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A History of Me Kindle Edition
Who do you see when you look in the mirror?
Emphasizing the strength, creativity, and courage passed down through generations, A History of Me offers a joyful new perspective on how we look at history and an uplifting message for the future.
Being the only brown girl in a classroom full of white students can be hard. When the teacher talks about slavery and civil rights, she can feel all the other students' eyes on her. In those moments she wants to seep into the ground, wondering, is that all you see when you look at me?
Having gone through the same experiences, the girl's mother offers a different, empowering point of view: she is a reflection of the powerful women that have come before her, of the intelligence, resilience, and resourcefulness that have been passed down through the generations. Her history is a source of pride, a reason to sit up straight and recognize everything beautiful and powerful in herself.
What really matters is what we see when we look in the mirror, and what we want to become.
Inspired by the authors' experiences in school and as a parent, Adrea Theodore’s debut picture book is a powerful testament to the past as well as a benediction for the future. Erin Robinson's digital illustrations feature a wealth of texture and a bold, saturated palette, bringing this warm message of empowerment to life.
An American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
An NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
- Reading age4 - 8 years
- Print length32 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelPreschool - 3
- PublisherNeal Porter Books
- Publication dateJanuary 18, 2022
- ISBN-13978-0823442577
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Review
★ "The book wraps children in the lived experience then and now. Digitally rendered illustrations shine with the love and pride of the book’s message, honoring history while also empowering young brown children to seek a dazzling future. This title powerfully places history in a light that honors the past, challenges the way history is taught, and looks forward. Inspirational."—School Library Journal, Starred Review
"[A] poetic debut informed by Theodore’s own life as well as that of her daughter. . . . Refrains emphasize the child’s isolation and resolve, punctuated by Robinson’s textured digital illustrations, before an affirmative ending."—Publishers Weekly
"A child discovers how to rise above isolation at school in a compassionate and rewarding picture book that portrays how self-esteem and racial pride intersect."—Shelf Awareness
"An uplifting pep talk of a book. . . ."—Booklist
"A love letter of recognition to children of color. . . . The colors go from subdued to vibrant, with the protagonist’s daughter shown on one page as an almost literal beam of light"—The Horn Book
"An empowering picture book seeks to instill pride in the descendants of enslaved people. . . . This emotionally honest look at the challenges of processing historical injustice and racial trauma provides a much-needed mirror for Black students, but anyone who has ever felt trapped by other people’s definitions of who they are can relate to the story on some level. . . . An uplifting story that rightfully asserts the multidimensionality of Black identity."—Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Erin K Robinson is the illustrator of Brave. Black. First: 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World by Cheryl Hudson. Her work has been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post, among other publications, and has been nominated for an Emmy in the News and Documentary category. Trained at the Parsons School of Design and the Corcoran School of Art. Erin splits her time between Brooklyn, NY, and Washington, DC.
Product details
- ASIN : B091PGST3B
- Publisher : Neal Porter Books (January 18, 2022)
- Publication date : January 18, 2022
- Language : English
- File size : 37214 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Not enabled
- Enhanced typesetting : Not Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Not Enabled
- Print length : 32 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,761,204 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Adrea Gist Theodore (MD, MPH) is a mom, a pediatrician and a children’s book author from Durham, North Carolina.
Customer reviews
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Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book's emotional content poignant, heartfelt, inspiring, and an eye-opening lesson of empathy. They appreciate the gorgeous illustrations and powerful writing style. The text is timely and told in a gentle and beautifully written story.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book's emotional content poignant, heartfelt, inspiring, and eye-opening. They describe it as a poetic first-person story that puts the reader in the protagonist's shoes and helps them understand an important perspective.
"...The language in “A History of Me” is lovely, and lyrical, and the refrain is a nice connective thread that really drives home for the reader..." Read more
"...story highlights the humanity of Black Americans-strength, creativity, joys, dreams, and resiliency-while also bringing to light the systems in our..." Read more
"...A book for young and old to understand and emphasize this specific truth - learning Black History is American History and the pain of acknowledging..." Read more
"...is goosebump-worthy, and the message -- beautifully delivered and inspiring -- is one that should be heard by every child everywhere...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's visual quality. They find the illustrations gorgeous and the writing moving. The message about Black Americans' strength, creativity, joys, dreams, and resiliency resonates with readers.
"...The language in “A History of Me” is lovely, and lyrical, and the refrain is a nice connective thread that really drives home for the reader..." Read more
"...The story highlights the humanity of Black Americans-strength, creativity, joys, dreams, and resiliency-while also bringing to light the systems in..." Read more
"...The illustrations are equally powerful. I had to stop and look at a few of them for a while." Read more
"...It is such a beautiful book that everyone should read!!!" Read more
Customers like the book's power.
