Category Archives: New Releases

News about new books coming soon.

Art and Book Design, Book News, Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Interviews with Authors and Illustrators, Lee & Low Likes, Musings & Ponderings, New Releases

Illustrator Keith Mallett Takes Us Behind the Art of Take a Picture of Me, James VanDerZee!

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Released this month from LEE & LOW BOOKS, Take a Picture of Me, James VanDerZee! is a picture book biograpy of James VanDerZee, a groundbreaking photographer who chronicled an important era in Harlem and showed the beauty and pride of its people. He took photographs of legendary figures of the Harlem Renaissance—politicians such as Marcus Garvey, performers including Florence Mills, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, and Mamie Smith—and ordinary folks in the neighborhood too.

We asked illustrator Keith Mallett to take us behind the scenes of his art process bringing Take a Picture of Me, James VanDerZee to life: Continue reading →

Book Lists by Topic, Educator Resources, New Releases

Activism in Children’s Books: 5 Revolutionary Biographies

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This week marks the release of Martí’s Song for Freedom/ Martí y sus versos por la libertad, our new bilingual picture book biography of the Cuban revolutionary and poet José Martí. In celebration, we’ve pulled together a list of five of our favorite picture book biographies about revolutionary figures who started movements. Use these award-winning books to teach about social activism, core values like perseverance and grit, and the importance of art and science in our society!

5 Revolutionary Picture Book Biographies Continue reading →

Diversity, Race, and Representation, Gender/LGBTQ Diversity, New Releases

Celebrating Pride Month with Sparkle Boy by Lesléa Newman!

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Today we are excited to celebrate the release Sparkle Boyof Sparkle Boy by Lesléa Newman! In this sweet and refreshing story, a young boy wants to wear a sparkly skirt like his older sister – but can boys wear sparkles? Sparkle Boy speaks to us all about acceptance, respect, and the simple freedom to be yourself!  Continue reading →

Book News, Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Interviews with Authors and Illustrators, Lee & Low Likes, New Releases, Tu Books

Out Today: Arrow of Lightning (Killer of Enemies Book #3) by Joseph Bruchac

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Today is the release day for Arrow of Lightning, the exhilarating final book in the Killer of Enemies trilogy, and we couldn’t be more excited!

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Book News, Diversity 102, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Educator Resources, New Releases

“The People Shall Continue” by Simon J. Ortiz Returns to Print

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Lee & Low Books is thrilled to share that we will be bringing back to print The People Shall Continue, Simon J. Ortiz’s beloved children’s book tracing the history of Native and Indigenous people in North America. The book will be released in paperback in October 2017 in a new 40th Anniversary Special Edition, with updated illustrations and a new afterword by the author. It will also be available in a Spanish translation, simultaneously published.

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Activities and Events, Book Lists by Topic, Diversity 102, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Educator Resources, New Releases, Publishing 101

Join Our Free Webinar on #OwnVoices Children’s Books

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Looking to expand your collection of authentic diverse children’s books? Lee & Low is excited to be participating in a free live webinar tomorrow on #OwnVoices books, hosted by School Library Journal! Continue reading →

Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Interviews with Authors and Illustrators, Lee & Low Likes, Musings & Ponderings, New Releases, Uncategorized

Interview: Donna Janell Bowman on the Amazing William “Doc” and Jim Key

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Step Right Up cover imageStep Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World About Kindness is a biography of William “Doc” Key, a formerly enslaved man and self-trained veterinarian who taught his horse, Jim, to read, write, and do math. Together they became a famous traveling performance act and proponents for the humane treatment of animals around the turn of the twentieth century. In this interview, author Donna Janell Bowman discusses the power of Doc and Jim Key’s message of kindness and what inspired her to write about one of the most famous performing duos in the country.

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Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Interviews with Authors and Illustrators, Lee & Low Likes, New Releases

Interview: Recognizing Mexican Contributions to WWII History

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school the aztec eagles builtThe School the Aztec Eagles Built: A Tribute to Mexico’s World War II Air Fighters, which comes out in November, is the story of Mexico’s Air Fighter Squadron 201, also known as the Aztec Eagles. After two Mexican oil tankers were torpedoed by German U-boats, Mexican president Ávila Camacho sent the Aztec Eagles to the United States to help fight. One of the last requests of Squadron 201 crew member and former schoolteacher Ángel Bocanegra was to have a school built in his small hometown. Continue reading →

Book News, ELL/ESL and Bilingual Books, Interviews with Authors and Illustrators, New Releases

MAMÁ THE ALIEN/Mamá la extraterrestre Blog Tour with René Colato Laínez

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To celebrate the release of Mamá the Alien/Mamá la extraterrestre, author René Colato Laínez will be stopping by the following blogs from August 15th to the 24th! Follow along as René Colato Laínez discusses his writing process, his thoughts on diversity in kidlit, and the recent debate over the term “illegal alien.” Continue reading →

Book News, Lee & Low Likes, Musings & Ponderings, New Releases, Uncategorized

Marisol Celebration: Lee & Low Staff Share Their Fears

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Marisol McDonald and the Monster coverIn the latest installment of the Marisol McDonald series, Marisol McDonald and the Monster/Marisol McDonald y el monstruo, Marisol McDonald is confronted with her greatest fear: monsters! In celebration of Marisol McDonald and the Monster/Marisol McDonald y el monstruo, released last month, Lee & Low Staff share the scary things that keep them up at night.

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