Just Us Books, Independent Children's Publisher, is Bringing Back Black Classics

Just Us Books, Inc., a premier publisher of Black-interest books for young people, has created a new imprint that will republish out-of-print Black-interest books for children and young adults. The imprint is named Sankofa Books. Just Us Books will launch the imprint in fall 2004. Titles by renowned authors Rosa Guy, James Haskins, Robert Miller and Camille Yarbrough have already been acquired.

East Orange, NJ (PRWEB) May 30, 2004 -- Just Us Books, Inc., a premier publisher of Black-interest books for young people, has created a new imprint that will republish out-of-print Black-interest books for children and young adults. The imprint is named Sankofa Books. In the Akan language of Ghana, West Africa, Sankofa means "go back and fetch it." Just Us Books will launch the imprint in fall 2004. Titles by renowned authors Rosa Guy, James Haskins, Robert Miller and Camille Yarbrough have already been acquired.

The first books scheduled for release under the Sankofa imprint are Freedom Rides: Journey to Justice and Harlem Renaissance by Haskins; Yarbroughs middle reader chapter book, Tamika and the Wisdom Rings, and the first two titles in Millers Reflections of a Black Cowboy series, Cowboys and The Buffalo Soldiers. All books will be available fall 2004. The company will release Rosa Guys young adult novels, Ruby, New Guys Around the Block, and I Heard A Bird Sing, and the two remaining books in Millers series in 2005. Other out-of-print books are currently being considered for publication under the Sankofa imprint.

"Through Sankofa, Just Us Books is bringing back books that helped to lay the foundation for Black-interest childrens literature," says Wade Hudson, president and CEO of Just Us Books. "These books are timeless classics-as important, relevant and necessary today as when they were first published. The first four authors weve signed are literary leaders and innovators whove produced tremendous bodies of work. We see it not only as a responsibility, but an honor to keep books like these in print."

"Sankofa (represented by a bird that looks back while walking forward) illustrates the importance of learning from and building on the past to create a better future," says Cheryl Willis Hudson, publisher of Just Us Books. "Thats exactly what were trying to do through this new imprint. In making these books available again, we hope new generations of readers will be inspired to celebrate the diversity of Black history, heroes, and culture-just like their readers were years ago."

The creation of this new imprint, Just Us Books first, was inspired by the companys March 2004 publication of The March on Washington by James Haskins, originally published in 1993. Just Us Books also republished A Blessing in Disguise (2002) and Just An Overnight Guest (1997) by Eleanora Tate, and Singing Black: Alternative Nursery Rhymes (1995) by Mari Evans. All books had previously been out of print for years.

Just Us Books will preview its Sankofa titles and other fall 2004 releases at Book Expo America (BEA) in Chicago, June 3-6, at Booth 4152 in the African American Pavilion.

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Just Us Books is the nations only independent Black publisher exclusively dedicated to producing books for young people that reflect the diversity of Black history, culture and experience. Based in East Orange, the companys titles range from concept books for the Pre-Kindergarten age to novels for middle readers and young adults. Books can be purchased at bookstores and specialty shops across the nation, or via the companys web site, www.justusbooks.com. For more information call (973) 672-7701.
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Sankofa Books
Bringing Back the Classics for Young People

-Fall 2004 List-

· Freedom Rides: Journey to Justice, by James Haskins $10.95, October 2004, 0-940975-94-7, age 10 and up
· Harlem Renaissance, by James Haskins $10.95, October 2004, 0-940975-95-5, ages 10 and up
· Tamika and the Wisdom Rings, by Camille Yarbrough, $5.95, October 2004, 0-940975-67-X, ages 7-9
· Reflections of a Black Cowboy: Cowboys, by Robert Miller, $9.95, October 2004,
0-940975-70-X, age 9 and up
· Reflections of a Black Cowboy: The Buffalo Soldiers, by Robert Miller, $9.95, October 2004,
     0-940975-69-6, age 9 and up.