Category Archives: Diversity

10 Black History Month Books for Grades 3-6

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 third grade through sixth grade: Continue reading

Five Inspiring Reads from Around the Web

Between the news, the changing administration, and the constant fight for rights and equality, we know that we’ll experience some trying times ahead. But if nothing else, protests across the country and the world indicate that people will fight for their basic human rights and the human rights of others. To stay inspired, we’ve gathered five of our favorite reads from around the web.

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Announcing Our 2016 New Voices Award Winner

new voices award sealNew York, NY—January 23, 2017—LEE & LOW BOOKS is proud to announce that Roberto Peñas of Olathe, Kansas, is the winner of the company’s seventeenth annual New Voices Award. His manuscript, Pedro Flores: The Toymaker, is a biography of the inventor of the modern yo-yo. In the early 1900s, Flores emigrated from the Philippines to the United States, where he pursued an education and his entrepreneurial ambitions. After reading about a ball-and-string-like toy in the newspaper, Flores was reminded of a similar toy from his childhood. He redesigned the toy and named it “yo-yo” (Tagalog for “come back”). It wasn’t long before the yo-yo became a popular toy. Continue reading

Book List: 7 Children’s Books About Immigration

For many people, the United States is the beacon of hope, a place to live the “American Dream.” From the first Irish immigrants who arrived in the early 19th century to the current refugees trying to escape their war-torn countries, the United States was and continues to be shaped by the different cultures and groups that come to live a better life. With the recent political rhetoric and the increase in anti-immigrant sentiment, it’s now more important than ever to not see an “us versus them” situation, but rather to celebrate the differences that actually make America great. In this book list, we’ve rounded up seven of our titles that are about the immigrant experience, and encourage readers to be accepting of all people from different backgrounds.

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Five Great Reads From Around the Web

With all that has been going on in the news, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all things that are out of our control. While we can’t always escape from our newsfeed, we can resolve to do as much as we can to make sure that our basic human rights aren’t taken away. With that being said,  we’ve gathered five of our favorite reads that have filled us with hope for the upcoming months. Continue reading

6 Books for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 16th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and to celebrate, we’ve gathered six books that highlight the works and accomplishments of civil rights activists and African American pioneers.

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Readers’ Reactions to Vivien Thomas’s Legacy

Guest BloggerAt LEE & LOW BOOKS, we know the power of a good story. Our books encourage readers to pursue their dreams, seek out information on people and cultures that are different from our own, and inspire change for the better. In this guest post, Gwendolyn Hooks, author of Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas, shares some heartwarming readers’ reactions to her book. 

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Interview: Richard Sobol on Coexistence, Travel, and Capturing the Perfect Moment

Growing Peace: A Story of Farming, Music, and Religious Harmony is about the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian families in a Ugandan village who created a Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative. In this uplifting photo-essay, we learn how families live and work together peacefully despite their religious differences. Author and photographer Richard Sobol takes readers on a journey to Namanyonyi through his beautiful photographs. And to learn more about his experience, we’ve asked him a few questions about his creative process.

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