AAPI Female Figures A-Z (A Children’s Guide to Asian American Female Figures), written and illustrated by Emma Yu, founder of AAPI Youth Voices, is a vibrant introduction to the remarkable contributions of Asian American women. Each letter of the alphabet spotlights a significant female figure—such as “A is for Anna May Wong (1905–1961)”—bringing their stories to life through engaging narratives and colorful illustrations.

Highlighting 26 groundbreaking women across politics, science, activism, sports, arts, and business, and spanning diverse backgrounds, including Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Pakistani, Korean, Hawaiian, Hmong, Thai, and Iraqi descent, this book celebrates diversity, representation, resilience, and cultural pride.

Among the inspiring figures featured are:

Anna May Wong — the first Asian actress honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; 

Kamala Harris — the first Asian American U.S. Vice President; 

Sunisa Lee — Olympic gold medalist, a Hmong American who made history in gymnastics; 

Tammy Duckworth — the first woman with a disability elected to Congress and a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom;

Zaha Hadid — the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

This book, along with AAPI Legends A-Z, forms a key part of the “One Month of AAPI Heritage” program, providing young readers with their first insights into Asian American history. To support educators, free online resources are available to download, enriching classroom discussions on AAPI heritage and achievements.

With its colorful illustrations and simple, engaging explanations, AAPI Female Figures A-Z inspires young readers to embrace diversity, appreciate history, and pursue their dreams—no matter their background.

Author’s Notes:
“I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me on this journey: my family, the AAPI Youth Voices team, advisors, and teachers. I would like to give a special shout-out to my friend Brian Lin. Brian, your unwavering inspiration has been instrumental in my journey. Without you, AAPI Youth Voices would not exist. I would be honored if you could write the foreword for my upcoming book, The Untold Stories of AAPI Females, adding your voice to this project and the AAPI community. Your words would bring even deeper meaning to this work, and your influence is a gift I am proud to share with the world!”