Rebekah Gienapp

Our family is reading our way around the globe this summer. This week we’re exploring picture books set in Asian countries, including the Middle East.

We learned so much about cultures, traditions, and religions that we were not very familiar with before our book adventure.

My biggest challenge in finding books to review for this post is that many of the books that at first glance seemed to be set in an Asian country were actually about Asian-Americans. Of course those books are very important in their own right, but for this post series I wanted books that take place in Asia itself.

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. Your purchases help support the costs of this blog, at no additional cost to you! I also received free review copies of Amal’s Eid and Hanuman and the Orange Sun from the publisher Bharat Babies; my opinions are my own. You can read my full disclosure policy here. 

I first came across the folktale that One City, Two Brothers is based on when I was writing a sermon to preach at my church, and I was delighted when Barefoot Books published a version of it.

This tale, which has been told for centuries in the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian faiths alike, examines the meaning of generosity and selflessness.

Two brothers live in separate villages. After a great harvest, one decides to sneak three extra bags of grain into his brother’s barn. When he returns home, he finds that the three bags of grain he has given away have been restored. He tries again the next evening, with the same results. What could be happening? (Set in Israel/Palestine, recommended for ages 4 – 10)

Amal’s Eid introduces children to the traditions of Ramadan and particularly to the festive Eid holiday that ends the month of fasting. We follow Amal as he chooses a new salwaar kameez, gives gifts to his family, listens to music, and of course feasts! This prompted an interesting conversation with our 4 year old about what fasting is and why people do it. He was very intrigued by the story and asked to read it several nights in a row. (Set in India, recommended for ages 3 – 7)

Related Post: 9 Children’s Books that Celebrate Ramadan

I’m rapidly becoming a huge fan of Jeanette Winter’s books, especially Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan. Nasreen’s father is taken away by Taliban soldiers, and desperate to find him, her mother leaves to search for them. In her pain, Nasreen withdraws into silence.

Though her mother and grandmother are educated, Nasreen is forbidden to attend school under Taliban rule. Despite the dangers, her grandmother is determined that Nasreen be able to learn about the world the way that she did, so she finds a secret school in a private home. It is here that Nasreen gradually finds her voice once again. (Set in Afghanistan, recommended for ages 6 – 10).

Shiraz is a kind-hearted girl living in an family that becomes unhappy after her father dies. In the opening scenes of The Girl with a Brave Heart , Shiraz’s ball of wool falls into a neighbor’s courtyard, and Shiraz must summon up her courage to retrieve it.

The old woman who answers the door is impatient and wild looking. She tells Shiraz she may have her ball of wool back, if Shiraz helps her around the house. The woman asks Shiraz to do strange things, like smash all the dishes in her filthy kitchen with a hammer. As Shiraz decides what to do, she uses her heart to listen to the woman’s requests, with magical results. (Set in Iran, recommended for ages 5 – 10).

Related Post: Learn About Iranian Culture with the Global Citizen Kids Club

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The author’s note in Four Feet, Two Sandals explains that this tale set in a refugee camp in Pakistan was inspired a refugee child who asked the authors why there were no books written about children like her.

Lina finds a single beautiful sandal in the camp at a time when she has not had a pair of shoes for two years. Another girl Feroza, who is brand new to the camp, finds the other shoe. The girls decide that they will trade off wearing the pair of shoes each day. As the girls begin a friendship, we learn more about their lives, their pain, and their dreams. (Set in Pakistan, recommended for ages 6 – 10).

Peek! A Thai Hide and Seek is a great choice for younger readers. As a father plays “Jut-Ay” (peek-a-boo) with his little girl, children see bright, colorful illustrations of animals new and familiar. It’s easier on some pages than on others to find where the girl is hiding, presenting a fun challenge for the reader. (Set in Thailand, recommended for ages 3 – 7).

In The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac, we learn the legend of how the Chinese calendar came into being. The Jade Emperor decides that he will name each year in the calendar after a different animal. The first to win a race will be the first to have a year named after it. This light-hearted retelling also answers the question: why is there no year of the Cat? After the story there are 4 pages of educational notes about the Chinese calendar and important holidays. (Set in China, recommended for ages 3 – 7).

Related Post: Activities to Teach Children about Chinese Culture

Harini asks her mother for so many snacks that her mother declares she is as hungry as Hanuman Dada. “Who?” Harini asks. Hanuman and the Orange Sun tells the story of how this strong Hindu god was so  hungry as a baby that he thought the sun looked like a juicy orange. He jumped so high that when he opened his mouth, he was able to swallow the sun in one bite!

Of course, the other gods are unhappy that the sun has disappeared, and will not put up with the situation. I enjoyed the story of Hanuman and the gods itself, as well as the playful illustrations. (Set in India, recommended for ages 3 – 7).

The Barefoot Book of Buddhist Tales includes both light-hearted stories and short Zen anecdotes, particularly chosen for children. The tales explore concepts such as generosity, compassion, and humility.

My favorite anecdote in the collection is “Useless Work,” in which a young monk becomes upset with an older monk after he carries a spoiled young woman across a river. Long after the incident happens, the young monk asks him how he could indulge the selfish girl, especially when they are forbidden to touch women. “Oh dear,” the old monk replies. “Are you still carrying that woman? I put her down an hour ago.” (Set in multiple countries, recommended for ages 6 – 10).

Related Post: Learn About Japan: Kids’ Activities and Books

Children of all cultures can certainly identify with the challenge of learning something new, especially when every member of your family has a different opinion about how you should do it. In Maggie’s Chopsticks Maggie can’t seem to master using her new chopsticks no matter how hard she tries. She isn’t swift like her mother, bold like her brother, or graceful like her sister. Will her father’s advice to find her own way be just what she needs? (Set in China, recommended for ages 3 – 7).

The Trip Back Home opens with a little girl and her mother selecting the gifts they will take to their family members in Korea on their visit: an apron, leather work gloves, and an English picture book. We follow the family through their daily routine during their visit Korea, as the girl learns how to care for farm animals and  shop in the market.

I particularly enjoyed how the story is framed with the giving of gifts and hugs at both beginning and end, with her family receiving a drawing, a necklace, and a poem as they leave Korea. (Set in Korea, recommended for ages 3 – 7).

Related Post: 11 Children’s Books about Korean Culture

Want to continue your book journey around the world? Find books set in South America, North America, Africa, Europe, and Australia. 

Additional Books Set in Asia That I’ve Reviewed in Previous Blog Posts

Elephant Dance: A Journey To India

Lin Yi’s Lantern: A Moon Festival Tale

Chandra’s Magic Light: A Story in Nepal

Tell us in the comments: what are your favorite books set in Asia?