2023-12-07 17:36
To celebrate a brilliant FIVE STARS FOR BREAKING TO THE BEAT! we chatted with debut author Linda J. Acevedo about her reaction to the news, the gorgeous art, her writing process, and more!… Read More
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The Open Book Blog
blog.leeandlow.com
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the open book is the blog of lee & low books, an independent childrens publishing company focusing on diversity. we discuss publishing, books, schools and libraries, race and gender, and more.
2023-11-28 23:26
As the year comes to a close, Lee & Low is busting a move and boogying down in celebration of these starred reviews and best of the year titles.
Breaking to the Beat!
by Li… Read More
2023-11-13 21:09
The National Council for the Teachers of English Annual Convention will take place in Columbus, OH from November 16–19, and we can’t wait to connect with everyone who… Read More
2023-11-10 15:29
Happy Native American Heritage Month! We encourage everyone to seek out books written by Indigenous creators to celebrate this month and beyond.
Head over to Indigenous Reads Rising f… Read More
2023-10-26 19:51
This essay by author Christy Hale originally appeared in the CABE 2023 Edition of Multilingual Educator. Christy is the author of Todos Iguales: Un corrido de Lemon Grove/… Read More
2023-10-19 15:00
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Seasonal Showcase!
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, librarian, or bookseller, this webinar will help you disco… Read More
2023-10-17 18:42
Throughout American history, Native people have been intentionally silenced; their stories set aside, hidden, or drowned out. That’s why it’s critical to read stories about Indig… Read More
2023-10-12 15:00
This guest post by David Bowles dives into the origin and usage of the terms Hispanic, Latinx, Latine, and others. It was originally posted to Medium in December 2018. David is the… Read More
2023-10-10 15:37
Today, we are celebrating two exciting book releases: Zain’s Super Friday by Hena Khan, illustrated by Nez Riaz and Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key by Tracy Occomy Crowder!… Read More
2023-10-03 15:06
Today, we are delighted to celebrate the release of Empty and Me: A Tale of Friendship and Loss by Azam Mahdavi, illustrated by Maryam Tahmasebi, and translated by Parisa Saranj!
I… Read More
2023-09-28 21:29
This year’s Banned Books Week takes place from October 1–7, 2023! Let Freedom Read Day is happening on the last day of Banned Books Week. For that day (and for every day aft… Read More
2023-09-26 14:39
Today, we are delighted to celebrate the release of The Longest Night in Egypt by David Anthony Durham!
The Shadow Prince saga continues as Ash and his heroic friends rush to save… Read More
2023-09-19 14:43
Today, we are celebrating two exciting book releases: Connor Kissed Me by Zehava, illustrated by Sarah K. Turner; and When a Brown Girl Flees by Aamna Qureshi!
Connor Kissed Me by Zeh… Read More
2023-09-14 21:33
For generations children’s literature has captured the hearts of generations of readers, but what sets it apart? Imagination? Charm? Humor? Heart? These are strong contenders, but it g… Read More
2023-09-12 15:46
We’re thrilled to share that The Moonlit Vine & Claro de luna by Elizabeth Santiago and Speculation by Nisi Shawl were selected as featured titles for the National Education Associ… Read More
2023-09-07 17:33
DAD IS READING TO INFANT, Photo by infant’s mother Eva Lin Fahey (author’s daughter) and with permission of father, Nick Floyd 2/22This essay by author Jean Ciborowski Fahey, Ph… Read More
2023-08-30 17:47
Award-winning kidlit creator Maya Gonzalez (illustrator of I Can Be . . . Me!) wrote a series of essays to celebrate Pride month. The excerpt below originally appeared on The Official SCBWI… Read More
2023-08-24 15:00
It’s that time of the year again! September is around the corner and the summer season is winding down. Help kick the year off to a great start with our Back-to-School suggestions from… Read More
2023-08-23 13:47
Latine/Hispanic Heritage Month takes place September 15 to October 15. We have many ways to support Latine creators, including exciting new titles, an array of books now available in Spanish… Read More
2023-08-22 15:00
Thank you to all who joined us for our most recent webinar, Centering Disabilities in the Classroom featuring Patty Cisneros Prevo, two-time Paralympic gold medalist, disability advocat… Read More
