We are thrilled to share the cover for Brown Bookshelf board member Tracey Baptiste.
This book of narrative nonfiction features ten people from all over the African continent who were movers and shakers in world history. It illuminates a part of Black history that often (always) gets left out during Black history month celebrations–the thousands of years of history that happened before colonialism.
The illustrations are done by Hillary Wilson, with heroic portraits for each icon and interior illustrated pieces that illuminate Africa’s varied landscape. The design by Sara Yonas features maps that beautifully round out the informational content.
From Algonquin Young Readers:
In a richly designed work with maps, portraits, and graphics throughout, the award-winning author of the Jumbies series shows readers this underrepresented side of Black history and Black excellence.
Every year, American schoolchildren celebrate Black History Month. They study almost exclusively American stories, which are not only rooted in struggle over enslavement or oppression, but also take in only four hundred years of a rich and thrilling history that goes back many millennia across the African continent. Through portraits of ten historical figures—from Menes, the first ruler to be called Pharaoh, to Queen Idia, a sixteenth-century power broker, visionary, and diplomat—African Icons takes readers on a journey across Africa to meet some of the great leaders and thinkers whose ideas built a continent and shaped our world.
AFRICAN ICONS: TEN PEOPLE WHO SHAPED HISTORY is available for pre-order now.
