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Publishing Profiles: Jason Low of LEE & LOW Books

A Personal Interview with a Publisher Diversifying Childrens Literature

by Katharine Zurek

LEE & LOW Books is a children’s publisher committed to giving children of color books they can identify with, as well as books all children can enjoy. The company was previously hailed as an Indie Groundbreaking Publisher by Independent Publisher and, according to publisher Jason Low, since its inception the company has not waivered from its mission of diversity. “It is amazing that our mission is as relevant today as it was when the company was founded in 1991,” Jason told me. “What keeps me inspired,” he continued, “is the belief that the subject of diversity is evolving and is on the cusp of breaking into the mainstream. LEE & LOW will play an integral role in making this happen.”

LEE & LOW has garnered praise not only from IP, but also from many academic and media outlets (found here). Because of this attention and because of LEE & LOWs fantastic website, I soon became familiar with the company’s mission, multiple imprints, important discussions about race, and many of the titles they carry. But I found myself wanting to know more about publisher and co-owner Jason Low, who is at the helm of one of the few minority-owned publishing companies in the Unites States. My interest was especially peeked after seeing Jason’s recent contribution to the BBC News profile on the underrepresentation of minorities in children's books.

Jason kindly agreed to answer my questions about his favorite childhood books, his journey to the company, and what a typical day is like for him at LEE & LOW:

IP: What kinds of books were you exposed to as a child? 

JL: I was not a strong reader as a child, but I do recall loving The Rats of NIMH and anything by E. B. White, which were story-time favorites of our fourth grade teacher. As I grew older I became a certified comic book junkie, who spent all of my weekly allowance on feeding my insatiable habit. Comics weren’t respected back then as real literature, but I credit them for turning me into the reader I am today.

IP: Can you tell me about your educational background and your journey to joining your family’s publishing company?

JL: I’ve always had a cross disciplinary interest in many mediums. I have worked in painting, collage, sculpture, metalwork, woodworking, printmaking, film, and creative writing. My interests extended to technology when I worked for a multimedia publishing firm which specialized in CD-ROM edutainment. One day, I glanced over the shoulder of a co-worker who just installed a copy of Netscape version 1.0, and everything changed. I taught myself website design and the timing happened to be perfect since LEE & LOW needed its first website. My involvement with LEE & LOW started with its website and grew to different areas over the years since it was a growing company and there was so much to do.

IP: What does a typical day look like for you at Lee & Low Books?

JL: My main focus is on marketing. What makes LEE & LOW different from other publishers is our very specific niche of publishing diverse books. The mission drives the message and a good part of my day is spent on coming up with ideas for telling our story in a way that connects with as many people as possible. In meetings we review the work we have done and discuss strategies to reduce inefficiencies and keep the work on schedule. We never hesitate to invest in technology that will save our people time.

The running of a business is the second part of my job that takes a great deal of time and energy. Looking for opportunities and being able to take advantage of these opportunities says a lot about how much the company has matured. In the beginning it was a struggle to get our review copies out on time. Today, we are producing social media campaigns that are going viral and being seen, liked, and shared by thousands of people. It’s a big jump.

IP: What is it like to work with your father and your brother?

JL: There is something comforting about working with people you have known your entire life. We eat lunch together and discuss the business, our lives, and the challenges of raising our respective kids. Thankfully, our skill sets do not overlap too much, as we all bring something different to the table. Overall, working with my family continues to be a great experience.

IP: What is the most challenging part of being a publisher at Lee & Low Books?

JL: Trying to make sure our messages will resonate with as wide an audience as possible is our goal. While not everyone cares about diversity, they may care about women’s rights or social justice or inequality. Building bridges is how we gain a mutual understanding of one another and lets people consider issues about race that they have never contemplated before. Getting the word out about our books is the biggest challenge we face, especially in a world of 24-hour news cycles and everyone and his or her mother trying to make themselves into a brand. It makes for a crowded space in which we are trying to be heard.

Thanks to the efforts of Jason and the entire LEE & LOW team, their important message continues to gain momentum as more and more people learn about their diversity efforts. Learn more and connect with LEE & LOW on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and their blog, the open book.

 

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Katharine Zurek graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English and Women's Studies.  She currently works in the social service field.  Please email krzurek@gmail.com with comments or questions.

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