The History of We
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Penguin Young Readers
Published:20th May '25
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Fossil records show that the first humans were born in Africa. Meaning, every person on Earth can trace their ancestry back to that continent. The History of We celebrates our shared ancestors' ingenuity and achievements and imagines what these firsts would have looked and felt like. What was it like for the first person to paint, to make music, to dance, to discover medicine, to travel to unknown lands? It required courage, curiosity, and skill. The History of We takes what we know about modern human civilisation and, through magnificent paintings, creates a tale about our shared beginnings in a way that centres Black people in humankind's origin story.
Praise for The History of We by Nikkolas Smith:
NEA Read Across American 2025-2026 selection
★ “Combining vibrant, painterly illustrations and short, lyrical, explanatory paragraphs, Smith outlines major contributions of these various groups from prehistoric Africa.” —The Horn Book, starred review
★ “Light but layered verse resists oversimplifying…It’s impossible to overstate the emotional effect of Smith’s artwork—simultaneously majestic and intimate…A triumph.” —Kirkus Review, starred review
★ “Each chapter of our history is set upon gorgeous painted landscapes or scenes of human ingenuity in action… Joy, struggle, and innovation are displayed throughout the ages, not only laying out a wide-spanning history but also upending the problematic idea that civilization began much later and that it was rooted in whiteness.” —Booklist, starred review
★“[A] celebration of early human ingenuity….The text and art are elegantly matched in both beauty and impact…[E]xpansive and intimate, reminding readers of the connections running through all humanity.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
★ “[A] gorgeously illustrated…melodic narrative….[A] first choice for any library seeking picture books about the fascinating origins of “We.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“Using phrases that incorporate a communal we, and thickly stroked acrylic paintings that feel full of movement, Smith (The Artivist) establishes a progression of humankind’s creativity. . .It’s a visually rich collective history of humankind.” —Publishers Weekly
ISBN: 9780593619681
Dimensions: 262mm x 262mm x 11mm
Weight: 539g
40 pages