"...So very true! A powerful and emotional read that should be added to libraries, homes, and classrooms alike." Read more
"Important! Amazing! Inspiring! Powerful!..." Read more
"Powerful and inspiring!..." Read more
"Gentle and powerful all at once!..." Read more
Customers appreciate the writing style. They find the text timely and beautifully written, with a gentle and important perspective.
"...The illustrations are gorgeous, the writing is goosebump-worthy, and the message -- beautifully delivered and inspiring -- is one that should be..." Read more
"This is a BEAUTIFUL book! The text by the author is so timely, and the illustrations are exquisite. Well done!" Read more
"This is such an important perspective, told in a gentle and beautifully written story. A new favorite for sure!" Read more
Reviews with images
Connecting Past To Present
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2022TEACHERS AND PARENTS, you absolutely MUST read this book to your kids.
“A History of Me” is a poetic, first-person story that puts the reader directly into the shoes of the author as a young girl (the only brown girl in her school), and how very isolating and othering that was for her, particularly when Black history was taught.
This book also shows the real, personal affects on Black children’s self-esteem when topics like slavery and civil rights are taught in a way divorced from the humanity, bravery, and resilience of Black people. One inspires pride. The other, shame. So how these topics are taught matters.
The art in this book is beautiful and moving. When Adrea talks about her great grandmother being born a slave, it’s accompanied by a beautiful portrait. Then, an empty portrait frame on the next page, as Adrea explains that she died young, and so her family never knew much about her. This visual representation of the broken link in family history is poignant & impactful.
The language in “A History of Me” is lovely, and lyrical, and the refrain is a nice connective thread that really drives home for the reader that:
- You can be both grateful for what you have now, and also unhappy that some things just aren’t right or fair;
- The things people have done to harm you are THEIR shame, not yours;
- You can look in the mirror and see both your struggles and your triumphs;
- That you can be anything you want to be.
I really cannot recommend this book enough. It should be in every classroom. Particularly recommend for ages 6-9.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2022A story of both the past and the present that allows readers to see the connection in our history and current day experiences-especially in the context of the history of Black Americans. The story highlights the humanity of Black Americans-strength, creativity, joys, dreams, and resiliency-while also bringing to light the systems in our current day society that continue to limit and hinder. Although I don't identify as a Black American, I could feel the sense of pride flowing through Theodore's honest and emotional words and Robinson's uplifting and vibrant illustrations. I also think many of us can identify a time when we were "the only one" as described in the book and how this can make both children and adults feel. Theodore's author's note reminds us that when you are proud of where you come from, "You are free to be who you are and become who you are meant to be." So very true! A powerful and emotional read that should be added to libraries, homes, and classrooms alike.
5.0 out of 5 stars Connecting Past To PresentA story of both the past and the present that allows readers to see the connection in our history and current day experiences-especially in the context of the history of Black Americans. The story highlights the humanity of Black Americans-strength, creativity, joys, dreams, and resiliency-while also bringing to light the systems in our current day society that continue to limit and hinder. Although I don't identify as a Black American, I could feel the sense of pride flowing through Theodore's honest and emotional words and Robinson's uplifting and vibrant illustrations. I also think many of us can identify a time when we were "the only one" as described in the book and how this can make both children and adults feel. Theodore's author's note reminds us that when you are proud of where you come from, "You are free to be who you are and become who you are meant to be." So very true! A powerful and emotional read that should be added to libraries, homes, and classrooms alike.
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2022
Images in this review - Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2022As a librarian for over 30 years, never has a book touched me or told my truth as much as this. I reached out and told the author the same, and she reached back. That should be enough to tell you the soul of this book. A book for young and old to understand and emphasize this specific truth - learning Black History is American History and the pain of acknowledging it and not, without context, empathy, and all meaningful ways, is still happening to this day. This book is an eye opening lesson of empathy for all difficult topics, but hit home for me on mine.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2022I like this reframing of the oppression of Black people as something we shouldn't feel ashamed about. Even more, I appreciated the representation of Black kids in all-white spaces. This situation isn't often in children's books, yet it is a reality for many non-white children. I think this book will be a warm hug for those children. The illustrations are equally powerful. I had to stop and look at a few of them for a while.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2022There is so much to say about "A History of Me." But one thing that stuck with me overall about this book was the idea of hope and pride in where you come from. It is such a beautiful book that everyone should read!!!
- Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2022Seriously, this book is a WOW. The illustrations are gorgeous, the writing is goosebump-worthy, and the message -- beautifully delivered and inspiring -- is one that should be heard by every child everywhere. I don't know what else to say except that every library needs a copy now. I'll definitely be remembering this author's name and will be hoping for more from her soon!
- Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2022I’m so glad I bought this picture book. It’s another tool I’ll be using to inspire my kids.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2023This is a BEAUTIFUL book! The text by the author is so timely, and the illustrations are exquisite. Well done!