The History of We

De: Nikkolas Smith

An awe-inspiring picture book about the origin and advancement of humans, from author and #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Nikkolas Smith.

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 civilization and, through magnificent paintings, creates a tale about our shared beginnings in a way that centers Black people in humankind's origin story.

©2025 Nikkolas Smith (P)2025 Listening Library

Reseñas de la Crítica

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