Dear Yesteryear

4.0

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Author(s)

Kimberly Annece Henderson

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Ciara LeRoy

Publisher

Dial Books

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

March 07, 2023

ISBN

978-0593529249

Buy This Book

From historical curator and researcher Kimberly Annece Henderson comes this moving letter connecting Black history with the present, with archival photographs and beautiful handlettering by Ciara LeRoy

In 2020, Kimberly Annece Henderson started emaline and 'nem, an Instagram-based archival image repository that features portraiture of everyday African Americans from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Dear Yesteryear is a beautiful and lyrical continuation of that project that addresses the past, honoring the ancestors who made the present possible and celebrating the ordinary goings on of Black Americans.

Editor review

1 review

Nod to Ancestors

April 03, 2023

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

DEAR YESTERYEAR is a lyrical and thought-provoking children's book that salutes to our ancestors and acknowledges that everyone has roots. The pictures were hand-picked by the author because they called out to her in some way and in the back of the book we learn when and where each photograph was taken. As I read this to my daughter, it felt like I was reading letters from wise ancestors.

In the back of the book, the author goes into more detail of what inspired her to write this book. The opening quote is "Trees have roots and we each come from a long line of people who play a role in our unique life story." This might resonate with children and encourage them to learn about their own family history.

Final Verdict: I would recommend this book for black history month or for family reading time. It would be a great book to include in classes that are exploring family trees as a project.