As a kid, my favorite books were Cornrows by Camille Yarbrough, Stevie by John Steptoe, and The Best Time of Day by Valerie Flournoy, illustrated by George Ford.
I’m inspired by so many gifted creators – in kidlit and beyond. It might be easier for me to take a photo of my bookshelves. Sylvia Walker illustrated the book and I think she did a fantastic job of capturing those special moments and bringing the story to life. In writing the manuscript, I drew a bit from my experience, but even more from what I remember seeing in other family interactions: first born children getting used to their new role in the family, learning to share their parents’ attention, discovering that being the oldest can be a lot of work. Full disclosure, I am the older sibling in my family. It made me think about what an important role the oldest sibling plays in the family. They both had boys and were having their second children. My friends Kim and Crystal, and their families inspired me to write I’m A Big Brother Now. But one day, I had an idea for a picture book and fast forward several years to the publication of I’m A Big Brother Now. I edited a number of books, and partnered with my mom to create an activity book about Langston Hughes called Langston’s Legacy. I was always behind the scenes – helping to select manuscripts, working with authors to develop them, then promoting the final books. I started out doing administrative work after school, then graduated to larger roles in editorial and marketing. My first job outside of babysitting was with Just Us Books, the publishing company my parents founded. I always loved reading and I grew up in the industry. I think the biggest surprise is that I actually wanted to write a picture book. Please join us in celebrating Katura’s outstanding work and commitment to Black children’s literature. The motto for Just Us Books is “Good Books Make a Difference.” I would like to add that good people make a difference. From helping prepare for the baby to learning the ropes of being a big brother, this story shines with warmth, charm and pride. Her debut, I’m a Big Brother Now (illustrated by Sylvia Walker), is a sweet story that salutes the new role a little boy plays in the family. But last year, she added something new to her resume – picture book author. It’s a joy to honor her.Īn original AFRO-BETS kid, Katura created literary treasures like AFRO-BETS Quotes for Kids and Langston’s Legacy, an activity book written with her mom Cheryl honoring the contributions of the Harlem Renaissance poet. She has lovingly edited and promoted countless titles by Black children’s book creators including mine. Hudson is the director of marketing for the company her parents founded three decades ago. And that’s what you become when you publish with Just Us Books. There’s something special about celebrating family.
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