Katura J. Hudson

I’m A Big Sister Now is a featured title in the October 2020 Just Like Me subscription box. It’s great to team up with other Black-owned businesses that share Just Us Books’ goal of connecting readers with books that center and celebrate us!

It was great to be back at Weeksville in Brooklyn for another wonderful event - this time Well-Read Black Girl's first ever Family Day.  I've been going to the Well-Read Black Girl Festival since its first year, and it's always an amazing and affirming experience. So I was beyond excited to learn that founder Glory Edim and her team were expanding the event to reach our community's youngest readers, and happy to participate as a featured author. In addition to author readings, we enjoyed storytelling, face painting, music and of course lots of books.  My mom, Cheryl Willis Hudson, was also a featured author and we got to hang out with award-winning author and friend Rita Williams-Garcia, so you know it was a great day!

‪I spent the past two weekends with culture carriers, truth tellers, game changers, and history makers.‬⁣ Last week was the Highlights Foundation Cultural Competency workshop. This weekend it was the 50th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Awards. The Coretta Scott King Awards recognize outstanding books for children and young adults created by Black authors and illustrators. The first CSK Award was presented in 1970, just two years after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King and her work for peace. The Awards are presented annually at the American Library Association (ALA) Conference. It had been years since I attended ALA. #CSK50 was such a great occasion to return. I missed the big 50th anniversary gala on Friday, but made it to DC on Saturday in time for an intimate celebration with fellow Black book creators and Black librarians. I also had a little time to visit the ALA exhibits and got to meet Terry Nathan, COO of the Independent Bo...

 I usually live tweet diversity workshops/events I attend. I didn’t for the Building Cultural Competency in Children’s Publishing Symposium at @Highlights Foundation.  I wanted to be fully present. Even handwriting notes seemed a bit intrusive. Yes, it was that deep. My biggest takeaway was that we all need to come to the page with questions - whether you’re a writer, reader, illustrator, editor, librarian or teacher.  -Who’s centered in the story? -Who’s silenced or misrepresented?  -Is the story upholding stereotypes?  -What are YOUR identities and how do they shape what you’re writing, reading or suggesting that others read? Then, take action.  That might mean #booktoss for biased books or deciding you are not the best author to write a particular story.  And it should always mean supporting more #ownvoices books and getting more of them onto shelves & into kids’ hands, Examining our books & ourselves is hard & necessary ONGOING work. Th...

My book, I’m a Big Sister Now , illustrated by the amazing talented Sylvia Walker, won the 2019 Benjamin Franklin Award for picture books (ages 4-7).  The award was presented by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) at the 31st Annual Benjamin Franklin Award program, held in Chicago on April 5, 2019. What’s extra special is that the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards recognize excellence and innovation in independent publishing - judging both editorial and design of each entry. So this is an honor that Sylvia and I share!!  I’m a Big Sister Now and its companion title, I’m a Big Brother Now were published by Marimba Books, an imprint of Just Us Books.  

If you follow JaydeKamille_ on Instagram, you already know she is a GREAT big sister. I'm so glad she could relate to my new book. It's like a big sister stamp of approval.  Watch her super adorable video about I'm A Big Sister Now . The book officially launches tomorrow, October 15, 2018. (yay!) 

My parents love to put us on the spot in interviews and ask me and my brother what it’s like working with them and for Just Us Books, the publishing company they founded. Now we’re flipping the script. To help celebrate Just Us Books’ 30th anniversary, my brother Stephan and I have some questions for them. Thanks to The Brown Bookshelf for this special interview opportunity. Read the interview .