Lee & Low Books

• Founded — 1991 • Founder — Philip Lee and Tom Low • Country — United States • Headquarters — New York City • Distribution — self-distributed (US) Fitzhenry & Whiteside (Canada) • Keypeople — Tom Low (President) Jason Low (Vice President, Publisher) Craig Low (Vice President, Publisher of Bebop Books) • Publications — Books, Games • Imprints — Tu Books Bebop Books Children's Book Press Shen's Books Lee & Low Games Dive Into Reading Cinco Puntos Press • Url — http: www.leeandlow.com

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. 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.". 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. In 1997, founder Tom Low's sons, Jason Low and Craig Low, joined Lee & Low, and in 2004, founder Philip Lee retired. 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.

In 2015, Lee & Low Books partnered with St. Catherine University and Assistant Professor Sarah Park Dahlen 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. 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%, which corresponded with the numbers from Publishers Weekly annual salary survey.

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.

Founded in 2000, Bebop Books is an educational imprint of Lee & Low. Bebop Books prints leveled books for early readers in English and Spanish.

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 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.

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 recipients • Year — Author — Book — Citation — Published • 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

Books published by Lee & Low have received several major awards, including some given by the American Library Association, the International Reading Association (IRA), and the New York Public Library. Major awards won by Lee & Low Books • Award — Citation — Year — Creator — Book • Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award — Winner — 2011 — G. Neri — 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