Raising their two children in Northern NJ, parents Wade and Cheryl Hudson found it difficult to find quality Black-interest books for children outside of Black History month. The couple decided to fill the void themselves, and went to work developing their own children's books. But publisher after publisher turned the couple down, some outwardly doubting the viability of the Black children's book market. So the Hudsons, in 1988, founded their own publishing company: Just Us Books and their signature brand AFRO-BETSR and the company's success quickly proved doubters wrong.
In 2004, the company launched its first imprint, Sankofa Books, to bring
previously out-of-print Black classic books back to the marketplace. Through
the new imprint, the publisher welcomed into its family of book creators
literary legends such as Camille Yarbrough,and the
late Rosa Guy. In 2006, Just Us Books was named
"Haki Madhubuti Publisher of the Year," by the
African American Pavilion at BEA.
January 2008 marked a great milestone, as one of Just Us Books' new picture
books,
The
Secret Olivia Told Me, was named a
Coretta Scott King
Honor Book for Illustration. And just months later, in March 2008,
company founders Wade and Cheryl Hudson were honored for their contributions
to literature with the Ida B. Wells Institutional Builders Award presented
by the National Black Writers
Conference.
In addition to their roles as publishers, both Wade and Cheryl have cultivated dual careers as children's book authors. Wade's books include Jamal's Busy Day; Book of Black Heroes from A to Z; and Powerful Words. Cheryl's titles include Bright Eyes, Brown Skin; Hands Can, and My Friend Maya Loves to Dance.
The Hudsons are also partners, with their children Katura and Stephan, in Hudson Publishing LLC, which recently founded Marimba Books, a new multicultural children's book imprint.
My
Friend Maya Loves to Dance
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Reading level: Ages 4 and up
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers (April 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0810983281
ISBN-13: 978-0810983281
Product Dimensions: 10 x 0.5 x 9 inches
A
young narrator tells readers about her friend Maya, who absolutely loves to
dance. In this rhyming picture book, Maya attends a lively dance class. She
can’t get enough of dance: the costumes, the grand entrances, the
pirouettes, the music, the final bow, and the magic of recitals. She even
loves the hard work of practice. But why doesn’t her friend dance, too?
The pages themselves seem to dance, thanks to the charming verse of
Cheryl
Willis Hudson and the vibrant colors and motion of Eric Velasquez’s
paintings.
My
Holy Bible for African-American Children King James Version
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Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 1808 pages
Publisher: Zondervan; Lrg edition (February 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310719879
ISBN-13: 978-0310719878
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.5 inches
African-American parents long for a Bible that can help them explain God's Word and their faith to their children. My Holy Bible for African-American Children answers that need. Included are illustrations by African-American artists, popular Negro spirituals, Heroes of Our Faith, inspirational Christian quotes, and information that ties scripture to a child's life. African-American children will find meaningful connections to God through features that speak directly to their life experiences and heritage. Features include: Large print type for easy reading 32 full-color tip-in pages with illustrations from African-American artists Introductions to each book of the Bible Dictionary-concordance, and maps Presentation page for gift giving Complete text of the popular King James Version with the words of Christ in red.
Bright
Eyes, Brown Skin
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Written by Cheryl
Willis Hudson & Bernette Ford & Illustrated by
George
Ford
Reading level: Baby-Preschool
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Just Us Books (November 1, 1990)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0940975238
ISBN-13: 978-0940975231
Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.1 inches
Read more about the motivation behind Bright Eyes, Brown Skin
This classic title is a staple in preschool and early childhood
Jamal's
Busy Day
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Wade Hudson (Author), George Ford (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4 and up
Hardcover: 1 pages
Publisher: Just Us Books Inc (October 1991)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0940975211
ISBN-13: 978-0940975217
Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 0.3 inches
The charm of this unassuming, engaging picture book rests in the tongue-in-cheek parallels between the daily labors of parents and offspring. The youngster here is an African American only child; the adults are active, serious professionals--father is an architect, mother an accountant. In its own way, Jamal's day is as demanding as theirs: he "works with numbers" in math class, does "research" in the library, has "meetings to attend" in the school auditorium and occasionally settles schoolyard "disagreements between my co-workers." The upbeat message is that both parents and children can "work hard" and accomplish much in their respective arenas: all have something to contribute and all work has value. Illustrating this sweetly didactic story are Ford's (Bright Eyes, Brown Skin ) realistic watercolors, which present a boy full of energy and excited by his truly "busy day." —From Publishers Weekly, Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
In
Praise of Our Fathers and Our Mothers: A Black Family Treasury by
Outstanding Authors and Artists
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Edited by Cheryl and Wade Hudson
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Just Us Books (February 1, 1997)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0940975599
ISBN-13: 978-0940975590
Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.7 inches
Forty nine distinguished writers, artists and photographers contributed to
this important anthology. A wonderful tribute to the enduring spirit of the
black family and community, this is a book the entire family can enjoy
reading together. Contributors include Newbery, Caldecott, Pulitzer, Coretta
Scott King and other award-winning writers and visual artists --Gwendolyn
Brooks, Ashley Bryan, Virginia Hamilton, Patricia and Fredrick McKissack,
Leo and Diane Dillon, Floyd Cooper, Nikki Grimes, Tom Feelings, Haki
Madhubuti, Javaka Steptoe, Walter Dean Myers and a host of others.
Good
Morning, Baby (What-a-Baby Series)
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Reading level: Ages 2 and up
Board book: 10 pages
Publisher: Cartwheel;
BRDBK edition (March 1, 1997)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0590949187
ISBN-13: 978-0590949187
Product Dimensions: 0.2 x 6.2 x 6 inches
Good
Night, Baby (What-a-Baby Series)
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Board book: 10 pages
Publisher: Cartwheel (March 1, 1997)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 059094942X
ISBN-13: 978-0590949422
Product Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 0.3 inches
Both of these What-a-Baby Series books were written by Cheryl Willis Hudson and Illustrated by George Ford. "Two books about toddlers as they go through their daily routines. In Good Morning Baby , a little girl gets up, dresses, and eats breakfast before heading out for the day with her father. Good Night Baby shows a little boy at the end of a busy day as he winds down with a bath and a bedtime story before going to sleep. The texts consist of a scant few words per page with the major part of the action carried by the large, uncluttered illustrations. Realistically drawn, they both feature African-American children and show a few items against stark white backgrounds. Average fare for libraries with a constant demand for board books." —Kay McPherson, Central Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, GA, Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Afro-Bets
1-2-3 Book
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Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: Just Us Books,US; 1st edition (February 16, 1989)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0940975017
ISBN-13: 978-0940975019
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 7.6 x 0.2 inches
