The History of We

"All of humanity began in Africa. That’s a simple statement of fact, but in an era when books about race are regularly banned from libraries, saying it can almost feel subversive. Nikkolas Smith doesn’t just lean into that historical reality, however. He pays homage to our earliest ancestors’ humor, dignity and lives. This is a human history, full of Black faces and joy. “What does ‘the beginning’ look like?” Here it looks like thick painted brushstrokes and vibrant scenes from humankind’s earliest days. When describing what people did back then, Smith reverts time and again not to statements of what “they” did but what “we” did. An inclusive and telling reminder of our shared past. (For ages 4 to 8)"