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PICTURE BOOKS
Theodore, Adrea

A History of Me

32 pp. | Holiday/Porter | January, 2022 | Trade ISBN 978-0-8234-4257-7 $18.99 | Ebook ISBN 978-0-8234-4379-6 $11.99
(2) K-3 Illustrated by Erin K. Robinson. This picture book is a love letter of recognition to children of color who have been "othered" in their school experiences ("I was the only brown person in class...") and singled out to bear the brunt of a history that has been so cruel ("...so when we talked about slavery, I could feel every eye staring at me"). The protagonist's mother's stories about the struggles of their ancestors reminds the child, "I should be grateful," and she is grateful, but also filled with shame for how she is unfairly perceived by her white classmates. The story progresses, and as she grows into adulthood, she guides her own daughter who is walking the same path--this time with pride and empowerment. Robinson's illustrations, "created using digital techniques and abundant love," depict cottony puffs of hair and timid glances (at the start) from the main character, contrasting with the strong, dark-skinned, softly featured ancestors beckoning her to move forward. The colors go from subdued to vibrant, with the protagonist's daughter shown on one page as an almost literal beam of light as she starts to "sit up straight and fly high into the sky." Per an appended note, the author drew from her experiences growing up as the only brown child in her classes, and this story line will resonate with readers who have also been there.
Reviewer: Maija Meadows Hasegawa | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

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