April is Jazz Appreciation Month, so we wanted to highlight our picture book Rent Party Jazz, by William Miller, illustrated by Charlotte Riley-Webb. Continue reading
Category Archives: Diversity
Judging Books by Their Covers
Today we are pleased to share this guest post from Librarian and Diversity Coordinator Laura Reiko Simeon on the power of book covers.
10 Children’s Books About Women in STEM/STEAM
March is Women’s History Month and while we believe that the accomplishments of women should be celebrated all the time, today we wanted to specifically highlight children’s books that feature women who have made significant contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Below are ten women that we think you should celebrate and know more about! Continue reading
Why We Consult Cultural Experts During the Editorial Process
The Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune recently interviewed Tu Books publisher Stacy Whitman and Lee & Low’s new editorial director, Cheryl Klein, in a piece discussing “sensitivity readers,” who read specifically to review the cultural and identity elements of a book for authenticity. Because not every answer to an interview question makes it into an article, we collected Stacy’s answers on why we consult with expert readers.
Black History Month Spotlight: William “Doc” Key
As February comes to an end, we round out Black History Month with a spotlight on William “Doc” Key, a self-taught veterinarian who taught his horse Jim Key how to read, write, and calculate math problems. Teaching a horse these skills might sound preposterous, but Doc was able to nurture Jim’s ability through kindness, patience, and empathy. Together they traveled throughout the United States and impressed audiences with Jim’s amazing performances. In the process, they broke racial barriers and raised awareness for the humane treatment of animals.
Here’s what Donna Janell Bowman, author of Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World About Kindness, had to say about William “Doc” Key’s legacy and the amazing duo’s story:
The Diversity Gap in the Academy Awards: Some Diversity Records Broken, But Still More Work to Do
In 2015, we released an infographic and study on the diversity gap in the Academy Awards. The study looked at racial and gender diversity over 87 years of the Oscars, through 2015:
Tiny Stitches Wins An NAACP Image Award!
At Lee & Low Books, we pride ourselves on publishing beautiful books that are “about everyone, for everyone.” So we were thrilled when we found out that Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas won an NAACP Image Award in the Outstanding Literary Work for Children category! Continue reading
8 Black History Month Books for Middle School
February is Black History Month and while we think it’s great to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions made by African Americans, we also believe that Black history is American history and should be celebrated and taught all year long. But this month can be a great time to shine a spotlight on favorite books or freshen up a dated collection with new titles. Here are ten of our favorite Black History Month Books for middle school: Continue reading
Valentine’s Day Children’s Books that Celebrate Familial Love
In this guest post, writer Rebecca En-Szu Hu-Van Wright compiles a list of 9 books to read with your loved ones for Valentine’s Day.
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, there’s going to be a lot of talk about love…and there’s no better time to remember that family is often the first place children learn about love. Whether it is with a grandparent, a sibling, or an adopted parent, each relationship is special in its own way. To pay tribute to all the wonderful, different kinds of familial love, we’ve put together a book list of titles that celebrate and explore these unique bonds.
Five Inspiring Reads From Around the Web
With everything that’s going on in the world, it can be difficult to find the little things in life that make us happy. So this week, we’ve gathered five reads from around the web that celebrate the diversity that make our world great and brought a smile to our face.