Category Archives: Diversity

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

7 Children’s Books that Talk About Race

It can be difficult to talk to children about tough topics. From bullying and prejudice, to discrimination and racism, children’s books have helped to facilitate these difficult conversations in an accessible and meaningful way. Below we’ve compiled  seven of our many books that will help children come away with a better understanding of these complex issues and the world around them.

Don’t forget to round out your collection with our list of 10 diverse picture books that are not about oppression!

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Activities and Events, Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Educator Resources

Upcoming Webinar: Teaching Tough Topics with Children’s Literature

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Teaching Tough Topics with Children's Literature

The start of the school year is a critical time to establish classroom community and shared values of respect, honesty and trust.

With the one-year anniversary of the violence in Charlottesville coming up and other traumatic news constantly making headlines, many educators are left wondering how to discuss difficult current events with their students and to navigate meaningful, age-appropriate discussions on topics like hate, racism, and prejudice.

Join Lee & Low Books in collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for the timely webinar: “Teaching Tough Topics with Children’s Literature” that aims to help address these concerns through worthy books, activities, and resources. Continue reading →

Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Educator Resources, Holidays and Celebrations

EVERY MONTH IS A NEW YEAR Teacher’s Guide

Every Month Is a New YearHere at Lee & Low, we are incredibly excited about the release of Every Month is a New Year, an amazing picture book from beloved author, Marilyn Singer, and illustrator, Susan L. Roth. This book has a wealth of curricular opportunities, and offers chances for students, teachers, librarians, and families alike to learn all about new year celebrations around the world and share their own cultural and familial celebrations. All of the celebrations have deep-rooted traditions and treasured customs. The collection of sixteen lively poems introduce readers to some of the most fascinating festivities, some well-known and less familiar (depending on the reader!) Continue reading →

Book Lists by Topic, Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation

Using Children’s Books to Talk About Family Separation and Immigration

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As the United States continues to feel the ripple effects of its family separation policy, caretakers are tasked with the difficult job of helping young people make sense of what’s happening—a tall order when we often struggle to understand ourselves. Adults may feel an initial impulse to shield children from today’s news, but we know that this is not a solution, and may instead contribute to more confusion and fear.

So, how can we address this topic in a respectful, honest, and age-appropriate way? Here are a few tips:

books to talk about immigration Continue reading →

Activities and Events, Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Fairs/Conventions

Meet Lee & Low at ALA 2018!

It’s that time of year again! The annual American Library Association conference is in just a few days and we would love to meet you! If you will be in New Orleans this year, come visit us in booth #3452 where we’ll give away ARCs, bookmarks, posters, postcards, and other free swag! Continue reading →

Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Educator Resources

How to Use Wordless and Minimal-text Picture Books

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In this age of rigor, text complexity, and higher standards for younger and younger readers—why do wordless picture books continue to be so popular?

Wordless, or minimal-text, picture books:

  • enable children to explore the art of storytelling and world-building
  • are a wonderful medium for expression and creative thought
  • are a natural introduction to inferencing, a metacognitive skill that is often taught in the later grades
  • help readers practice reading facial cues and studying visual context clues for vocabulary and plot development
  • engage visual learners or visually-motivated readers
  • alleviate struggling readers who may feel overwhelmed by dense text and long print sections
  • offer a launch pad to a lifelong love of other visually-rich formats, including comics and graphic novels

Why choose a wordless, or minimal-text, picture book for your next storytime?

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Book Lists by Topic, Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation

10 Diverse Children’s Books to Celebrate Father’s Day

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This Sunday is Father’s Day and we’ve rounded up 10 of our favorite books for Father’s Day. Celebrate your fathers, grandfathers, and father-figures by reading stories that make you feel at home through the traditions of diverse cultures and places around the world!

Father's Day postDid we miss one of your favorite titles? Let us know in the comments!

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Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation

Free Upcoming Webinar: Lee & Low Books 2018 Showcase

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Join Lee & Low Books editors for a showcase of our 2018 books! Whether you’re a parent, teacher, librarian, or bookseller, this webinar will help you discover great new books to diversify your shelves. Catch newly released spring titles that you won’t want to miss, and get a sneak peek at our fall books. This one-hour webinar will include picture books, middle grade, and young adult titles. Continue reading →

Diversity, Diversity, Race, and Representation, Educator Resources, New Releases

Introducing Lee & Low’s New Line of Chapter Book Biographies

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The Story Of

Chapter books are an essential stepping stone on the road to literacy. Chapter books allow young readers to linger in a story, and provide a bridge between picture books and more complex, challenging texts. But when it comes to diversity, chapter books still lag behind. Many classroom shelves and home libraries are lined with the same worn chapter book series that kids have been reading for decades, without much variety.

At Lee & Low, we believe that it’s just as important for young readers  to have access to diverse chapter books. That’s why we’re excited to launch our “The Story Of” series, a new line of chapter book biographies out now. These chapter books go beyond the common names to introduce readers to amazing leaders and heroes whose names you might not know but whose achievements have shaped our world.  Continue reading →