Children’s books offer a vibrant window into different worlds, both familiar and fantastical. But when the content is educational it anchors children’s natural inclination to explore, imagine, and learn. Everybody loves a good story, and one of the best continuing stories is that of human history – where did we come from? In an era when history textbooks often overlook the richness of early African civilisations, The History of We by Nikkolas Smith brings to life our rich shared history from its origins in Africa with vibrant art and verse. This picture book masterpiece celebrates humanity’s first inventions – from dance to medicine, all through the eyes of Black ancestors whose courage and creativity changed the world and created a truly global community.
Welcome to The History of We by artivist, author and illustrator Nikkolas Smith. This is the story of humankind from its origins in Africa over 233,000 years ago, a story that often gets overlooked. Fossils from over 200,000 years ago confirm that the first modern-day 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. This wonderful expressive picture book takes a quick glimpse at the evolution of modern humans that began in Africa hundreds of thousands years ago, backed up by science. It is a book of education, a book of art and a beautiful retelling of the history of everybody, humankind, us, WE! Humans have always been a curious lot with a thirst for knowledge and advancement and this book looks at not only the birthplace of modern humans but the advancements and inventions that came out of Africa – dance, music, language, medicines, architecture and world travel. It explores that we can also trace our ancestry back to Africa, no matter what the colour of our skin is.
The History of We is a visual delight with paintings by the author – each double-page spread asking what was it like for the first person to paint, to make music, to dance, to discover medicine, to travel to unknown lands. Accompanied with easy to read prose, this historical examination isn’t presented as a dry chronology of human history, it flows like a chant, with the words and illustrations joining forces to tell a story and spark the imagination.
Overall, I thought this was a wonderful book. I love books that educate, especially when combined with good quality visuals. The History of We is like visiting a museum and art gallery at the same time, giving a brief insight into how humanity evolved from Africa, enabling the human species to be more than existing; becoming artists, musicians, dancers, pioneers of medicine, architects and explorers. It illustrates that innovation was born from curiosity, courage and collaboration. Our shared history, our heritage, is woven into every word and image on the pages.
While the text introduces children to human history, evolving with language and inventions, adventure and exploration, the illustrations, or rather the artwork in the form of paintings by the author/illustrator Nikkolas Smith, are what bring the book to life – they plot out the journey of thousands of years of history with artistic excellence. Each painting just bursts with feeling and expression – whether it’s depicting the tense anticipation of planting the first seed, the beauty of the night sky, exploring the ocean, the joyful celebration of communal dance or the building of the first homes.
This is an wonderful and beautiful educational book, backed up with a scientific timeline, that makes learning about human history entertaining and engaging for young page turners – it’s the history of WE, all of us!
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.
