The History of We
Penguin Young Readers Group · Print & ebook · May 20, 2025
A Picture Books pick for readers exploring The History of We.
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- Who it’s for
- A picture-book journey into human ingenuity, with Black people centered in our shared origin story.
- Themes
- Human origins, Shared ancestry and ingenuity, Black-centered origin story
- Genres
- African History for Kids, Art History for Kids, African American Life (U.S.)
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Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.
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The People RememberIbi Zoboi54% matchShares African American Life (U.S.)
This LandAshley Fairbanks52% match
KeepunumukDanielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry47% match
AncestoryHannah Salyer58% matchShares Art History for Kids
Before I Lived HereStacy S. Jensen50% match
Skull in the Rock, theMarc Aronson61% match
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For older readers: Black Indians, Born in Africa, The Old Way
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Start with this bookAbout this book
An awe-inspiring picture book about the origin and advancement of humans, from author and #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Nikkolas Smith. A Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Book 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.
Continue reading
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 civilization and, through magnificent paintings, creates a tale about our shared beginnings in a way that centers Black people in humankind's origin story.
Shared Beginnings
A picture-book journey into human ingenuity, with Black people centered in our shared origin story.
Come here for
- Wondering what the first artists, musicians, and healers might have felt
- A fresh perspective on humanity’s beginnings
Expect
- Magnificent paintings imagining early human achievements
- A celebration of courage, curiosity, and skill
Where it sits
| African History for Kids | 88% |
|---|---|
| Art History for Kids | 43% |
| African American Life (U.S.) | 37% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- African American Life (U.S.)
- Exploration & Discovery
- Diversity & Culture
- Authors
- Nikkolas Smith
- Publisher
- Penguin Young Readers Group
- Published
- May 20, 2025
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Human origins · Shared ancestry and ingenuity · Black-centered origin story
- Reading lane
- African American Life (U.S.)