World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 0-6: Asia

 

Our nipa hut: a story in the Philippines.

Written by Rachell Abalos; illustrated by Gabriela Larios.

Barefoot Books, 2024.

Picture book.

Yelena and Papa take care of their traditional Filipino dwelling - their nipa hut - and it takes care of them. But when a tropical storm roars towards the Philippines, their preparation will be put to the test. Gripping narrative will keep young readers glued to the pages as Yelena, Papa and the nipa hut work together as a family to withstand the storm.

The importance of traditions and community, and the impact of climate change.

The author based the story of her childhood experiences. She now lives in the USA.

The illustrator is from El Salvador, and now lives in the UK.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 0-6: The Americas

 

I am a Bon dancer.  Written by Brandi-Ann Uyemura.

Illustrated by Amy Matsushita-Beal.

Holiday House, 2026.  Picture book.

"I thread each arm through my peach sleeves. Grandpa Jo ties the bright yellow sash around me. I check to make sure the paper flowers in my hair are on just right. I am ready for my first Bon dance festival!” 

It's a young Japanese-American girl's first time at the "Festival of Souls," one of the largest Buddhist festivals. It's just like her grandfather described: the smell of corndogs, the glow of hanging paper lanterns, the beat of taiko drums. But Grandpa Jo didn't tell her that everyone else already knew how to dance! Suddenly, the lanterns feel like spotlights. She wish, wish, wishes she could dance, but she can't bring herself to try until Grandpa Jo encourages her to remember the meaning of the Obon Festival - celebrating our family members who have passed on - and to imagine her beloved Grandma Nat dancing along with her. Because she is there, and behind her are her parents, sugar-cane cutters, and behind them are their parents, who came to Hawai'i on ships from Japan.

Traditions of light and dance – and their connection to those who have passed.

The author is fifth generation Hawai’ian Japanese.

The illustrator was born in the USA, and is now based in Tokyo.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 0-6: Asia

 

How we share cake.

Written and illustrated by Kim Hyo-eun.

Translated from Korean by Deborah Smith.

Scribe Publications, 2024.

Picture book.

Original Korean edition published by Munhakdongne Publishing Corp.

Making sure you get your rightful share in a family of five siblings is never easy. Everything must be carefully calculated and precisely measured to make sure no one misses out. How we share cake is an exploration of the timeless struggle for fairness and justice among brothers and sisters.

Slices of cake – and Korean life – are shared in this recognisable family situation.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 7-12: A Language with a Non-Latin Script

 

The village beyond the mist.

Written by Sachiko Kashiwaba.

Illustrated by Miho Satake.

Translated from Japanese by Avery Fischer Udagawa.

Restless Books, 2025.

A mountain town that's not on any map, a messy bookstore with infinite doors, and a spoiled prince under a forgetful wizard's curse... this summer might hold more than Lina bargained for! When a gust of wind carries off her umbrella, it leads Lina down a secret path between the trees to a strange and incredible world. In the hidden village of Misty Valley, centaurs roam the cobblestone streets and gnomes visit shops stuffed with spellbooks and enchanted desserts. All magic has a dark side, though, and sometimes even sorcerers need a human's helping hand.

For the younger age group – more 12 to 14 years.

Ethereal and mystical.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 13-18: Asia

 

The girl and the goddess: a modern myth. 

Written and illustrated by by Nikita Gill.

Ebury Press, 2020.

Novel in verse.

Let her be a little less human, a little more divine.

Give her heart armour so it doesn't break as easily as mine.

One girl's wild journey of strength, beauty and growth as she discovers who she really is. Lyrical wonder, spiritual revelation and revolution meet with epic mythical landscapes in this deeply intimate coming-of-age story, one that teaches us all, no matter how small we feel, to become the masters of our own destiny. Meet Paro. A girl with a strong will, a full heart and much to learn. Born into a family reeling from the ruptures of Partition, follow her as she crosses the precarious lines between childhood, teenage discovery and realising her adult self. Nikita Gill's masterful poetry and beautiful illustrations conjure up jasmine-scented voices and smiles inhabited by ancestor's souls, rain dancing in a new city and the painful caverns in our hearts. We are taken on a journey of deity wisdom, fragmented family, and love lost and gained. We see power in belief, healing from trauma and hope after conflict. Undercurrents of the Trimurti, the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer, run deep, as Paro must confront fear, desire and the darkest parts of herself in the search for meaning and, ultimately, empowerment. Navigating different cultures, religions and identities, The Girl and the Goddess is a mesmerising poetic tale of where we come from, how we grow and how we become who we are.

