We all love a good story and our history is one of the best stories ever told, a story that is constantly changing and has no end page. History is the story of everything! And I do mean EVERYTHING! Everything that has happened before right now – history is every person, place, idea and event woven together across the spans of time. While history can feel like just a list of distant dates, events and names, it is so much more than old information buried in dusty old textbooks; history is the unfolding drama of human choices, triumphs, mistakes and discoveries that shape the world we live in today. Children picking up a history book might not happen much outside of the classroom, but when it’s brought to life through poetry and vivid imagery, it becomes an irresistible adventure. Picture books like The History of We, by artivist Nikkolas Smith, invite young readers (and budding historians) to step into the world of our shared past with our earliest ancestors, ancestors that can be traced back to very early Africa. Books like this spark curiosity and empathy while educating as well.
The History of We is the origin story of humankind, one that encourages young readers to learn about history. Fossils from over 200,000 years ago confirm that the modern humans / homo sapiens came from Africa. If you want to find out more about the evolution of humans, visit www.nhm.ac.uk.
The History of We is a picture book for readers 5+ and is a excellent look at the history and evolution of the human species and the Out of Africa theory. While this book takes a brief look at the evolution of modern humans that began in Africa, this is also a book of art – the paintings that illustrate the book are superb. With curiosity and a thirst for knowledge and advancement it takes a look at the birthplace of modern humans and how curiosity welcomed the birth of music, language, inventions, architecture and world travel. It explores that we can also trace our ancestry back to Africa – the ultimate family tree, no matter what the colour of our skin is.
The History of We unfolds as a series of questions and answers that span the dawn of humankind. Each double-page spread asks what was it like for the first person to paint, to make music, to dance, to discover medicine, to travel to unknown lands? The text isn’t presented as a dry chronology of human history, Nikkolas Smith’s text flows like a chant, trusting readers to fill in emotional nuances and imagine the spark of invention for themselves.
Overall, I thought this was a wonderful book that gives a brief insight into how humanity evolved from a single country, enabling the human species to become artists, musicians, explorers and inventors. It illustrates that innovation was born from curiosity and collaboration, weaving our shared heritage into every page. It would make a great title for Black History Month in October in the UK (Febraury in the USA) as it celebrates African roots by reminding readers that our earliest ancestors emerged in Africa and pioneered community, dance, music, exploration and invention.
While the text tells the story of human existence, curiosity, knowledge and adventure, for me the illustrations/paintings by the author/illustrator are what bring the book to life – they are just artistic excellence. His paintings burst with feeling. Each brushstroke feels alive with intention, whether depicting the tense anticipation of planting the first seed, the joyful celebration of communal dance or the building of the first homes.
This is an educational book, backed up with a scientific timeline, that makes learning about human history entertaining for young readers – it’s the history of WE, all of us as one race – the human race!
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £16.99 (Hardback) / £8.99 (Paperback) / £3.99 (Kindle)
For more information, visit www.nikkolas.art and rocktheboatbooks.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
