Story time in our household is a sacred time. Through books, my daughter and I get to set sail and embark on countless adventures, exploring the lives of beloved characters and discovering new ones.
Perhaps the magic of story time is looking at the world through the eyes of our children. Books are an incredible tool that can help foster self-esteem when children see themselves reflected in characters. Stories also teach children tolerance and compassion by exposing them to other cultures. A flagship for such incredibly diverse stories is the publishing company Gloo Books.
After she noticed the lack of representation and inclusion in children’s books, Karen Chan, mom of two, decided to write her own children’s book, “What’s That.” This turned into a larger vision to create a publishing company. With a mission to “empower little readers everywhere,” Gloo Books champions the change we want to see in the world one story at a time.
Representation and inclusion are reflected not only in the stories featured in Gloo Books, but also your storytellers. Why is this important to you?
Our mission at Gloo is to publish children’s books for a more just, compassionate and inclusive future, and this really all starts with the authors and illustrators behind each story. After the birth of my son, I learned that 71% of children’s books feature characters that are animals or are white. I, like so many other parents, value compassion and inclusivity, and had to actively seek out books in an effort to diversify his bookshelf to ensure that these values were reflected in the books he read.
Unfortunately, and problematically, this lack of diversity is an issue throughout the publishing industry, and it shapes who gets published and the characters within stories. I wanted to start a publishing company with books that accurately reflect the world around us today. Our books are known for depicting a wide range of stories and identities — including race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, religion and ability — in creative, colorful and meaningful ways. And we can achieve this because of the experiences, ideas and passion our authors and illustrators bring to the stories. They themselves represent the vast range of identities that are present within the books we publish.
I understand that picture books were among your favorites as a child. What are some of your favorite stories from childhood?
Anything by Shel Silverstein: “Miss Nelson is Missing,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” and “The Magic School Bus” series.
You have described yourself as a creative person. Other than writing children’s books and cooking, what are some other ways you express your creativity?
Art and photography. I studied art history in undergrad and love painting in oils and watercolor. My entire childhood, I was always drawing or painting. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to do much of either since having children and starting a business, but they’re both creative outlets I plan to return to one day.
As a self-described lover of food, what are your picks for the top three places to eat in Los Angeles?
It’s so hard to pick only three! But my top three around my old neighborhood are Bacetti, Night + Market Song and Seong Buk Dong.
What are some of your favorite things to do in Los Angeles with your family?
My kids are 5 and under, so we love going to the beach and exploring the cliffs and tidepools in Palos Verdes. Griffith Park, Silver Lake Meadow and Huntington Library are great outdoor places to spend time when the sun is out. For little ones, Southern California Children’s Museum is a fun indoor place to explore. My 5-year-old is at the age where he has the interest and patience for museums, so we’ve been enjoying the Natural History Museum, the California Science Center and the Broad. Lately, we’ve been taking our kids to our local skate park and open fish market at the Redondo Beach pier. It’s a fantastic place to spend the day, pick up some oysters and seafood and let the kids run around. And last but not least, our local library — nothing better than a long afternoon reading books with my kids at our library!
The desire for social justice seems to be a theme throughout your life. How does this now show up in the work you do with Gloo Books?
I am a lawyer by trade; I’ve worked pro bono on asylum cases, immigration issues and more — and ensuring people feel seen, respected and represented has always been important to me. In addition to our books representing a range of stories, backgrounds and cultures, our books showcase narratives that empower not just little readers, but anyone reading them. Our book “Composting for Community” teaches readers how to compost and how everyone plays a role in caring for our earth and combating the climate crisis. “A Life of Song: The Story of Ella Jenkins” shows how we can use our passions to push for a better, more equitable world.
I want our books to inspire little readers and give them tools to create change, because they’re never too young to dream of — and start building — a better future.
Deciding to start a business, become an entrepreneur and even tackle the traditional publishing industry takes a level of courage and relentlessness. Where does this come from for you?
I’ve always been a pretty determined person. My family likes to remind me how I was a very stubborn child. My parents immigrated here in the ’70s and started a life for themselves in a totally new country. After years of working, my mom went on to start her own business, and I saw how much gumption and bravery is required to start your own business, especially as an Asian woman immigrant. I’m very motivated when I’m doing something that benefits or helps others, whether it’s for the kid that gets to see themselves on the pages of a book or creating more equity in an often unfair industry. It’s a big motivation when I see so many people, especially younger generations, fighting to create change. It gives me so much hope for the future. So, I’d say it’s a mix of a genetic predisposition, my upbringing and hope for the future.
Learn more at gloobooks.com.