Powerful, a book to think about and absorb.

A verse novel, which takes less time than a traditional novel – but, it is so deep it takes time to come to terms with everything. 

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 0-6: Asia

The line.

Written by Swapna Haddow. Illustrated by Farah Shah.

Scholastic, 2026. Picture book.

A powerful story about Partition, with a hopeful message at its heart. "I would draw lines that would lasso us to our neighbours and keep us close for all time. I would draw lines that made us feel safe together." When a line divides the country of India, a little girl and her family are forced to leave their home. On her journey, the girl thinks about what she would do differently if she was in charge of a line with so much power. She would draw lines that brought people together, despite their differences. Her lines would make people friends. Her lines would make the world a better place. Bringing together award-winning Indian author, Swapna Haddow, with British-Pakistani illustrator, Farah Shah, representing both sides of Partition The hopeful message of the story and warmth of the illustrations handle the subject matter with care, suitable for a young audience. Based around a historic event, but with important themes that are still very relevant today Includes a spread at the back of the book with facts about the Partition of India.

How we see lines – are they separators, or connectors. There are a number of recent books about The Partition – perhaps because it is coming up to the 80^th anniversary.

Written while Swapna was the University of Otago College of Education/Creative New Zealand Children’s Writer in Residence. 

#WorldKidLitMonth

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 7-12: Asia

The line they drew through us.

Written by Hiba Noor Khan.

Andersen Press, 2025.

Fiction.

Three best friends are born on the same day under miraculous circumstances. But by their twelfth birthday, Jahan, Ravi and Lakshmi's lives are about to change forever. The British announce Indian independence and draw lines of Partition that tear apart the country, and the friends. One of them flees, one of them disappears, and the other is left wondering, could a miracle bring them back together?

Heart-breaking. Touches of the mystical.

Stories of British genocide / cruelty / horrific behaviour are embedded into the story.

My caveat is the introduction, which makes it seem as though Bangladesh was created at the same time as the Partition in 1947. Which, to me, feels like a negation of the trauma and horror of the Liberation War of 1971 – and all that led up to it. 

World Kid Lit Month: Bingo for 0-6: Asia

Rama & Sita

Written by Swapna Haddow. 
Illustrated by Darshika Varma. 

Hodder Children’s Books, 2025. 

Part of the Little Myths series. 

This book shows that sometimes it can be hard to pin down a book to a place. 

The myth of Rama and Sita is definitely of Asia origin. 

The author, Swapna, was born in London (Europe) and now lives in Aotearoa New Zealand (Oceania). 

The illustrator, Darshika Varma, is from Mumbai. 

The diaspora is real – and, sometimes, it makes me question where do I personally classify a work. 

[Related, but tangential, discussion follows]: 

In this case, the subject matter and illustrator helped. But, what about a book created by children of a diaspora, which doesn’t feature the culture they are descended from? 

Do they stop ever being an ‘Asian’ creator, and become a creator from their birth country? 

I asked these questions at work, too – when asking the ethnicity question on our membership form. 

Does my friend’s son – born and raised in Aotearoa – ever get to tick another box than ‘Chinese’? Or workmates, whose family immigrated here over 150 years ago – do they ever get to tick something other than ‘Chinese’ or ‘Indian’? 

In a relatively recently colonised county like Aotearoa New Zealand, these questions come up a bit. 

There’s a certain ‘something’ about works created by people from Aotearoa, whatever their ethnic background. 

And, it’s something that has become more obvious in recent years. There’s less harking back to ‘The Mother Country’ (ie England, generally) and less centring that background or reality. 

Anyway, I’ll go back to my hole and try to stay in my lane. 

World Kid Lit Month 2024: Traditions.

From celebrations to traditions - over this month I've travelled the globe, and subjects - and I hope you enjoyed the journey with me. 

The big bath house by Kyo Maclear & Gracey Zhang. 

A celebration of traditions and growing up. And of bodies of all shapes and sizes. 

Come together: things every Aussie kid should know about the First Peoples by Isaiah Firebrace & Jaelyn Biumaiwai. 

In this essential book, Isaiah, a Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara man, establishes a foundation of First Nations knowledge with 20 key topics. Alongside bright and contemporary illustrations by Mununjali and Fijian artist Jaelyn Biumaiwai, Isaiah connects us to each topic through his own personal story and culture, from the importance of Elders to the Dreaming. From Koori Curriculum. 

This is a taonga (treasure). It is worth trying to find, to get some insights into one of the oldest continuous culture on our planet. 

Coming home to country by Bronwyn Bancroft. 

