INCREDIBLE

Olympic medalists and siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani compile profiles of notable Asian Americans.

The authors devote a concise paragraph to each person, describing their backgrounds, achievements, and lasting legacies. Several subjects share each spread, and the Shibutanis include politicians, artists, athletes, scientists, and more. They cover names that may be familiar to readers, such as musician Olivia Rodrigo, Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist Jhumpa Lahiri, activist Grace Lee Boggs, and Patsy Mink, the first woman of color elected to Congress. What sets this collection apart is the inclusion of potentially lesser-known names: aviator Katherine Sui Fun Cheung, disability and social justice activist Stacey Park Milbern, Narinder Singh Kapany, considered to be “the father of fiber optics,” and Mark Tatum, deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of the National Basketball Association. The entries are accompanied by vibrant, realistic portraits of the subjects set against richly hued backdrops. Though the book lacks a bibliography or further reading that might point curious youngsters toward other sources, many will be inspired to do their own research. The authors offer a solid balance of South Asian, Southeast Asian, East Asian, and Pacific Islander representation.

A brightly illustrated tribute that brings more deserving names to light.