2023-08-17 14:20
Back to school is approaching! Do you have a difficult time deciding which books to highlight every month? We have created a resource to keep students engaged with outstanding diverse litera… Read More
2023-08-16 15:18
Join Lee & Low, the largest multicultural publisher of children’s books in the country, on Wednesday, September 20 at 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT to hear about our upcoming fall and… Read More
2023-08-10 15:00
For over thirty years, Lee & Low Books and its school line, Bebop Books, have been classroom-tested and teacher-approved across the country to ensure alignment with beginning read… Read More
2023-08-02 18:17
In our newest post, Lee & Low’s Senior Literacy Manager, Katie Potter, offers suggestions for using diverse books to instill students’ wellbeing at various grade levels, begi… Read More
2023-07-25 17:39
Today, we are delighted to celebrate the release of Fresh Juice and the Spanish edition Jugo fresco by Robert Liu-Trujillo!
What makes a great juice that keeps everyone healthy? Ar… Read More
2023-07-19 14:28
High-quality Asian American and Pacific Islander Books (AAPI) help build and affirm a child’s identity and culture. Lee & Low Books is proud to be a 100% Asian American-owned c… Read More
2023-07-11 13:55
Join us for a free webinar on Wednesday, August 16th, 2023 at 4:00 PM ET with Patty Cisneros Prevo, two-time Paralympic gold medalist, disability advocate, and author of … Read More
2023-06-27 15:00
Today, we are delighted to celebrate the release of Tenacious: 15 Adventures Alongside Disabled Athletes by Patty Cisneros Prevo and illustrated by Dion MBD.
Meet fifteen remarkabl… Read More
2023-06-13 18:30
We can’t wait to see you at the American Library Association Annual Conference next week in Chicago, IL at McCormick Place! Visit us at Booth #3322 for giveaways & signings… Read More
2023-06-12 16:58
In this guest post, author Linda J. Acevedo invites readers to bust a move while learning about the history of the boogie-down Bronx in her picture book debut. Breaking to the Beat is availa… Read More
2023-05-30 14:03
Today, we are celebrating two exciting book releases: Breaking to the Beat! by Linda J. Acevedo, illustrated by Frank Morrison and The Moonlit Vine & Claro de luna by Elizabeth Santiago!… Read More
2023-05-24 17:03
Civics and civic engagement are crucial to education and the preservation of our democracy. The key concepts of understanding how government works, engaging in and appreciating discourse… Read More
2023-05-23 16:46
June is Pride month, and this year we are not only celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, we are standing up and speaking out against hate. According to a report from the American Libr… Read More
2023-05-11 15:00
This Q&A with author and former teacher Guadalupe García McCall and Lee & Low Literacy Specialist Michelle Fuentes originally appeared in the CABE 2023 Edition of Multilingual… Read More
2023-05-03 20:40
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 specific… Read More
2023-04-27 16:56
As we enter Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we want to honor and celebrate AAPI creators and stories both new and old. Read books by AAPI authors and illustrators, uplift… Read More
2023-04-20 13:43
Earth Day is April 22, and we are preparing by reading and taking action in our communities and beyond. Read some books to learn about our planet, then go to earthday.org to see how you can… Read More
2023-04-12 15:06
Thirty Talks Weird Love by Alessandra Narváez Varela is the young adult choice for this year’s Global Read Aloud. Join classrooms across the globe as they delve into this though… Read More
2023-04-10 14:53
Summer will be here before we know it, and we are excited to present our NEW Diverse Summer Reading List to keep kids excited about reading over the break. Our list includes fiction and… Read More
2023-04-05 19:39
We can’t wait to see y’all at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference in Austin! We hope you’ll stop by the Publishers Spotlight Booth #2034 to check… Read More
2023-04-04 18:12
April is National Poetry Month, and we’re here to help you fill it with beautiful books! These books are great to read aloud, and will inspire readers to put pen to paper. Most importa… Read More
2023-03-27 16:31
In honor of Disability Awareness Month, here’s a roundup of books to share with readers, representing the rich lives of disabled people in sports, the arts, and beyond.