The colours, smells, and sounds of the author's Country are vividly brought to life. Australia is home to many a Country.

Country is the connection Australian First Nations have to a place. To the lands, seas, and waterways. To their family and community. 

The ocean calls by Tina Cho & Jess X. Snow. 

The pull of traditions, and aspirations. But, seriously, wouldn't you want to grow up and be a haenyeo - a free diving mermaid? 

How my Koro became a star by Brianne Te Paa & Story Hemi Moorhouse. 

The author, Brianne Te Paa, is a local for me. Literally works a ten minute walk away. We've done story readings at the same events - at a venue equidistant. 

Even without that geographical connection, this book would pull on my heart, and I would find a home for it in my house, and my life. 

World Kid Lit Month 2024: Self-esteem

We all need to believe in ourselves, and this books express this perfectly. 

The boy who tried to shrink his name by Sandhya Parappukkaran & Michelle Pereira. 

With the help of a new friend Zim - Zimdalamashkermishkada - learns to celebrate his name - and himself. 

Fauja Singh keeps going by Simrat Jeet Singh & Baljinder Kaur. 

Age does not limit your drive or ambition. And this picture book biography shows that, in spades. 

I love me by Sally Morgan & Ambelin Kwaymullina. 

I Love This Book. It is simple and expressive and so joyous. This mother-daughter pair of creators works perfectly. Sally's mother was from the Bailgu  people of Western Australia, and was part of the Stolen Generations. 

Koko and the coconut by Turia Pitt, Célestine Hitiura Vaite, & Emilie Tavaearii. 

The authors' Tahitian heritage - and personal stories - help to add nuance and depth to a story of determination. 

Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai by Michaela Keeble & Tokerau Brown. 

The power of standing strong in your identity, and being who you are, is so powerful. And is beautifully expressed in this book. The main character's identity is front-and-centre, with the Māori tino rangatiratanga (self-determination) flag around his arms. 

World Kid Lit Month 2024: Languages

Language can divide.
Language can unite.
Language can be a barrier.
Language can be a door. 

Dancing hands by Joanna Que & Charina Marquez. 

Filipino sign language underscores this tale of new friendships, and new languages. 

Hello world by Jonathan Litton & Atelier Cartographik. 

I'm never not going to recommend this lift-the-flap non-fiction book about languages. I love languages (I can't speak any, other than English), and words. 

Luli and the language of tea by Andrea Wang & Hyewon Yum. 

Tea is universal, as Luli and her classmates find, in this story of finding common ground (or leaves). 

World languages for kids by Sachiko Otohata. 

A quirky collection of words / phrases and languages. 

Languages Included in the Book
English, German, Russian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Persian, Arabic, Hindu, Tagalog, Swahili, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean. 

Words and Phrases in the Book
Hello, Goodbye, Thank You, Sorry, Please, Excuse Me, Yes/No, One/Two/Three, Belly Button, I Love You. 

World Kid Lit Month 2024: Food

Food, glorious food! 

There are many books out there, which use food as a vehicle to foster cross-cultural understanding. 

I get that. I believe they're coming from a good place.

But, do we have to 'shame' children for their food, in order to get a message through? 

These books don't do that. They just celebrate food, especially that with cultural meaning and history. 

Awâsis & the world famous bannock by Dallas Hunt & Amanda Strong. 

I'm recommending this book on a friend's love of it. The use of Cree names, rather than English, helps this book stand out. And, there's use of gender-neutral pronouns, too. Not to mention glorious illustrations, and all-around goodness. 

Bang Bang Noodles by Nessie Sharpe. 

Nessie is a New Zealand-based Chinese-Kiwi (her words) who celebrates her heritage in a couple of cute board books. Each are English-Cantonese dual language, with English to the forefront. 

Chaiwala! By Priti Birla Maheshwari & Ashley Barron. 

A celebration of an Indian tradition. The book is warm and cosy, like a welcoming cup of chai. 

Cora cooks pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore & Kristi Valiant. 

I've shared this book for previous World Kid Lit Month years, and I'm recommending it again. Because it is beautiful. There's even a recipe. Which I've used. 

Lunch at 10 Pomegranate Street by Felicita Sala. 

Food brings people and community together, especially when the smells spread throughout an apartment building. Recipes are included, so you can recreate the experience. 

Olive harvest in Palestine by Wafa Shami & Shaima Farouki. 

The heart-break. A world that will never be, again. 
People who no longer with us. 
Taken and destroyed. 

