Let every child relate: a publishing veteran launches the Just For You! book series with black characters and unifying themes.

Bernette Ford, an independent editorial consultant and book packager, is the creative force behind Just For You!, a series of books for children officially launched this summer.

"It was like a dream come true--the opportunity to work with authors and artists of color, on a series of high-quality, original paperbacks featuring everyday stories about everyday children who 'happen to be black" says Ford, who lives in Brooklyn with her husband, George Ford, an award-winning illustrator of children's books.

"My first job out of school was at Random House Books for Young Readers, as an editorial assistant in training. And from then on I was hooked on children's books."

With more than 30 years of experience in publishing, Ford has lent her talents to Grosset & Dunlap Publishers, where she served as rice president/associate publisher, and Scholastic/Cartwheel Books, where she was vice president and editorial director until May 2002 when she went out on her own.

Produced by Ford's company, Color-Bridge Books, for Scholastic, the titles boast both established writers and illustrators such as Aaron Black, Nikki Giovanni, Cheryl and Wade Hudson, as well as talented newcomers like Dee Boyd, Gary Grier and Karla Robertson. Intended for family reading, but also suitable for classroom use, the books are priced at an accessible $3.99 each.

"I believe it is absolutely critical that children of color see themselves doing things all children do," says Ford. The various topics include facing your fears, embracing your individuality, dealing with a bad day, learning how to sleep with the lights off, etc. "These books validate our children's existence; they say, 'You are important enough to be in a book and this book is just for you'.

"By the same token, it is crucial that white children see black children in familiar, universal situations;' she continues. "I can't tell you how many times I've heard a sales rep tell me that a 'universal' book featuring black children just wouldn't get past their white bookstore buyers who have very few black customers! Nobody ever seems to question that what black parents have to choose from is so limited. Black children read books about white children every day! Why wouldn't white parents buy a book featuring black children?"

Ford says demand for the books has been very strong, particularly among black booksellers and libraries. She says interest was also very high at the 2004 BookExpo in Chicago this past June. "I know from ordering office copies that several of the titles that ran in Scholastic's School Book Clubs and Book Fairs in fall and early spring have already been reprinted--some as many as twice! "she says.

Ford is hoping that her next project will be a series of beginning readers written and illustrated by Latino authors and artists. She would also like to create an African American nonfiction series.

Just For You! Series

The new Just for You! series features beginning reader books written and illustrated by people of color. The 24 titles, in three groups of eight books each, are divided into levels: 1 for kindergarten to first grade, 2 for first grade, and 3 for second grade.

The books deal with events, feelings and issues that children experience daily: Nikki Grimes writes about a boy's cherished weekend visit with his father in A Day With Daddy (June 2004, ISBN 0-439-56850-1), and Sonia W. Black's Mommy's Bed (June 2004, ISBN 0-439-56857-9) speaks of that special sanctuary. Derrick D. Barnes's Stop, Drop and Chill (April 2004, ISBN 0-439-56870-6) shows how one little boy learns to take control of his temper, and Olivia George's The Bravest Girls in the World (April 2004, ISBN 0-439-56875-7) helps guide children to get beyond their fears. At the back of each book are discussion questions, activities to build vocabulary and comprehension, biographies of the writers and illustrators to provide the reader with successful role models, and a letter addressed to families on helping children to become better readers.

Some other Just for You! titles:

Level 1:

The Mystery of the Missing Dog by Gwendolyn Hooks, illustrated by Nancy Devard, Scholastic, June 2004 ISBN 0-439-56864-1

Level 2:

The Girls in the Circle by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson, Scholastic, June 2004 ISBN 0-439-56861-7

Level 3:

Sunday Best by Juwanda C. Ford, illustrated by Colin Bootman, Scholastic, March 2004 $3.99, ISBN 0-439-56854-4