All posts by leeandlowbooks

Diversity 102, Diversity Baseline Survey, Diversity, Race, and Representation

CALLING ALL PUBLISHERS, LITERARY AGENTS, AND REVIEW JOURNALS: JOIN US FOR DIVERSITY BASELINE SURVEY 3.0

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Four years ago, Lee & Low Books released the second Diversity Baseline Survey (DBS 2.0) to measure inclusive hiring among the publishing industry’s workforce, looking specifically at race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. 21,753 publishing employees took the survey in 2019 — that’s 2,609 review journal workers, 17,100 trade publishing staffers, 1,528 university press employees, and 516 literary agents. The results of the DBS 2.0 inspired many conversations and initiatives to help build a more inclusive book industry.

It is survey time once again. This is an OPEN CALL FOR PARTICIPATION to trade, educational, and university publishing houses, review journals, and literary agencies of all sizes. Will your company participate in 2023? Please send your confirmation to participate by Friday, May 19, 2023.

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Book Lists by Topic, Educator Resources, Gender/LGBTQ Diversity, Holidays and Celebrations

2022 Pride Month Booklist and Resources

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Pride Month is right around the corner! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite books, resources, and collections to celebrate. Promote awareness and advocacy with these children’s books featuring LGBTQ+ voices and perspectives while also addressing universal themes in any relevant setting.  

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Book Lists by Topic, Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Educator Resources, Holidays and Celebrations, Race

2022 AAPI Heritage Month Books

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and to celebrate we’ve rounded up some of our favorite resources and books for readers and educators alike. Read books by AAPI authors and illustrators, uplift AAPI voices, and support AAPI activists and organizers—not just this month, but all year round.

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Educator Resources, Writer Resources

3 Ways to Teach Writing with Bebop Books

Teaching writing to young students who have not yet mastered reading can feel challenging, if not downright overwhelming. However, lots of research recommends encouraging students to write as early as possible.

How can we inspire our youngest learners to write creatively without frustration and within the boundaries of their current abilities?

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Activities and Events, Fairs/Conventions

Meet Lee & Low Books at TLA 2022

The Texas Library Association Annual Conference is in a few weeks, and we’re so excited to be back! The conference will take place in Fort Worth at the Fort Worth Convention Center, and our books and signings will be at the Publishers Spotlight Booth #2140!

See below for our signing schedule, as well as a few other events that our authors and illustrators will be participating in:

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Book Lists by Topic, Educator Resources

Children’s Books About Joy: 10 Books About the Joy of Family and Friends

Children's Books About Joy

When we talk about books about joy, we talk about all aspects of joy and the many forms it comes in. Unfortunately, many children’s books that feature BIPOC characters do not explore the many facets of joy that BIPOC children experience. It’s so important for each child to see themselves in every aspect of life—especially those that exude happiness and normalcy.

Today, we are recommending books that explore the joy of family and friends. You can find more books in our Books About Joy reading list here.

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Book Lists by Topic, Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Educator Resources, Interviews with Authors and Illustrators, Race

2022 Black History Month Book and Resource Roundup

For Black History Month, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite resources and books for readers and educators alike. Though this month is dedicated to uplifting Black history, culture, movements, and game changers, we must remember that Black history IS American history and should be celebrated all year round.

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Activities and Events, Educator Resources, Race

Upcoming Webinar: The Importance of Reconstruction in Today’s Classrooms and Libraries

Join us for a critical webinar on Wednesday, January 19th, 2022 at 4:00 PM EST about using children’s books to teach Reconstruction. Reconstruction was a brief period in American history from 1865–1877 when efforts were made to confer citizenship rights on the 4.4 million African Americans emancipated from slavery as well as approximately 500,000 African Americans who were already freed from slavery.

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Dear Readers, Guest Blogger Post, Interviews with Authors and Illustrators

All the Bilinguals I’ve Been: A Guest Post by Author Alessandra Narváez Varela

In this guest post, author Alessandra Narváez Varela talks about her journey growing into her bilingualism and how that grew into her latest novel, Thirty Talks Weird Love. 

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Holidays and Celebrations

Honoring Indigenous Stories on Veterans Day

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In honor of Veterans Day, editor Elise McMullen-Ciotti writes about military service within Indigenous communities.

Did you know that American Indians and Alaska Natives serve in the military at five times the national average and have the highest per capita involvement than any other US population? (NICOA, USO). As a book editor, when I have the privilege of receiving a new manuscript that features modern Indigenous characters, I can usually find at least one character in the book who has served or is serving in the military. This is not surprising! Military service within our communities is par for the course — a big part of our living culture. When those in the service return home, they are not just returning home to the US but also to our own sovereign Native Nations. Military service is a big deal.

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