12 books celebrating East and Southeast Asian heritage

September marks the beginning of autumn and the start of a new school year. It’s also East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) Heritage Month: a celebration of the many ways ESEA cultures have enriched life in Britain, from bubble tea and K‑pop to manga and matcha lattes, Pokémon to Labubu, and the pub on the corner that does an amazing Thai curry. 

September is a fitting month for the observance. The autumnal equinox coincides with the Moon Festival, a harvest festival celebrated by many East and Southeast Asian communities. Today, the holiday centres on family, reunion, and togetherness, symbolised by the full moon. 

Different cultures mark the occasion in different ways. In Vietnam, Tết Trung Thu is a children’s festival. In Korea, Chuseok is a time for families to gather and give thanks, while in Japan, Tsukimi centres on moon-viewing and displays of pampas grass. Across much of the ESEA region, the moon serves as a unifying symbol, woven into traditions, food, and storytelling. 

My fantasy series Guardians of the New Moon draws on myths and legends through adventures inspired by magical creatures, gods and goddesses, and the animals of the lunar zodiac. 

But these novels are just a small part of a vibrant body of children’s literature created by British ESEA writers and illustrators, ranging from contemporary adventures and fantasy quests to picture books and non-fiction. 

Together, they explore a wide range of themes and offer rich inspiration for classroom displays, creative writing, craft activities, and celebrations of ESEA Heritage Month. 

Here are just a handful of the fantastic books by British ESEA writers and illustrators to share with young readers…

• The Kingdom of Tigers written by Felicity Yeoh, illustrated by Megan Snyders 
  A tiger cub separated from his mother joins other displaced animals whose homes are threatened by deforestation on a journey to find the legendary Kingdom of Tigers. 
• Dancing Dumplings For My One and Only written by Eva Wong Nava, illustrated by Natelle Quek 
  When her grandmother falls ill, a young girl shows her love by carrying on the family tradition of making dumplings. 
• The Endless Sea written by Chi Thai, illustrated by Linh Dao 
  Based on the author’s childhood experiences, this moving picture book tells the story of a Vietnamese family’s dangerous journey across the sea in search of safety. 
• Binna’s Dalgona written and illustrated by Sojung Kim-McCarthy 
  A young Korean girl finds the confidence to share her culture with classmates through a favourite sweet treat. 

• The Wands Away! series written and illustrated by Emma Farrarons 
  Young witch Ramona Spellstar begins life at Wands Away School, where magical adventures lead to friendship, fun, and plenty of mishaps. 
• Guardians of the New Moon: The Year of the Tiger written by Eric Huang, illustrated by Phùng Nguyên Quang 
  When the Tiger of the Lunar Zodiac goes missing, Ming and Miaow must help the determined Biao save her forest home and restore the Year of the Tiger. 
• K‑Pop: Making the Band written by Lucy Tandon Copp 
  K‑pop fan Sammie wins a place at an elite training academy and must compete for a spot in the hot new K‑pop band ECLIPSE. 
• Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past written by Maisie Chan 
  After coming across an old shell casing engraved with a Chinese dragon, Nate uncovers a forgotten piece of history and connects with his own heritage. 
• Kamizen: Fortress of Lost Memories written by William Yamaguchi Dobson, illustrated by Sawa Oikawa 
  To help his grandfather, who is living with dementia, Jonty enters a magical world inspired by Japanese folklore with the aim of recovering Gramps’s fading memories. 
• The Wildcat and the Gathering Storm written by Lui Sit, illustrated by David Dean 
  Book two in a series sees Puffin Lau and a magical wildcat kitten race to rescue Puffin’s mother while protecting the natural world from a growing threat. 

• Hyo series written and illustrated by Mina Ikemoto Ghosh 
  A cursed hellmaker is drawn into a web of mysteries in a fantasy world inspired by Japanese mythology. 
• Wild Song written by Candy Gourlay 
  Inspired by true events, this historical novel follows a young Filipina who travels to the 1904 St Louis World’s Fair and confronts prejudice, exploitation and colonial power. 

The Guardians of the New Moon series written by Eric Huang, illustrated by Phùng Nguyên Quang, is out now. The first book in the series, Ming and Miaow’s Great Race, is included in Bookbuzz Primary 2026.