An absolutely gorgeous book, with vibrant illustrations and poetic text exploring our diverse - yet at the same time universal - origins. The first two spreads depict our common beginnings as stardust, then single-celled organisms, which eventually evolve into humans. From here, the four authors weave together the stories of their ancestry, including Native American, West African, Korean, and European heritage.

My only critique of the book would be that it's a bit confusing trying to follow these four strands; all are written in first person language ("I come from..."), making it hard to tell when we switch narrators. The timeline also seems to bounce around a bit - overall the book progresses from the past to the present, but we seem to be introduced to the authors' own hometowns before going back in time to meet their ancestors. It's possible that some of this blurring of individual stories and time periods was intentional, but I found it a bit distracting.

I love the way the book ends, inviting readers to consider their own stories - I could easily see this book inspiring a classroom project exploring ancestry, family, and identity. The back matter provides context for each page, complementing the lyrical language of the story with more extensive factual information about the cultures depicted. The pronunciation guide is also much appreciated, and the author's note about the loaded question "Where are you from?" raises valuable points for reflection.

Overall, this is a beautiful and important book which will be pored over by children of all ages; a shining example of multicultural collaboration and a lovely gateway to sharing our own stories.

I loved each of the author's stories and how they connected us all. Felt it was too short for a poetry book. But still enjoyed it.

A lovely book on diversity and how we all come from different places yet are growing together on this planet that created us all. Beautiful artwork and all the info in the back on the authors and more reading is a wonderful touch. A wonderful library book for sure!!!

Gorgeous full-page illustrations will capture you even before you start reading. Endless kudos to Dion MBD. I had to go through his Goodreads bio to see what else he's done. He pulled out all the stops with this one!

Four children talk about their ancestors, from the more "recent" people of the last few centuries, on back to the first life on Earth, and beyond ton the very stardust that makes us all.

I was a bit obtuse and didn't realize it was FOUR kids, and spent most of the book thinking it was one writer with a hugely varied ancestry. So pay better attention than me, and it will make more sense!

The book ends with a 3-page section giving the historical background of the book's scenes. They're typically 3 or 4 lines, but altogether, it make for a lengthy read for a young child, so definitely be there as an adult to help here, if your kid was reading this on their own before.

Advanced copy provided by the publisher.

The message and illustrations in this book are really nice. It was bit advance for my 6 year old but I think around age 8 or 9 she would really be able to understand and thoroughly enjoy this.

Thank you Netgalley for the read now opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! The art is amazing and visually interesting, the words poignant and culturally relevant. While I'm unsure if children would like this book as it is wordy and long, I do think it could serve as a great introduction to numerous hard and/or heavy topics.

I loved the idea of this book, seeming like a long form poem, and am so glad that I picked it up. It really is an exploration of how we are impacted by not only our present lives, but the lives of who came before us and who we came from. Everything that our ancestors struggled through to get us where we are was represented in this book. The art that accompanies the words makes it even more poignant and truly brings the words to life.

I loved this book! Beautiful, poetic language describes where each author is from. Would be a perfect companion to Where Are You From? By Yamile Saied Mendez & Jaime Kim

Adding this book to the list of children's books that has made me cry this month. This book of poetry seamlessly connects each author's story with the next and takes the reader on a journey around the world and into each author and their family's past. The illustrations were gorgeous and the words were powerful. This book is a lovely read as an adult, but it's perfect for adults who want to tell a set of powerful stories to children and to keep an open dialogue about culture, country, family, science, and racism with their children, with a handy glossary and informational guide at the back. I also loved that the illustrator of the book illustrated one of my favorite childhood books, A Single Shard!

The concept that this book shares is marvelous. I believe it was executed well and highlighted the rich diversity within our world. It didn’t shy away from the darker parts of our history, such as slavery, which I think was a smart choice in effort to maintain the book’s integrity. All in all, I would recommend this book to people.

What a beautiful book of interconnectedness. Talking about how our ancestors and cultures of this world have shaped and molded each and every one of us. All cultures depicted were depicted favorably….and many cultures featured. This book did not shy away from tough topics like slavery and the relocation and reeducation of Indiginous people in North America, so it could definitely evoke fabulous conversations in the upper elementary grades. Well done!

This was STUNNING! A book about the significance of where we come from.
The illustrations were all full of life and well thought out to convey meaning. I would often want to stop and just stare at an illustration before moving on with the story. I fully support taking your time with this book and taking it in.
The words are also full of meaning. Words that feel earned and help connect the reader with the world around us. It was powerful. I, as an adult, felt a little moved to tears by this simple book. I recommend it to all ages!

Love the beautiful illustrations and poems showing through history where “We” come from. Really enjoyed this read and would like to explore more works from this author.

Review By bella.and.the.bookstack

4 out of 5 stars

Where We Come From is a book of poetry. Paired with beautiful illustrations, this book describes the history of where “we” all come from. It specifically follows the past of the four authors and their ancestors.

Korean, Black, Dakhóta, Irish/Scottish- all of these authors have different stories to tell.

While the book and illustrations are suitable for younger kids or middle grade readers, it is a beautiful book for any reader to enjoy.

I especially liked that the authors dedicated a part at the end of the book to elaborate certain parts of the poem with the deeper history and meanings.


Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is amazing, the illustrations are gorgeous. It tells the story of people who come from different places, who have different stories and backgrounds and it does it in a beautiful way. Apart from the illustrations and poem it has a little bit of history and descriptions of the different events that are mentioned in the poem. Highly recommend.

This book is filled with beautiful illustrations and beautiful words about where different people who inhabit the Americas come from.
I loved these layered illustrations and layered stories.
A beautiful book that needs to be added to every library and school.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!