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 (6)

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)

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)

Should I be offended? Race-based comedy

April 4, 2012 – 12:16 pm

I especially enjoy comedy that makes you think. Comedy can broach taboo topics like racism and stereotypes and make them fair game for open commentary. If done well these comedic monologues on race can reveal the absurdity of people’s belief systems.

By Jason Low | Posted in Dear Readers, Diversity Links, Diversity Videos | Tags: , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

30 Days

March 2, 2011 – 2:27 pm

Because I do not have cable at home I tend to discover shows on television much later than everyone else. Last week I watched the first three episodes of 30 Days. I liked Super Size Me a lot, and the idea of 30 Days appealed to me because the creator, Morgan Spurlock, tries to push people out of their comfort zones by making them walk (literally) in other people’s shoes.

By Jason Low | Posted in Dear Readers | Tags: , | Comments (3)

This Week in Diversity: Bullies, Surfer-Girls, and Ancient Diversity

October 22, 2010 – 5:38 pm

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and there are lots of great resources to use in supporting children and teens who are being bullied. We have several books, including First Day in Grapes, Willie Wins, and Chess Rumble. The Department of Health has a Stop Bullying Now site, and the National Center for Bullying has […]

By Miriam | Posted in Diversity Links | Tags: , , , , | Leave a Comment

This Week in Diversity: Gender, Books, and Maps.

October 1, 2010 – 5:20 pm

Welcome to another diversity-filled week! As happens fairly regularly in the literary world, people have been talking about gender and books. Two different takes caught our eyes this week: The Book Bench at the New Yorker took an analytical look at the discussion with What We Talk About When We Talk About Men Not Reading, […]

By Miriam | Posted in Diversity Links | Tags: , , , | Leave a Comment

Video Thursday: Arab Americans

September 30, 2010 – 5:17 pm

An Arab American comedian explains some of the realities of being Arab in America:

By Lee & Low Books | Posted in Diversity Videos | Tags: , , | Comments (2)

This Week in Diversity: Heat Wave

June 25, 2010 – 4:23 pm

Most of the country looks poised for a hot weekend, so here are some pieces to read while you lurk in the air-conditioned splendor of indoors. Hampton Stevens, guest blogging for Ta-Nahisi Coates, shares a story of a child trying to puzzle our increasingly globalized world, courtesy of the FIFA World Cup, and points to the […]

By Miriam | Posted in Diversity Links | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

This Week in Diversity: Memorial Day Edition

May 28, 2010 – 1:28 pm

Book Expo America has finished and Memorial Day is almost here, but in between, here’s your weekly batch of diversity reading! Looking back to the era of Civil Rights protests and Civil Rights legislation, Breach of Peace presents some amazing portraits of some of the 1961 Freedom Riders—with their mugshots, recent interviews, and recent photos. […]

By Miriam | Posted in Diversity Links | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment
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