Thomson Reuters and Lerner Publishing Group: Lifting Diverse Voices in Children’s Book Publishing
Thomson Reuters and Lerner Publishing Group are collaborating to raise the voices of diverse authors in children’s book publishing. Announced yesterday, the publishing program will launch in 2023 with a young adult nonfiction book, Reimagining Police: The History and Future of Law Enforcement, by Minnesota educator and civil rights attorney Dr. Artika Tyner.
“Thomson Reuters supports efforts to build more inclusive communities as part of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president for Strategic Partnerships and Alliances, Thomson Reuters. “Part of community building is ensuring that diverse voices are heard, and collaborating with Lerner Publishing Group to publish BIPOC authors’ work will help foster honest conversations and change. We’re honored to publish diverse books addressing topics from the role of police and community relations to sovereign rights and the environment.”
The program will continue through 2024 with young adult nonfiction books written by debut and emerging authors, artists, and creators of color. Lerner Publishing Group will develop, publish, and distribute the books, and Thomson Reuters will provide printing services. Both companies will promote the books and authors.
Reimagining Police, the first book in the joint publishing program, is written for a teen audience. It provides an analysis of the history of law enforcement, criminal justice, and mass incarceration. It explores the role of police, community values regarding public safety, and strategies for building a more just and inclusive society. Future seasons will include books dedicated to Black music influence, missing and murdered Indigenous relatives, tribal sovereignty, and the impact of wildfires and climate change on world cultures.
“As the publisher of books that have been awarded and honored by the Coretta Scott King Award, the Pura Belpré Award, and the American Indian Youth Literature Award, Lerner is well established in publishing diverse books,” said Adam Lerner, publisher and CEO of Lerner Publishing Group. By partnering with Thomson Reuters, Lerner is honored to have the opportunity to lift up even more diverse and debut authors so we can continue to challenge misconceptions and broaden our awareness of the world.”
