Why Hasn’t the Number of Multicultural Books Increased In Eighteen Years?

June 17, 2013 – 5:00 pm

Since LEE & LOW BOOKS was founded in 1991 we have monitored the number of multicultural children’s books published each year through the Cooperative Children’s Book Center’s statistics. Our hope has always been that with all of our efforts and dedication to publishing multicultural books for more than twenty years, we must have made a difference. Surprisingly, the needle has not moved. Despite census data that shows 37% of the US population consists of people of color, children’s book publishing has not kept pace. We asked academics, authors, librarians, educators, and reviewers if they could put their fingers on the reason why the number of diverse books has not increased.

By Jason Low | Posted in The Diversity Gap | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (15)

Where’s the Diversity? The Tony Awards Looks in the Mirror

June 6, 2013 – 8:00 am

Since the Tony Awards will be presented on June 9, 2013, we decided to collect some data to see if a diversity gap exists in the theater. See our infographic below. While we cannot claim expertise in other fields outside of children’s books, we were fortunate to receive valuable insight from playwright/actor Christine Toy Johnson, who has spent the last fifteen years conducting dialogue with the entertainment industry to increase diversity in the theater and beyond.

By Jason Low | Posted in Dear Readers, guest blogger, The Diversity Gap | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Comments (7)

The Gift of Hope: Guadalupe Garcia McCall on first books

May 8, 2013 – 9:00 am

Author/poet Guadalupe Garcia McCall reveals how the mission of First Book, to get low-income children their very first book, is a reality that many children face, including herself when she was growing up.

By keilinh | Posted in guest blogger, Musings & Ponderings | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (2)

Book-Hungry Hands: A guest post by Pat Mora

May 1, 2013 – 9:00 am

Author/poet Pat Mora talks about witnessing the special connection Spanish-speaking children make with books that include their culture and language.

By Hannah | Posted in guest blogger, Musings & Ponderings | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

First Book, Stories for All Project Chooses LEE & LOW

March 13, 2013 – 11:15 am

In a groundbreaking announcement, First Book, a non-profit social enterprise launched the Stories for All project. The project’s aim is to introduce a significant number of multicultural books into the hands of low-income children. LEE & LOW was chosen as one of two publishers to be a part of this endeavor and receive a $500,000 award.

By Jason Low | Posted in Awards, Bellringers, Book News, Dear Readers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Comments (6)

Guadalupe Garcia McCall gets a visitor from beyond

December 7, 2012 – 5:20 pm

 guest post by Summer of the Mariposas author Guadalupe Garcia McCall. I’ve been travelling to the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas a lot these days, visiting with some wonderful librarians, sharing my story with some amazing students, and just enjoying the adventures this burgeoning writing life is affording me. Road trips have always been […]

By Hannah | Posted in guest blogger, Musings & Ponderings | Tags: , , , , | Comments (2)

International Day of Indigeneous Peoples

August 9, 2012 – 3:19 pm

Today is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples! According to the United Nations, the theme this year is “Indigenous Media, Empowering Indigenous Voices.” It’s nice to see indigenous groups being recognized not as ancient civilizations or oppressed minorities, but as powerful, modern communities actively working to shape their futures. To that end, I came […]

By Hannah | Posted in Musings & Ponderings | Tags: , , , , | Leave a Comment

Guadalupe Garcia McCall on how writing heals

July 25, 2012 – 12:28 pm

In this excerpt from her 2012 Pura Belpré acceptance speech, Under the Mesquite author Guadalupe Garcia McCall shares how writing the book helped her heal and brought her closer to her father: My life with my mother was full of love and acceptance. I was blessed to be her daughter, even if for a little […]

By Hannah | Posted in Musings & Ponderings | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Comments (3)

Read the first three chapters of Summer of the Mariposas!

July 13, 2012 – 12:15 pm

Loved Under the Mesquite? For a limited time, we’re sharing the first three chapters of Belpré winner Guadalupe Garcia McCall’s next book, Summer of the Mariposas, out in October! Summer of the Mariposas is a YA retelling of The Odyssey about five sisters who embark on a road trip through Mexico to return a dead […]

By Hannah | Posted in Musings & Ponderings | Tags: , , , , | Leave a Comment

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Equality . . . For All

June 1, 2012 – 12:13 pm

Throughout the history of the United States, equality for all people has been fought for and won time and time again. Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence ”that all men are created equal,” and over time equal rights have been gradually extended to different groups of people. However, equality has never been achieved without heated debate, despite our country’s founding principle that all people are created equal in the first place.

By Jason Low | Posted in Dear Readers, Musings & Ponderings | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (12)
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