The Very Asian Foundation, in partnership with We Need Diverse Books, launches The May Book Project to help schools and libraries build and maintain robust Asian American youth literature collections for all readers.

We are raising national awareness of the need to create inclusive libraries, give readers access to up-to-date Asian American youth literature, and provide funding to donate books to at-need libraries.

The project is inspired by St. Louis high school students who asked their schools for more Asian American literature during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and were ignored. The May Book Project is a vetted, high-quality, and free resource to help libraries support readers.

HEAR FROM STUDENTS

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HEAR FROM STUDENTS •

 Inspired by a group of St. Louis students who asked their schools for more AAPI books and were largely ignored, we brought together some of the nation’s leaders in Asian American literature to curate an extensive, vetted, and thoughtful book list.

The Heart of the Project

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The Heart of the Project •

We want to celebrate and promote rich Asian American literature in an effort to bring more representative and diverse books amidst rising anti-Asian hate. Trailblazer Rudine Sims Bishop tells us it is crucial that readers see both reflections of their lives as well as windows into the lives of others.

“When there are enough books available that can act as both mirrors and windows for all our children, they will see we can celebrate both our differences and our similarities.”

The Reading Lists

RESOURCES: TOOL KITS, IDEAS, AND GUIDES

For teachers, community members, sponsors, and journalists:

a huge thanks

To our founding coalition partners in the project — We appreciate you immensely in supporting this important work!

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let’s work together

We are partnering with community organizations and corporate sponsors to distribute book lists and purchase new materials for libraries. More specifically, we are committed to donating books to libraries that do not have a budget for new materials.

*Examples of potential uses of funds donated towards the May Book Project.

Sponsorships

Silver Sponsorship - $5,000

  • Can provide entire May Book Project List purchased for libraries

  • Logo and organization named listed on the May Book Project/Very Asian Foundation website

Gold Sponsorship - $10,000

  • All items in Silver Sponsorship

  • Logo promoted across all Very Asian Foundation social media platforms

  • Video shoutout for your marketing from Very Asian Foundation or a school

Platinum Sponsorship - $25,000+

  • All items in Gold Sponsorship

  • Logo on all May Book Project materials

  • Special individualized panel event with Very Asian Foundation

Ready to partner with us?