Coming 6… Read More
2023-03-24 15:06
The number of demands to ban or restrict library materials nearly doubled in 2022, according to a report from the American Library Association.
Graphic created by the American Library Ass… Read More
2023-03-22 14:17
March is Music in Our Schools Month, which was created to increase music education and remind us that students should have access to music at school. Here at Lee & Low, we are big music… Read More
2023-03-21 16:54
Today, we are delighted to celebrate the release of I Can Be . . . Me! by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Maya Gonzalez.
In this lighthearted story, a group of six, colorfully… Read More
2023-03-15 14:14
We’re excited to share that Juna and Appa by Jane Park and illustrated by Felicia Hoshino was selected as a featured title for National Education Association’s Read Across Americ… Read More
2023-03-08 18:05
Happy International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month to all who identify as women! Share these nonfiction stories with readers of all ages as you highlight modern and histor… Read More
2023-03-07 22:00
Today we are celebrating the release of the final two books in the twelve-book Confetti Kids series: The Talent Show (La muestra de talentos) and A Special Goodbye (Un adiós espec… Read More
2023-02-27 18:04
Today marks the 20th anniversary of picture book Lakas and the Manilatown Fish / Si Lakas at ang Isdang Manilatown from the all Filipino-American creative team of author Anthony D. Robles … Read More
2023-02-23 15:38
This post by Michelle Coles originally appeared on We Need Diverse Books in November 2021. Black Was the Ink is available wherever books are sold!
Their stories are… Read More
2023-02-22 15:00
In this guest post, author Nisi Shawl invites readers to experience rural Black life in their middle-grade debut novel. Speculation is available wherever books are sold!
Monarch bu… Read More
2023-02-16 15:15
New York, NY—February 16, 2023—LEE & LOW BOOKS, INC. is excited to announce that Carren Jao of Los Angeles, California, is the winner of the company’s twenty-third… Read More
2023-02-14 15:32
Today, we are delighted to celebrate the release of Speculation by Nisi Shawl, a wonderful middle-grade fantasy debut about Black families, family history, family curses … and a reall… Read More
2023-02-10 18:05
February 11 is The International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Build excitement about science for young girls and women in your life with these activities and books!
Build a Mode… Read More
2023-02-06 17:22
2023 Frontlist Catalog
2023 is well underway, and we are excited to kick off another publishing year full of books for everyone, about everyone! Whether it’s a picture book about… Read More
2023-01-31 15:33
New York, NY (January 31, 2023) — The American Library Association (ALA) announced the following Pura Belpré awards for two titles published by LEE & LOW BOOKS INC.: Whe… Read More
2023-01-18 15:00
Lee & Low is proud to publish Black authors and illustrators all year long. As Black History Month approaches, remember to center stories by Black creators in your discussions. Here… Read More
2022-12-13 14:00
Landover, MD, December 13, 2022—RBmedia, the largest audiobook publisher in the world, today announced an exclusive partnership with LEE & LOW BOOKS INC., the largest multicultural… Read More
2022-12-12 16:34
This gift guide with Senior Literacy Manager Katie Potter and journalist Maya Pottiger originally appeared on Word in Black.
Only 31% of picture books have featured Black cha… Read More
2022-12-08 19:21
This post by Stephane Dunn originally appeared on SLJ Teen Librarian Toolbox. Snitchers is available now wherever books are sold!
