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Multicultural Book Publishing
MISSION AND HISTORY
Lee & Low Books is a children's book publisher with a specific focus on multicultural themes. What this
means to us is that we produce stories not only that children of color can identify with, but that all children can enjoy. Since our launch in 1993, we have published over 100 books in hardcover and paperback, as well as
books in Spanish. Our books have won numerous awards, including the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award (In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall), the Parents' Choice Award (Baseball Saved Us,Night Golf), and the Ezra Jack Keats New
Writers Award (Elizabeti's Doll).
Our mission has been to publish good stories that are real, that are about people who are our friends, family, and neighbors.
We feel that there is a glut of folklore in the market, but a great lack of the contemporary stories that we wanted to produce. This is why we decided not to pursue folklore and animal tales.
PUBLISHING MULTICULTURAL BOOKS
What makes good multicultural children's literature? Believable characters, a compelling plot, a satisfying ending--elements that are found in any good story. Good multicultural
literature must have universal appeal. If an Asian American story does not speak to an Asian American child, the book fails; but the same book would also fail if its appeal is limited to Asian American children.
While the subject of a multicultural story may be about a particular culture, the themes that the story addresses--such as family, love, heroism, growing up, wanting to fit in--should be relevant to readers of any culture.
There is an additional element that we are concerned about: authenticity. We approach each book with great sensitivity to the subject and a commitment to research. The ethnicity of the authors and artists is an
important factor, but by no means do we feel that is a requirement.
At Lee & Low Books, our editors work closely with the authors and artists on research to make sure that the information is factually correct, no matter if they are writing or illustrating from within or outside their own ethnic background.
CHALLENGES IN MULTICULTURAL PUBLISHING
I think one challenge we face at Lee & Low is that there are simply not enough stories about people of color published, so our books are sometimes expected to
cover all aspects of a particular ethnic experience, which is impossible.
I sometimes hear comments that there are "enough" books about African Americans or Asian Americans, yet there is so much about their experiences that is not addressed in children's books. I wish there were a wider selection of books about middle-class as well as working class Hispanics. There are certainly wealthy African Americans and there are poor Asian Americans, but too often we don't see them in books for children. (In 1995, we published Sam and the Lucky Money, a story that involves a Chinese homeless person.)
MULTICULTURAL BOOKS TODAY
While demographics show that the population is becoming increasingly more diverse, the publishing industry continues to be slow in responding to this change. According to the
Cooperative Children's Book Center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, there were approximately 4,500 to 5,000 children's books published in the United States in 1998.
Of those, 96 books were by African American authors and/or illustrators, another 73 books were by Latinos or about Latino themes, 55 books were on Native American themes, and 52 books were on Asian/Asian American themes. In total, these multicultural books make up less than 6% of all children's books published in 1998, while ethnic minorities make up nearly 30% of the U.S. population. These figures show that of books people of color are sorely underrepresented in children's books.
A related problem is the lack of new voices and visions. There are only a few authors and artists of color who are actively creating books for children. Many large publishing houses do not take enough chances with
unproven talent; rather, they tend to publish the few established stars over and over again. At Lee and Low, we make special efforts to work with new writers and artists of color. Since we began publishing, we have introduced
over 40 new authors and artists to children's books.
Finally, there is a great lack of diversity in the publishing industry. When Lee & Low was founded eight years ago, there was only a handful of minority
editors. This racial mix remains almost unchanged today.
The same is true on the marketing side of the industry. Without a staff that has the proper cultural sensitivity and awareness, it is difficult to select and edit the right books, as well as to promote and sell them to consumers. Lee & Low is one of the few independent publishers that is owned by people of color.
LOOKING AHEAD
When we started our company in 1991, multicultural books were considered "hot." Publishers produced books in this area with great enthusiasm. Since the proper
distribution channels were never fully developed, sales were below expectations and the same enthusiasm has since subsided.
Some have even said that multicultural books were a trend and have declared it "over." Yet we all know that the great demographic shift is not over. What will probably happen, unfortunately, is that there will be fewer multicultural books published and there will be fewer opportunities for unproven authors and artists of color to be discovered. At Lee & Low, we plan to continue our search for new talent while we reach out to the expanding audience for multicultural books.
Philip Lee is a publisher with Lee & Low Books. Visit the Lee & Low Books Website at www.leeandlow.com
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