World Kid Lit Month 2024: Death

Death has become a specialist subject for me. I have read hundreds of children's books on the topic. So, it was hard to limit to just a few. Having to think of non-US titles did help. Two of these are translated. Two are from Aotearoa New Zealand, one from a Māori perspective, and one from a Pākehā (white) perspective. 

The fact of death / cannot destroy what has been given. 

Cry, heart, but never break by Glenn Ringtved, illustrated by Charlotte Pardi, translated from the Danish by Robert Moulthrop. 

Death is not to be feared in this gentle tale, but cared for, and embraced as part of life. This Death is a weary traveller, who is so, so, so loving and gentle. 

Dadaji's paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande & Ruchi Mhasane. 

I wish that everyone has a Dadaji as loving and mourned as this. The message of this book is one that exemplifies the poem I have based my blog title on, which I shared below. 

Grandma lives in a perfume village by Fang Suzhen, Sonja Danowski, & Huang Xiumin. 

A conversation starter, with a focus on the grief of a child, for a parent. It's just that the child is also a parent. 

My father and his older sister were in their 50s when their mother died. I heard my father say, on the phone, "we're orphans" to my aunt. The fact you're a grown-up and maybe a parent, or grandparent, when your parents die, does not stop you from being a child. A grieving and lost child. 

Millie's big decision by Ian Eagleton & Max Rambaldi. 

The death of Millie's beloved grandmother helps give this story impetus. How can Millie adopt and love a new dog, when they could die, and she would grieve. The inclusion of two dads is incidental to the story, but is a lovely bonus. 

The hug blanket by Chris Gurney & Lael Chisholm. 

I can see myself, wrapped in my hug blanket, on the dreaded day my mother dies. And the weeks to come. The visits to Nana's grave, in this book, bring back memories of my family attending funerals and burial services. The solemnness, and sadness, and the laughter. I don't think anyone has done cartwheels at a graveside to show our departed whānau (family) how good they're getting at them, though. 

Riwia and the Stargazer by Linda Tuhiwai Smith & Isobel Joy Te Aho-White. 

I had contemplated placing this book in another section, but the representation of a Māori tangihana, means it is best suited here. This book deals with so much more, including homelessness. 

World Kid Lit Month 2024: Celebrations

After kicking off the month with a book about celebrations around the world, now it's time to celebrate! Yes, two of the four books are Christmas. But, they aren't white, Western, traditional Christmas. 

An island Christmas by Lynn Joseph & Catherine Stock. 

Welcome to Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago. A story rich in traditions, and carrying the warmth of family and the tropical sun. 

Shubh Diwali by Chitra Soundar & Charlene Chua. 

Additional author notes, and a diverse community - shown in the illustrations - make this a wonderful introduction to Diwali. 

The trolley by Patricia Grace & Kerry Gemmill. 

A classic from Aotearoa New Zealand. Christmas in a small whānau (family), with a solo-mum doing her best to make this the best Christmas. 

White Sunday by Litea Fuata & Myo Yim. 

White Sunday is an important part of Samoan life, whether living on their ancestral lands, or part of the Pacific Island diaspora. This book is a joyous celebration of tradition and aiga (family). 

World Kid Lit Month 2023: CBCA Book of the Year

Bonus: Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year: Picture Book winner

My strange shrinking parents: being: a picture story told in 38 pages
Written & drawn by Zeno Sworder.

Thames and Hudson, 2022.

Sorry for the bad photos - trying to get them while I could. 

Oh my word. This is heart-breaking. 

The metaphor of shrinking yourself to fit is blown apart in this. 

The giving and giving and giving and giving of yourself.

World Kid Lit Month 2023: A Picture Book

A Picture Book:

A dupatta is...
Witten by Marzieh Abbas; illustrated by Anu Chouhan.

Feiwel and Friends, 2023. 

This is a joy of a read. Who - if you're from a Western background - knew a dupatta would be so versatile! 

I am enjoying books which celebrate cultural dress, without apologies. 

I guess the dupatta isn't as loaded (ie religion) as other cultural dress, which makes the message clearer(?), not as (possibly) controversial as other items. 

World Kid Lit Month 2023: A Book from Asia

A book from Asia: 

I really want to see you, Grandma. 
By Tarō Gomi. 

Chronicle Books, 2018. 

A tale of missed meetings, through a landscape which is, I'm sure, inspired by Tarō Gomi's Japanese homeland. 

The narrow and long format of the book helps convey the distance each character travel - and the way they cross each other's paths, without realising it. 

I enjoyed the facial expressions - the looks of consternation and dismay. 

And there is a lovely meeting and ending.