EAST ORANGE, NJ — Residents of all ages will benefit from a donation of $1,000 worth of books, as well as hundreds of titles to the East Orange Public Library by Wade and Cheryl Hudson, founders of Just Us Books, on Monday, Dec. 16.
According to a recent press release, the Hudsons have been publishing children’s books that reflect the diversity of the African American experience for more than 30 years and were recently honored by the Children’s Book Council for their work within the genre. In October, Just Us Books was a winner of the 2019 CBC Diversity Outstanding Achievement Award, which includes a $1,000 gift, in books, to any organization of the Hudsons’ choice.
Knowing the hardships most public libraries have suffered face, from budget cuts to layoffs, the couple chose their hometown library to receive the gift.
East Orange Mayor Ted Green, who stood by as the Hudsons made their gift, called in an honor.
“This gift is truly an honor, especially as it is coming from a local, family-owned business that started and flourished right here in East Orange,” Green told the Record-Transcript. “Reading opens up whole new worlds for our children and I know that these books will inspire, entertain and educate children and families in East Orange for years to come.”
According to the press release, in addition to the funds from the Children’s Book Council, the Hudsons are donating titles from their own publishing house, and procured an additional donation from Penguin Random House, their partner publisher. They donated hundreds of books to the East Orange Public Library on Monday, Dec. 16.
Now, the East Orange Public Library will move into the new year more prepared than ever.
“We get letters from libraries across the country, asking us to donate books all of the time,” said Wade Hudson in the release. “We understand what they’re facing. It only makes sense that, for this honor, we chose a library where we live and a library with whom we have had a historical relationship.”
The Hudsons said they are always in search of books with characters that look similar to their two children and include relatable stories. Due to the lack of representation, they began to create and curate stories that were diverse and representative of their own community. They were rejected by one publisher after another until, finally, they decided to begin their own publishing company, Just Us Books.
“My wife and I grew up in the South and were profoundly affected by the lack of representation in the books we were given to read,” Wade Hudson said. “We knew we had to make the experience a positive one for our children.”
Photos Courtesy of Precious Osagie-Erese
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