The History of We

Praise for The History of We by Nikkolas Smith:

NEA Read Across American 2025-2026 selection
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) 2026 Notable Children’s Poetry Book
An Evanston Public Library’s 101 Best Books of 2025
A 2025 Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth (Young Fiction)
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2025
An NPR ‘Books We Love 2025’ selection
A Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2025



★ “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 Reviews, 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

★“[A] celebration of early human ingenuity….The text and art are elegantly matched in both beauty and impact…[E]xpansive and intimate, reminding readers of the connections running through all humanity.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

★ “Gorgeously illustrated…This is a first choice for any library seeking picture books about the fascinating origins of ‘We.’” —School Library Journal, starred review.

“Using phrases that incorporate a communal we, and thickly stroked acrylic paintings that feel full of movement, Smith (The Artivist) establishes a progression of humankind’s creativity. . .It’s a visually rich collective history of humankind.” —Publishers Weekly