In honor of our milestone 35th anniversary and Black History Month, Just Us Books is proud to present a program that will bring together a dozen acclaimed Black children’s book authors and illustrators.
Writing Our Future: A Celebration of Black Children’s Literature will be held Saturday, February 17, 2024, 12 - 2:30 pm at the Montclair Public Library, 50 South Fullerton Ave. in Montclair. It will also be streamed online.
Sponsored in collaboration with the Montclair Public Library and local independent bookstore Watchung Booksellers, the event will feature panels, book readings, autograph signings and literary performances.
Guest authors
and illustrators include: Rita Williams-Garcia (One Crazy Summer),
Valerie Wilson Wesley (Willimena Rules series), Denise Lewis
Patrick (Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson), Sharon Dennis Wyeth
(Something Beautiful), Eric Velasquez (Schomburg: The Man Who
Built a Library), Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich (Operation
Sisterhood); Torrey Maldonado (What Lane?), George Ford
(The Story of Ruby Bridges), author-illustrator-educator Toney
Jackson who will deliver a spoken word performance, as well as authors and
Just Us Books founders, Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson.
“Books play such an important role in preserving and
sharing Black history and culture. We can’t think of a better way to commemorate
Just Us Books’ 35 years in publishing than by bringing together a talented group
of authors and illustrators for a Black History Month literary celebration,”
said Wade Hudson, CEO of Just Us Books.
“We’re hoping to reach the entire community with
this event,” explains Cheryl Willis Hudson, Editorial Director of Just Us
Books. “It’s a great opportunity for children to meet published authors and
illustrators; for aspiring creators to learn about building careers in
publishing; and for parents, educators and readers of all ages to get some wonderful
books.”
Panels include:
·
Our Literature’s
Legacy, a conversation about the path to more diversity in
children’s publishing and how we continue the progress
·
Putting it All
Together: Creating Books for Young Readers
about the author and illustrator creative process, developing your craft, and
how to break into and succeed in the industry
·
The Power of the Pen highlighting the power of children’s literature to inspire
change
The event is free and open to the public, including children of all ages.
Registration is encouraged for in-person attendance: https://montclairlibrary.
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