Just Us Books Donates $4000 in Children's Books to East Orange Public Library

Just Us Books is ending 2019 with a special gift to its founders' local library. 'Today we donated $4000 worth of children's and young adult books to the East Orange Public Library, based in Wade and Cheryl Hudson's hometown of East Orange, NJ. (Watch a video of the book presentation here.)

The donation includes books from Just Us Books’ publishing list, and from generous donations by publishing collaborator Crown Books for Young Readers, and the Children’s Book Council. CBC selected Just Us Books as one of its 2019 Diversity Outstanding Achievement Award winners - an honor given to children’s publishing professionals who have helped bring greater diversity to children’s literature. With the award came a donation of more than $1000 worth of books to an organization of awardees’ choice. Just Us Books selected the East Orange Public Library to receive its award donation. 

“Just Us Books has a long history with the East Orange Public Library,” said Wade Hudson, Just Us Books CEO. “We’ve hosted many book signings and author events at the East Orange Public Library over the years and we’re happy to continue bringing quality, diverse books to our community with this donation.”

Wade and Cheryl Hudson were joined by East Orange Mayor Ted Green; Jimmy Smalls, President of Library Board; Carolyn Ryan Reed, Library Director; and Lisa O'Shaughnessy, children's librarian for the Dec. 16 book presentation, which took place at the library. 

Celebrating more than 30 years in business, Just Us Books remains one of the nation’s few Black-owned publishing companies. Its titles, which include the popular AFRO-BETS series, Book of Black Heroes from A to Z, The Secret Olivia Told Me and We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices (published in partnership with Crown) are available at justusbooks.com  

Arts, Activism and Black Boy Joy - Our Picks for Gifting Books this Season

Good books make great gifts, but with so many children's titles available, which should you pick? 

Whether your favorite young readers are into the arts or activism; whether they want to celebrate Black girl magic or Black boy joy, there is a great book waiting for them. Here are suggestions from Just Us Books' collection. 

The Arts

Action/Adventure

Community/Activism 

 

#BlackBoyJoy

#BlackGirlMagic

Just Us Books Receives Best in Business Award from NJ Black Business

What better way to celebrate Small Business Saturday than with a room full of Black entrepreneurs, Black business supporters - and a Best in Business Award?

It was our first time at NJ Black Business' annual awards event, and we were proud to be there as an honoree. The NJBB Awards are special because the organization was founded to help Black businesses grow, succeed, and increase their visibility. The awards - now in their fourth year - recognize businesses (15 total this year) that exemplify the highest in quality, integrity, and excellence. In short, it's for us, by us, and celebrates us. 

A celebration like this takes vision, commitment, and lots of hard work. We salute Natasha Bray, NJBB founder, for using her talents to bring this community together year after year. Thanks to keynote speaker and entrepreneur Lunic Boyd who spoke words of inspiration; to the judges; and everyone who helped to make the celebration so special.

And congrats to our fellow honorees (or as Lunic called us, “Warriors”). Between us, we have over 100 years of experience in business. We're in this together!

We listed all the honorees' Instagram handles below so you can learn more about the excellence of New Jersey’s Black business community. Of course, please follow us on IG as well, at @JustUsBooks 

@aboveartstudios | @we_shipping_co | @sweetsavorypalmers | @dashikipride | @uprisingstarinc || @printkreations | @montclairbrew | @upperroomevents | @jerseyturntupent |

@groomingextraordinaire | @nentikitherapy | @reid_financial_solutions | @yameanstudios |

@globaleliteschool

Photos courtesy of 2nd Chapter

Just Us Books Joins Well-Read Black Girl's First Family Day

Well-Read Black Girl hosted it first ever Family Day on November 3, 2019, expanding its annual festival to reach and inspire our youngest readers. Just Us Books authors Cheryl Willis Hudson and Katura Hudson were featured authors in this community event, which included author readings, storytelling, face painting and lots of children's books.

"We couldn't be happier with our our community showed u to support this new venture, and we're more excited than ever to continue to expand Well-Read Black Girl to make it a haven for black and brown readers and writers, young and old alike," said Glory Edim, founder, Well-Read Black Girl

WRBG Family Day was held at Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn, an organization that works to document preserve and protect the history of the free Black community.

Congrats and thank you to Well-Read Black Girl for hosting this fun and affirming event.

Just Us Books Named Among NJ's Best Black Businesses

Just Us Books has been named one of New Jersey’s best Black businesses and will be honored at NJ Black Businesses’ 4th Annual "Best in Business Awards Ceremony.”

The event will be held on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6 pm in New Brunswick.

We’re looking forward to celebrating Black entrepreneurship at this special event. If you’re interested in celebrating with us, please see details here: http://www.njblackbusinesses.com/tickets

Just Us Books Signs Useni Eugene Perkins to Picture Book Deal

Just Us Books has signed author Useni Eugene Perkins to a publishing deal for a picture book manuscript about Ghanaian leader Kwame Nkrumah. The book will focus on Nkrumah’s speech declaring Ghana’s independence from British rule, given in Accra in 1957.

Perkins is a poet, playwright, activist and distinguished figure of the Black Arts Movement. His piece, Hey Black Child, originally penned as lyrics for his children’s musical “Black Fairy,” gained international recognition and was published as a picture book in 2017. 

Read more about Useni Eugene Perkins in this Brown Bookshelf interview.