Lee & Low Books is an independent children's book publisher focusing on diversity.
History Lee & Low was founded in 1991 by Chinese Americans Tom Low and Philip Lee as a children's book publisher specializing in books featuring people of color and one of the few minority-owned publishing companies in the United States."Descubriendo el sabor: Spanish Bilingual Book Publishing and Cultural Authenticity," Multicultural Review, Winter 2007 Low says, "There was a void in children's books. Most of the books were targeted to Caucasians or contained animals or fairy tales. There was nothing dealing with contemporary issues and people of color."."Trailblazers: A Storybook Tale," Audrey / The Asian American Women's Lifestyle Magazine, June/July 2007. Lee & Low published its first list in 1993 and immediately gained attention when its first book, Baseball Saved Us was given a full-page review in The New York Times Book Review.Children's Books: Baseball Saved Us, The New York Times Book Review Accessed April 2, 2009
In 1997, founder Tom Low's sons, Jason Low and Craig Low, joined Lee & Low, and in 2004, founder Philip Lee retired.About Us Accessed April 1, 2009
Lee & Low Books publishes primarily picture books, but in recent years has also published a small number of middle grade and young adult titles.
In January 2012, Lee & Low Books acquired the backlist titles of the now-defunct non-profit publisher, Children's Book Press, as well as the latter's existing contracts with authors and illustrators, with the name itself being revived as an imprint of Lee & Low Books.
In 2021, Lee & Low acquired Cinco Puntos Press.
Research In 2015, Lee & Low Books partnered with St. Catherine University and Assistant Professor Sarah Park DahlenAssistant Professor Sarah Park Dahlen Accessed December 1, 2016 to conduct the Diversity Baseline Survey (DBS). The objectives were to look at 1) Gender 2) Race/ethnicity 3) Sexual Orientation 4) Disability in the publishing industry.Lee & Low Books, About the Diversity Baseline Survey Accessed December 1, 2016
The Diversity Baseline Survey (DBS) was sent to 1,524 reviewer employees and 11,713 publishing employees for a total of 13,237 surveys deployed. The DBS survey results confirmed that the publishing industry is overwhelmingly white, at 79%,Lee & Low Books, Where is the Diversity in Publishing? The 2015 Diversity Baseline Results< Accessed December 1, 2016 which corresponded with the numbers from Publishers Weekly annual salary survey.Publishers Weekly The PW Publishing Industry Salary Survey 2015: A Younger Workforce, Still Predominantly White Accessed December 1, 2016
Arcoiris: books in Spanish In 1994, Lee & Low began to publish Spanish/English bilingual books and Spanish translations of many of their English titles. The name Arcoiris, Spanish for rainbow, was chosen to reflect the diversity of the books and subject matter.Arcoiris: Books in Spanish , accessed March 19, 2009
Bebop Books Founded in 2000, Bebop Books is an educational imprint of Lee & Low. Bebop Books prints leveled books for early readers in English and Spanish.Bebop Books, accessed March 19, 2009
Tu Books
Tu Books is an imprint of Lee & Low. Tu Books publishes middle grade and young adult science fiction, fantasy, and mystery featuring people of color or set in worlds inspired by non-Western folklore or culture.Tu Books Submission Guidelines, accessed October 27, 2010
Tu Books was founded as Tu Publishing in 2009 by Stacy Whitman, a freelance children's book editor. In March 2010, Whitman joined Lee & Low as editorial director of the new imprint.Press Release: Lee & Low Books Acquires Tu Publishing, Brings Diversity to Fantasy and Science Fiction, accessed March 15, 2010
New Voices Award In 2000, Lee & Low Books established the New Voices Award to encourage writers of color. The award is open to any United States resident of color who has not had a children's picture book published previously. A winner receives $1000 and a standard publication contract, while an Honor Award winner receives $500. While Honor Award winners are not guaranteed publication, several honor books have been published.New Voices Award, accessed April 1, 2009
New Voices Award recipients YearAuthorBookCitationPublished 2010 Juna's Jar Winner 2015 2010 Village by the Sea Honor 2009 Little Fish Honor 2008 Honor 2007 Winner 2012 2007 Edwin's Lucky Thirteen Honor 2006 Love Twelve Miles Long Winner 2011 2006 Seaside Dream Honor 2010 2005 It Jes' Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw Honor 2012 2005 Bird Honor 2008 2004 Fit Like Frankie Honor 2003 Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story Winner 2005 2003 My Feet are Laughing Honor 2006 (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) 2002 Dance, Nishi, Dance Honor 2001 Janna and the Kings Winner 2003 2001 Superhombre Honor 2000 Winner 2002 2000 Ghosts for Breakfast Honor 2002 2000 Raymond's Perfect Present Honor 2002
Major awards Books published by Lee & Low have received several major awards, including some given by the American Library Association,Coretta Scott King Book Award Recipients: Current and Past , Accessed April 7, 2009John Steptoe New Talent Award, Accessed April 7, 2009The Pura Belpré Winners, Accessed April 7, 2009 the International Reading Association (IRA),IRA Children's and Young Adult's Book Awards , Accessed April 7, 2009 and the New York Public Library.The Ezra Jack Keats and New York Public Library New Writer and New Illustrator Award for Children's Books , Accessed April 7, 2009
Major awards won by Lee & Low Books AwardCitationYearCreatorBook Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award Winner 2011 Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner 1974 Ray Charles Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor 1976 Paul Robeson Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner 1998 In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner 1974 Ray Charles Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honor 1997 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honor 2006 Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Illustrator Award Winner 2009 Bird Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award Winner 2009 Bird Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award Winner 1999 Elizabeti's Doll Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award Winner 1999 Elizabeti's Doll Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award Honor 2013 It Jes' Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw IRA Children's Book Award Winner 2003 The Pot that Juan Built IRA Children's Book Award Notable 2006 Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan IRA Children's Book Award Notable 2006 Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story IRA Children's Book Award Notable 2005 Rattlesnake Mesa IRA Children's Book Award Notable 2005 Sweet Music in Harlem IRA Children's Book Award Notable 2004 Janna and the Kings Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor 2010 Gracias • Thanks Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor 2006 Arrorró, mi niño: Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor 2004 First Day in Grapes Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor 2004 The Pot that Juan Built
Notable authors and illustrators Authors and illustrators with work published by Lee & Low Books include:
Lulu Delacre Ted Lewin Betsy Lewin Joseph Bruchac Ed Young Rosa Parks Carole Boston Weatherford Pat Mora David Diaz George Ancona John Coy Lynne Barasch Benny Andrews Jim Haskins Chris Soentpiet Greg Neri Kaylani Juanita
See also
Media of New York City List of publishers of children's books
References
External links Lee & Low official website Publishing Statistics on Children's Books about People of Color and First/Native Nations and by People of Color and First/Native Nations Authors and Illustrators Documented by the Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL)