The History of We [Hardcover]

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

A Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Book

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.Praise for The History of We by Nikkolas Smith:

57th NAACP Image Awards nominee (outstanding literary work - children)
A 2026 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor
A 2026 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Winner (Picture Book category)
A 2026 International Literacy Association (ILA) Notable Books for a Global Society Award Winner
A 2026 Golden Kite Award finalist (Picture Book Text and Illustration categories)
A NCSS-CBC 2026 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
An ALSC 2026 Notable Children’s Book (All Ages category)
NEA Read Across American 2025-2026 selection
2026 ALSC Summer Reading List (Grades K-2)
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) 2026 Notable Children’s Poetry Book
The Society of Illustrators Original Art Show selection
A Bank Street Best Children's Books of 2026<l³6