to elementary schools across the country to combat hate.

Each of the collections included books that celebrate the diversity, complexity, and joy of the Asian American girl experience: Where’s Halmoni?, A Big Mooncake for Little Star, My Footprints, Watercress, Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi QueenUnidentified Suburban Object, Front Desk, and We Belong.  Teaching materials that explore the full Asian American community and give educators the tools to talk about Anti-AAPI Racism accompanied the collection. Explore the collection further here.

Want to support this ongoing effort? Explore more here.

Schools Receiving Book Boxes:

Amanda C. Rowe Elementary School Portland Maine
Avenues The World School Immokalee Florida
Brentwood Public Library Brentwood New York
Brunswick School Department, Maine – Kate Furbish Elementary School Brunswick Maine
Bryant Woods Elementary Portsmouth New Hampshire
Canal School Westbrook Maine
Educator Working Remotely Fergus Falls Minnesota
Friends of Astor County Library Astor Florida
Gardner International Magnet School Lansing Michigan
Handley Regional Library System Winchester Virginia
Hawthorne School/Elmhurst SD 205 Elmhurst Illinois
Kenton County Public Library Covington Kentucky
Lake Trafford Elementary School Columbia Maryland
McMahon Elementary School Lewiston Maine
MSAD 17- Paris Elementary School South Paris Maine
MSAD#17 SOUTH PARIS Maine
Mt. Tabor Elementary School Mt. Tabor New Jersey
New Franklin School
North Yarmouth Academy Yarmouth Maine
Osseo Area Schools/Garden City Elementary JORDAN Minnesota
Osseo School District South Paris Maine
Otisfield Elementary School Otisfield Maine
Oxford Elementary School OXFORD Maine
Park Brook Elementary Brooklyn Park Minnesota
Park Brook Elementary Mpls Minnesota
Plattsmouth Elementary School Plattsmouth Nebraska
Poly Prep Country Day School Brooklyn New York
Prince William County School Manassas Virginia
PS 8 Robert Fulton Brooklyn New York
PS32 Brooklyn New York
Roosevelt Elementary Mesa Arizona
Samuels Public Library Front Royal Virginia
Simon Baruch Middle School ms104 New York New York
St. Joseph Public Library St. Joseph Missouri
Stoughton School District EDGERTON Wisconsin
Sunrise Elementary Kent Washington
Unifor Local 1285 Women’s Committee Alliston Ohio
Weaver Lake Elementary Maple Grove Minnesota
Yarmouth Elementary School Yarmouth Maine

Schools Receiving Book Boxes Thanks to Targeted Donations:

Our special thanks to the donation by Wee the People!

Blue Hill Consolidated School Blue Hill Maine
Boston Public Schools Randolph Massachusetts
Clidale Elementary Spartanburg South Carolina
Connors Elementary School Lewiston Maine
Greely Middle School Cumberland Maine
Lansing School District Lansing Michigan
Portland Public Schools Portland Maine
Promise Early Education Center Lewiston Maine
Songo Locks School Naples Maine

Want to support this effort? Explore more here.

Header Image © Julie Kim from WHERE’S HALMONI?

One Response to “Asian American Book Collections Given to National Elementary Schools”

  1. Jonathan Dolce

    Collections like these are essential for diversifying collections, but also for enriching inclusive storytimes and booktalks. Works like these should be at the forefront of any public or school librarian’s mind as we work to dispel ignorance, fear, discrimination and hate in our communities through education and exposure to quality materials.