Jamaican American Children’s Book Publisher Wins National Award

Melissa-Sue John, PhD (left) with daughter, Olivia, is the CEO of Lauren Simone Publishing House

​Jamaican-born Founder and CEO of Lauren Simone Publishing House, Melissa-Sue John, PhD., has been awarded the 2020 ‘Buy From A Black Woman’ Award for Book and Paper Company of the Year by the Georgia-based nonprofit organization ‘Buy From A Black Woman,’ Inc. 

A psychology professor and researcher, Dr. John started Lauren Simone Publishing House in 2016 in an effort to address the lack of diversity in children’s books. To date, the company has published more than a dozen diverse children’s books which have been authored and illustrated by talented, diverse artists including her two children, Alyssa and Olivia.  In March 2020, Lauren Simone Publishing House became eligible to participate in the State Of Connecticut’s Supplier Diversity Program certifying as an official Small/Minority Business Enterprise.

Diverse children's books by Lauren Simone Publishing House

Dr. John is proud of her Jamaican heritage.  Born in St. Andrew, Jamaica , she attended Harrison Preperatory School then Holy Childhood High School (Class of 1996). Dr. John earned her master’s and doctoral degree from the University of Connecticut, Storrs and her bachelor’s degree from Hunter College, City University of NY.  She teaches Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, and Psychology of Addiction.  Dr. John has several scholarly publications and awards including a grant from the Institution of Educational Sciences entitled Seeds of STEM: The Development of an innovative early childhood stem curriculum, a project in collaboration with the Worcester Head Start Program, which focuses on engineering curriculum for pre-K classrooms. When she is not working, she is spending quality time with her husband, Matthew John and her daughters, Alyssa Simone and Olivia Lauren. 

Follow Lauren Simone Publishing House by visiting the website at www.laurensimonepubs.com and on Facebook. 

Contributor: Paulari L.

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