I've looked for books that are geared to both the beginner and the more experienced dim sum cook; for those who like traditional dim sum and others who want to experiment with more unusual taste pairings.
1. "Chinese Dim Sum"
By the Wei-Chuan School, 1990. For the cook who has mastered the basics of dim sum and wants to go to the next stage, this book by Taiwan’s Wei-Chuan school is a good choice. Just be prepared to do a bit of conversion work with the recipes. Paperback.
2. "Dim Sum: The Art of Chinese Tea Lunch"
By Ethel Blonder, 2002. Designed for newcomers to dim sum, in this book the co-author of "Every Grain of Rice" provide easy to make recipes for all the dim sum classics, from Potstickers to Shu Mai. As with her previous book, charming watercolours are scattered throughout.3. Dim Sum: A Pocket Guide
I'm cheating a bit here, since this isn't actually a cookbook, but I just had to include Kit Shan Li's excellent guide for the novice or inexperienced dim sum diner. The book includes western and Cantonese names, photographs, and descriptions of nearly fifty items commmonly served at a dim sum brunch. An added plus is the book's compact size - perfect to take with you to the dim sum restaurant.4. "Dim Sum: Delicious Asian Finger Food"
By Fiona Smith, 2001. Food stylist Fiona Smith provides innovative twists on traditional dim sum dishes. My personal favorite is Bok Choy Rolls with Spicy Chicken – an interesting variation on Lettuce Wraps. Also not to be missed are the Pearl Balls made with black and white glutinous rice. Hardcover.5. "Asian Wraps: Deliciously Easy Hand-held Bundles"
By Nina Simonds, 2000. Quick and easy recipes that make use of a wide variety of wrappers, from nori (seaweed) to spring roll wrappers, lettuce and pita bread. Includes lots of traditional Chinese dishes, such as Szechuan won tons and steamed dumplings, but there are other Asian snacks as well. Hardcover.6. "Have Some Dim Sum"
By Evelyn Chau, 1999. Besides easy to make recipes, Evelyn Chau has included the Cantonese names for each dish, making it a useful guide when dining out at a dim sum restaurant. Paperback.