A History of Me

Praise

★ “Robinson skillfully illuminates the book’s many strands of history. . . . The narrator is a quietly thoughtful force to be reckoned with. A History of Me is a moving reminder of what we gain when we draw strength and inspiration from the past.”—BookPage, Starred 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