AAPI Legends A-Z (A Children’s Guide to Asian American Pacific Islander Legends), written and illustrated by Emma Yu, founder of AAPI Youth Voices, offers young readers a vibrant and accessible introduction to Asian American Pacific Islander history and culture. Organized alphabetically, the book highlights 26 trailblazing individuals, events, or concepts—such as:
A is for Asian American
B is for Bryan Clay, a Japanese American decathlete who won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
D is for Daniel Inouye, the first Japanese American to serve in both the U.S. House and Senate, later honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom
E is for Evelyn Kawamoto, a two-time Olympic medalist and American record-holding swimmer
H is for Haing S. Ngor, a Cambodian American doctor, human rights activist, and Oscar-winning actor
K is for Kalpana Chawla, the first woman of Indian origin in space
L is for Larry Itliong, a Filipino American labor leader who helped lead the 1965 Delano grape strike
O is for Ocean Vuong, a Vietnamese American poet and novelist, winner of the T.S. Eliot Prize
P is for Pierre Omidyar, Iranian American founder of eBay
S is for Samuel Lee, the first Asian American man to win Olympic gold
T is for Taylor Wang, the first person of Chinese origin to travel into space
V is for Vincent Chin, whose tragic death became a rallying point against anti-Asian hate
W is for Wong Kim Ark, whose landmark Supreme Court case affirmed birthright citizenship in the U.S.
Spanning a wide array of fields—politics, science, activism, sports, arts, and business—this book features individuals of Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Pakistani, Korean, Hawaiian, Hmong, Thai, and Iraqi descent. AAPI Legends A-Z celebrates diversity, representation, inclusion, and resilience while inspiring cultural pride.
This book, along with AAPI Female Figures A-Z, is part of our “One Month of AAPI Heritage” curriculum, created to give young readers their first meaningful insights into Asian American Pacific Islander history.
With colorful illustrations and age-appropriate storytelling, AAPI Legends A-Z opens young minds to the rich legacies of AAPI changemakers—sparking curiosity, empathy, and celebration of diversity.
