Books About Japanese Americans · 68 titles considered

The Best Japanese Americans Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about japanese americans? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

Mochi Queen
Kira-Kira
The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Japanese Americans

Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2019

They Called Us Enemy

By George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, Harmony Becker (Illustrator)

A boy's childhood unfolds in WWII American camps, questioning identity and resilience.

204 pages· 12,726 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
4.4/5 Goodreads · 56,895 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2017

Mochi Queen

Jasmine defies tradition to pound mochi before her sister. Can she succeed?

128 pages· 10,033 words· Est. 2 hour read
5.3/7 Bookroo experts·4.2/5 Goodreads · 1,173 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021

Generation Misfits

A girl finds friendship and faces hidden struggles through J-Pop.

352 pages· 71,579 words· Est. 10 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 180 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2016

Paper Wishes

A girl clings to hope as her family is uprooted during wartime.

192 pages· 28,265 words· Est. 3 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 3,564 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2004

Kira-Kira

A sister's illness challenges Katie to find hope in a world that seems to dim without her light.

Newbery Medal (2005)
291 pages· 44,276 words· Est. 4 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 28,460 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2013

The Thing About Luck

By Cynthia Kadohata, Julia Kuo (Illustrator)

Summer must change her family's luck to save them during a challenging harvest season.

270 pages· 48,300 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
3.7/5 Goodreads · 5,378 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Picture Book · Ages 3–6 · 1998

Yoko

A school lunch sparks a lesson in embracing differences.

32 pages· 636 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud
5.5/7 Bookroo experts·4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,553 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2018

Write to Me

By Cynthia Grady, Amiko Hirao (Illustrator)

Children's letters from WWII internment camps reveal resilience and hope.

32 pages· 1,031 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud
4.4/5 Goodreads · 657 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Picture Book · Ages 5–10 · 2019

A Scarf for Keiko

In 1942, can Sam prove his friendship to Keiko as war divides them?

32 pages· 1,044 words· Est. 9 min read-aloud
4.3/5 Goodreads · 993 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2018

Jasmine Toguchi, Flamingo Keeper

A young girl learns to cope with disappointment and find alternative ways to achieve her goals.

128 pages· 9,643 words· Est. 2 hour read
4.4/5 Goodreads · 228 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
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Japanese Americans Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about japanese americans for preschool and elementary-age readers.

It Began With a Page

Ages 4–8 · 2019

An artist fights for diversity in children's books, defying rejection to change the world.

Love in the Library

Ages 6–9 · 2022

In a WWII camp, love blooms against all odds. Can hope survive confinement?

I Am Able to Shine

Ages 4–8 · 2022

A girl dreams of changing the world despite feeling invisible. Can she find her voice and shine?

Barbed Wire Baseball

Ages 6–10 · 2013

In a WWII internment camp, a man uses baseball to inspire hope.

Grandfather's Journey

Ages 5–8 · 1993

A man's heart is torn between two countries, longing for home.

A Place Where Sunflowers Grow

Ages 5–8 · 2006

In a bleak internment camp, Mari finds hope through art and friendship.

A Life Made by Hand

Ages 6–10 · 2019

Discover how an artist transforms the ordinary into extraordinary through creativity and vision.

Yoko's Paper Cranes

Ages 3–6 · 2001

A girl crafts paper cranes to bridge the distance to her grandparents.

The Bracelet

Ages 6–10 · 1993

A young girl loses a cherished bracelet amid wartime upheaval.

Fish for Jimmy

Ages 6–9 · 2013

Two brothers face internment, one risks all to restore hope and strength.

Yoko Writes Her Name

Ages 3–6 · 2008

A young girl faces teasing at school over her cultural differences. Can friendship bridge the gap?

A Boy Named Isamu

Ages 3–7 · 2021

A young artist sees the world anew, where stones and birds transform in his imagination.

View all japanese americans picture books
Browse by age

Japanese Americans Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about japanese americans for developing and independent readers.

Drummer Girl

Ages 6–9 · 2018

A young girl named Jasmine Toguchi struggles to find her talent for the school talent show.

Facing the Mountain

Ages 13–17 · 2023

Japanese American soldiers battle for freedom abroad and justice at home during WWII.

Super Sleuth
Sale price
$599

Super Sleuth

Ages 6–9 · 2017

Jasmine's Girl's Day plans unravel as mysteries arise. Can she solve them in time?

Baseball Saved Us

Ages 11–12 · 1993

In a WWII internment camp, baseball becomes a lifeline for dignity and hope.

Mika: My New Life

Ages 6–8 · 2013

Mika joins a club, faces time challenges, and navigates new friendships and troublemakers.

While I Was Away
Sale price
$1799

While I Was Away

Ages 8–12 · 2021

A girl navigates identity and belonging in 1980s Japan, caught between two cultures.

Seen and Unseen

Ages 10–14 · 2022

Three photographers capture the stark reality of Japanese American incarceration during WWII.

Keep It Together, Keiko Carter
Sale price
$1799

Keep It Together, Keiko Carter

Ages 10–13 · 2020

Caught between friendship drama and first crushes, Keiko must choose between her heart and her friends.

Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers

Ages 9–12 · 2019

A young detective uncovers a dangerous dognapping ring threatening her neighborhood.

Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai
Sale price
$1799

Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai

Ages 8–12 · 2021

Jenna swears off love after a breakup, but a mysterious rival challenges her heart and her resolve.

So Far from the Sea

Ages 10–12 · 1998

A family's final visit to a grave stirs memories of internment and resilience.

Sweet and Sour
Sale price
$1799

Sweet and Sour

Ages 8–12 · 2022

Old betrayals resurface as Mai plots revenge on her ex-best friend.

Keep exploring
Books about prejudice and racismBooks about Japanese cultureBooks about clubsBooks about death, grief, and bereavementBooks about evacuation and relocationBooks about farm life and ranch lifeBooks about grandparent-grandchild relationshipsBooks about luck

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