Unpacking East and Southeast Asian Immigrants Portrayed in Children’s Picturebooks: Centering on Immigration in Contemporary Times

This article describes a study that examined the portrayal of East and Southeast Asian immigrant children and their families in children’s picturebooks, focusing on their racialized and minoritized experiences. The authors’ analysis included a sample of 39 picturebooks written in English and published in the United States between 1993 and 2022. The findings reveal that these immigrant children and families are depicted as facing racism, stereotypes, financial difficulties, cultural differences, and language barriers. The Asian protagonists respond to their challenges in various ways, often employing multiple coping strategies. Additionally, they frequently find support through their social relationships when dealing with challenges upon arriving in the United States or wrestling with cultural disparities. The analysis highlights the need for diverse books that feature a variety of Asian subcultures, which can promote cultural identity and self-worth among Asian American children and broaden non–Asian American children’s understanding of linguistically, culturally, and racially diverse peers.