Content Warning: Domestic violence is discussed… Read More
2022-12-07 15:00
Lee & Low Books is hanging shining starred reviews on these books and wrapping up our best of the year titles with a bow! As 2022 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to cel… Read More
2022-11-30 18:32
Thank you to all who joined the “Foster Multilingual Learners Through Story: In Conversation with Lee & Low Authors” panel on November 8, 2022. The NYC Department of Educati… Read More
2022-11-16 18:44
November is Native American Heritage Month. Here at Lee & Low Books, we publish a range of Native American, Indigenous, and First Nations children’s books, many of which were w… Read More
2022-11-10 18:11
The National Council for the Teachers of English Annual Convention and the ALAN Workshop are next week, and we’re so excited to meet everyone! The conference will take place… Read More
2022-11-09 15:30
In this guest post, author Claudia Guadalupe Martínez reflects on the universal story of coming and going across a border while emphasizing the forgotten history of Mexican Repatriati… Read More
2022-11-03 16:22
Thank you to all who joined us for our recent virtual launch celebration of How We Can Live: Principles of Black Lives Matter, featuring author Laleña Garcia and illustrator Ca… Read More
2022-11-02 15:19
Election day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Do you have a plan to vote? Are you sharing information about the election process and citizenship with young readers in your life? One great… Read More
2022-11-01 17:00
In this guest post, author Cynthia Weill shares the joyous process of collaborating with craftspeople from Oaxaca and the relationships that grew along the way. Vámonos, illustrated w… Read More
2022-10-27 15:34
In this guest post, author Crystal Hubbard shares how her interest in careers and stories led her to write about people who inspire others to pursue their own dreams. Marvelous Mabel: Fi… Read More
2022-10-25 18:05
By: Michelle Fuentes, Literacy Specialist at Lee & Low Books
The Lee & Low Books literacy team is thrilled to share the Summer of the Mariposas Reading Journal, a new and exclu… Read More
2022-10-20 15:01
In this guest post, author Christy Hale connects the dots between her companion books just as she connects the dots between themes in her writing. Copycat: Nature-Inspired Design Around the… Read More
2022-10-19 18:27
Join author Laleña Garcia and illustrator Caryn Davidson in conversation with Cicley Gay, Board Chair of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation on Tuesday, November 1, 2… Read More
2022-10-18 23:51
We are thrilled to share that we have not one, not two, but three new releases today: Bonnie’s Rocket by Emeline Lee, illustrated by Alina Chau, How We Can Live: Principles of Black Li… Read More
2022-10-13 15:01
This post by A. M. Dassu originally appeared on SLJ Teen Librarian Toolbox. Fight Back is available now wherever books are sold!
Every time there is a terrorist attack, the first t… Read More
2022-10-12 18:13
In this guest post, author Emeline Lee pays tribute to her engineer and storyteller grandfather in her debut picture book. Bonnie’s Rocket will be published October 18 and is available… Read More
2022-10-11 14:30
Today, we are celebrating two exciting book releases: Fight Back by A. M. Dassu and Still Dreaming / Seguimos soñando by Claudia Guadalupe Martínez, illustrated by Magdalena Mo… Read More
2022-10-05 15:26
Days before When You Get to the Other Side published, its author, Mariana Osorio Gumá, and translator, Cecilia Weddell, sat down to have a conversation about the book, what inspired i… Read More
2022-10-04 15:53
Today, we are excited to celebrate the release of Vámonos: Mexican Folk Art Transport in English and Spanish by Cynthia Weill, with folk-art pieces by Oaxacan craftsmen August&ia&hell…Read More
2022-09-30 14:04
Translated works are a wonderful way to share a diversity of stories and experiences across language barriers. Here at Lee & Low Books, we have several translated titles to celebrate… Read More
2022-09-27 13:45
Today, we are excited to celebrate the release of El cuarto turquesa / The Turquoise Room by Monica Brown, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia!
