Festival of AAPI Books Returns to Long Beach Public Library with Day of Stories, Culture and Community

Above: Attendees at a pervious AAPI Heritage Month event at Billie Jean King Main Library greet a performer from The Immortals Lion Dancers.

Long Beach, CA—TheLong Beach Public Library (LBPL) is pleased to announce the return of its biennial Festival of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Books on Saturday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.). As the culminating celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, the Festival of AAPI Books (FAB) brings together authors, artists, educators and community members for a day of storytelling, culture, and connection, honoring the diverse histories and experiences of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.

"Events like the Festival of AAPI Books reflect Long Beach at its best—diverse, creative and deeply connected through shared stories," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "This celebration honors the voices that shape our city's cultural fabric and inspires the next generation of readers and leaders."

FAB will feature author panels, book signings, children's storytimes, cultural activities, local vendors and community organizations. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with acclaimed authors across multiple genres, discover new books and participate in family-friendly activities throughout the day, making the festival a true celebration of literature, culture and community connection.

"The Festival of AAPI Books brings together literature, culture and community in a powerful way," said Cathy De Leon, Director of Library, Arts, and Culture. "It is an opportunity for residents of all ages to engage with authors whose stories reflect identity, resilience, and the richness of the AAPI experience."

Attendees will have access to an exciting lineup of author panels featuring some of today's most compelling voices in contemporary literature.

• The Romance Panel, moderated by Grace Salvador from 12:15 to 1 p.m., will bring together Emery Lee, Joss Richard, Julie Tieu, and Kaye Rockwell for a lively discussion on love, relationships and crafting unforgettable stories.
• Young adult literature fans can join moderator Kristtina Swilling from 1:15 to 2 p.m. for an inspiring conversation with acclaimed authors Aimee Phan, C.B. Lee, David Yoon and Jennifer Chen. Together, they will explore themes of identity, belonging and the power of storytelling for young readers.
• The Adult Panel, moderated by Elaine Villanueva Bernal from 2:15 to 3 p.m., features Devi S. Laskar, Jasmin Iolani Hakes, Vanessa Hua, and Ellie Yang Camp. This dynamic discussion will highlight thought-provoking works that examine history, culture, family and resilience.
• A special Publishing Roundtable featuring author Kaila Yu, author and illustrator Kenneth Tan, literary agent Noelle Falcis Math, and author Melody "Fuzz Garden" will share a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing world, all the way from manuscript to publication.

Families can also look forward to a day of storytelling with a lineup of beloved children's authors and illustrators. Special story time sessions will feature Ann Chau ("My Ong Ngoai's Garden: Cal's Guide to Vietnamese Fruits and Culture"), Kimberly Tso ("Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken"), Ann Suk Wang ("The House Before Falling into the Sea"), Min Tonai and Jolene Gutiérrez ("Unbreakable"), Michelle Sterling ("Riding Through Rice Fields"), and Susie Yi ("Cat & Cat Adventures #6: The Lair of the Owl King"). Young readers and their families will enjoy engaging stories that celebrate culture, imagination and adventure.

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The event will also featurea community book signing at 3 p.m. with 22 participating authors. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet their favorite writers, ask questions and take home signed copies of their books.

Beyond the author events, the festival will be filled with hands-on fun such as interactive craft activities for children and families throughout the day. Activities will be led by TeachAAPI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Asian American and Pacific Islander education and representation.Festivalgoers can also browse a vibrant marketplace of local vendors offering books, stationery, gifts, food and specialty items. Participating vendors include Bel Canto Books, Cheery Human Studios, Gemmae Bake Shop, Hot Tropiks LLC, Kayan Pepper Co., KUBO LB, Lacelit Studio, Native Sol, Teofilo Coffee Company, Wonderly Press and The Lola x Kenneth Collaboration.

Community organizations will also be on hand with informational boothsand resources, including Friends of the Long Beach Public Library, TeachAAPI, Intertrend Creative Class, Gabriela South Bay and the Filipino Migrant Center.

The Festival of AAPI Books is co-hosted with Bel Canto Books, and all AAPI Heritage Month programs are generously funded in part by the Long Beach Public Library Foundation and Port of Long Beach. Residents are encouraged to participate in this celebration of culture, creativity and community. To view the full calendar of AAPI events, visit the Long Beach Public Library's events calendar.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaininga strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

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For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the Long Beach Public Library visit www.lbpl.organd follow @lbcitylibrary on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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