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, aut ..read more

Wade and Cheryl Hudson, founders of Just Us Books, will be presented The BookFest Fall 2023 Honorary Achievement Award, which honors individuals who have contributed positively to the literary world. The Hudsons are being recognized for their contributions to children’s publishing, their work centering Black stories, and their dedication to diversity and inclusion. The award presentation is part of Book Fest, a leading virtual literary event, and will be live streamed Saturday, October 21, at 10:45 am Pacific at https://www.thebookfest.com/ Celebrating its 35th anniversary this month, Just U ..read more

(West Orange, NJ) September 22, 2023 ─ The average life span of a small business is eight and a half years according to The New York Times. As Just Us Books prepares to celebrate 35 years in business, it’s not only beating the odds, it’s also continuing to blaze a trail, publishing children’s books that center and celebrate Black stories, history and culture. “Just Us Books’ 35th anniversary is not just a celebration of our company,” says Wade Hudson, CEO and co-founder. “It’s a recognition of 35 years of children reading, learning, growing, and being affirmed through stories that reflect th ..read more

by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson founders, Just Us Books Thirty-five years ago, we sat at our dinner table contemplating starting our own children’s book publishing company. We had already self-published two books, the AFRO-BETS ABC Book and the AFRO-BETS 123 Book and our success with them in the marketplace prompted a serious discussion. Should we strike out and expand our venture to publish works by other Black book creators? Wade and Cheryl Hudson present the AFRO-BETS Kids at the Portsmouth, VA Public Library to an audience that includes their son Stephan in 1987.  The ..read more

              Image copyright Nancy Devard, published in Afro-Bets Kids I'm Going to Be by Wade Hudson It’s back to school season. Whether your young scholars are excited, anxious, or wishing summer break would last forever – there's a book out there for them. Start with our back-to-school kidlit picks, available at our online store. Places I Love to Go, by Wade Hudson, illustrated by Laura Freeman, ages 2-5 Follow a group of children as they experience the excitement of visiting their favorite places – including school.  ..read more

Good books make great gifts, but with so many children's titles available, which should you pick? Whether your favorite young readers are adventure seekers, into the arts, activism, or history, there is a great book waiting for them. Here are suggestions from Just Us Books' collection.  Action Sights I Love to See Places I Love to Go I Told You I Could Play Kid Caramel: Case of the Missing Ankh Marvelous Martin 12 Brown Boys Activism  The Talk Recognize  We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices Book of Black Heroes: Political Leaders Arts Willimena Rules: 9 Steps to the Bes ..read more

Activist, social worker, poet, scholar, educator, and playwright Useni Eugene Perkins has joined the ancestors at the age of 90.  “We have known Useni for many years and marveled at his dedication and contributions to the Black community and to Black arts,” said Wade Hudson, president and CEO of Just Us Books. “He was a good brother!” Just Us Books published two of Useni's works, Poetry From The Masters: The Black Arts Movement in 2009, and Kwame Nkrumah's Midnight Speech for Independence, illustrated by Laura Freeman. His most recent published children’s book, it won the ..read more

Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson, founders of leading independent children's publisher Just Us Books, were recognized for their many contributions to children's literature with a 2022 Carle Honors award from The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. The award was presented at the Carle Honors Benefit Gala and Art Auction on Thursday, September 29, 2022.at Guastavino’s in New York City. 2022 Carle Honors mentor awardees Wade and Cheryl Hudson photo: Stephan Hudson Now in its 16th year, the annual gala and fundraiser celebrates individuals and organization ..read more

We were honored to celebrate with Useni Eugene Perkins and Laura Freeman as they accepted the 2022 Children’s Africana Book Awards (CABA) Best Book for Young Children distinction for their picture book Kwame Nkrumah’s Midnight Speech for Independence this weekend in DC.  The Children’s Africana Book Awards are presented annually to the authors and illustrators of the best children’s and adult books on Africa published in the U.S. Africa Access and the Outreach Council of the African Studies Association (ASA) created CABA in 1991 to encourage the publication of and use of accurate, balan ..read more

On the eve of Ghana’s Independence Day, we’re excited to announce that Kwame Nkrumah’s Midnight Speech for Independence by Useni Eugene Perkins and Laura Freeman was named winner of the 2022 Children’s Africana Book Award - best book for young children.  The awards are presented annually to the authors and illustrators of the best children’s and young adult books on Africa published or republished in the U.S.  Africa Access and the Outreach Council of the African Studies Association (ASA) created CABA in 1991 to encourage the publication and use of accurate, balanced children’s mater ..read more