El cuarto turquesa / The Turquoise Room… Read More
2022-09-21 16:22
In this guest post, author Monica Brown shares the magic that is passed down through generations of women in her family in the form of creativity and dreams. El cuarto turquesa / The Turquoi… Read More
2022-09-20 15:33
Today, we are celebrating two incredible book releases: Snitchers by Stephane Dunn, and Copycat: Nature-Inspired Design Around the World by Christy Hale!
Snitchers by Stephane Dunn… Read More
2022-09-13 13:52
Happy release day to When You Get to the Other Side by Mariana Osorio Gumá, translated by Cecilia Weddell! When You Get to the Other Side is a powerful text that covers and crosses al… Read More
2022-09-12 17:13
Por Michelle Fuentes, Literacy Specialist, y Katie Potter, Senior Literacy Manager
Nuestro enfoque en Lee & Low Books es publicar historias contemporáneas y relevantes sobre… Read More
2022-09-08 16:54
By Katie Potter, Senior Literacy Manager
Educators are entering a new school year, and there are themes and units that we’re excited to tackle. It’s always a joy to see the… Read More
2022-09-06 15:06
Happy release day to Stacey Abrams: Lift Every Voice by Sarah Warren; illustrated by Monica Mikai! How do we move our country forward? Stacey Abrams has an answer in this bright and stirring… Read More
2022-09-01 18:01
September 15 to October 15 is Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month. At Lee & Low Books, we have been celebrating Latinx & Hispanic culture through books all year long. We pride ourse… Read More
2022-08-31 15:30
We all know that taking care of our physical health is crucial to surviving. Unfortunately, we don’t always address an aspect of our health that affects us just as much as our phys… Read More
2022-08-23 17:35
Thank you to all who joined us for our most recent webinar, SEL on your Shelf: Using Books to Build SEL Skills featuring guidance on how to select the right book to teach Social and Emotiona… Read More
2022-08-18 13:52
Today on the blog, we’re sharing a Q&A conducted with Jane Park, the author of Juna and Appa.
Lee & Low: Your first picture book, Juna’s Jar, was inspired… Read More
2022-08-16 14:21
Happy release day to Echoes of Grace by Guadalupe García McCall! Echoes of Grace is an elaborately woven gothic mystery set in modern-day South Texas in which a family tragedy and the… Read More
2022-08-11 17:30
In this guest post, author Guadalupe García McCall unravels the personal and shared traumas and experiences of women that inspired her newest novel. Echoes of Grace will be published… Read More
2022-08-03 14:36
Senior Literacy Manager Katie Potter weighs in on how we can meet the needs of Black students and the importance of Black books in these two articles from Word in Black. Word in Black is… Read More
2022-07-28 16:19
¡Agregue estos títulos en español y bilingües que vienen de Lee & Low Books en 2022 a su estantería! Estos títulos han sido traducidos, adaptad… Read More
2022-07-20 16:00
Today on the blog, we’re sharing a Q&A conducted with Amber Alvarez, the illustrator of My Magic Wand: Growing with the Seasons.
Lee & Low: What’s the most exciting thi… Read More
2022-07-18 14:40
Jen Cullerton Johnson, author of Seeds of Change and The Story of Environmentalist Wangari Maathai, is visiting Kenya to explore the legacy of Wangari Maathai. Along with a group of educato… Read More
2022-07-13 20:48
With great sadness, Lee & Low Books shares the passing of Bobby Byrd, beloved poet, friend, and co-founder of Cinco Puntos Press. He passed away on Monday, July 11, at the age of 80… Read More
2022-07-06 15:04
Submissions for our twenty-third annual New Voices Award are now open! Do you or someone you know write for young readers? Are you a writer of color or Indigenous/Native writer… Read More
2022-06-28 15:49
We’re thrilled to be releasing two amazing books today — That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street by Chris Clarkson, and Blessing’s Bead by Debby Dahl Edwardson!
That S… Read More
2022-06-23 17:39
Many middle school teachers are skeptical of utilizing picture books in the upper-grade curriculum. While they have positive attitudes toward picture books in general, there can be hesit… Read More
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