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Where We Come From
In this unique collaboration, four authors lyrically explore where they each come from--literally and metaphorically--as well as what unites all of us as humans.
Richly layered illustrations connect past and present, making for an accessible and visually striking look at history, family, and identity.
We come from stardust / our bodies made of ancient elements. / We come from single cells / evolving over billions of years. / We come from place, language, and spirit. / And each of us comes from story.
Richly layered illustrations connect past and present, making for an accessible and visually striking look at history, family, and identity.
We come from stardust / our bodies made of ancient elements. / We come from single cells / evolving over billions of years. / We come from place, language, and spirit. / And each of us comes from story.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2022
About the author
John Coy
45 books46 followers John Coy is the author of young adult novels, the 4 for 4 middle-grade series, and fiction and nonfiction picture books. John has received numerous awards for his work including a Marion Vannett Ridgway Award for best first picture book, a Charlotte Zolotow Honor, Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, Notable Book for a Global Society, and the Burr/Warzalla Award for Distinguished Achievement in Children’s Literature. He lives in Minneapolis and visits schools around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
December 18, 2022
"We come from a place, language and spirit. And each of us comes from story."
I love this quote and theme of the book. 4 authors of different backgrounds joined together to create this beautiful book about life and history and family and story. I really enjoyed each author's sections of the book and I liked how at the end of the book they expound on certain passgaes in the book they created. I really liked the illustrations by Dion MBD as well.
I love this quote and theme of the book. 4 authors of different backgrounds joined together to create this beautiful book about life and history and family and story. I really enjoyed each author's sections of the book and I liked how at the end of the book they expound on certain passgaes in the book they created. I really liked the illustrations by Dion MBD as well.
October 21, 2022
I really really loved this book for children. To me this book has a melodious flair to it and should be put to music. Its a simple learning book about people being different. As a homeschool teacher, it gives me an idea for my son to make a family tree. I simply love this beautiful book!
I received a free copy of the book and is voluntarily writing a review
I received a free copy of the book and is voluntarily writing a review
April 12, 2023
Where do you come from? Where do your people come from? Four different and unique authors share where they come from through place, language and spirit. Use this one to start conversations with your own children or students about where they come from.
March 17, 2023
I read WHERE WE COME FROM with my 8-year old neighbor and we had so much fun finding different figures and animals hidden in the art. She was very excited and proud to see someone from Korea in it since her mother was born there. I really appreciated the weaving together of the different histories and how the histories felt both cohesive and also unique and distinct. Beautiful and complex art.
July 10, 2022
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 and Lerner Publishing Group for an advanced e-arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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 and Lerner Publishing Group for an advanced e-arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2023
Four authors from very different backgrounds (Native American, Korean American, African American, Western European American through free verse poetry show that human beings are made up of the same universal material but have different historical/cultural experiences as the authors describe their family history and then what their childhood experience was like. The book is beautifully illustrated by Dion MBD. As much as I like this book it is really geared toward older readers 8-12 year old who usually don't gravitate toward picture books.
October 2, 2022
This book is awesome. The illustrations are beautiful and the words are so poetic and stay with you long after you finish reading them.
August 10, 2022
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.
(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
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.
(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
November 14, 2022
I thought this book had an interesting concept that could be really useful for discussing with students. Similar to Lunch from Home, it features 4 different authors sharing elements of "where they come from," or what created their identity. I would use this as a prompt for helping discuss what elements and histories make up our own identities.
Themes: Identity, Ancestors, History, Remembering
Age range: Elementary
Themes: Identity, Ancestors, History, Remembering
Age range: Elementary
December 6, 2025
A powerful, beautiful exploration of our individual and communal origins on the planet and in the universe, highlighting the authors’ Native American, European, African American, and Korean cultures.
April 10, 2025
I read "Where We Come From" because it is The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library's current One Book, One Minnesota selection. I believe in the importance of supporting authors, especially local authors, and advocating for libraries, books, and diversity!
This lovely picture book is a testament to the fact that, though we come from far and wide, perhaps speak different languages, possess different religions and spiritual beliefs, wear different colored skin, carry different stories, etc. we are all human beings, we are all Americans, and we all have so much in common!
Takeaways:
1. The language here is poetic, beautiful. I so admire each of these authors.
2. Dion MBD's illustrations are wonderful! I especially enjoyed the portraits of each of the four authors as children. I wished that the illustrator, however, had done more to distinguish who was speaking in each section. I was only able to parse who was, in fact, speaking because I am very familiar with each author - I have met and interacted with each of them on several occasions and am familiar with their backgrounds. The illustrations were also inconsistent in terms of whether or not a single page, or a double-page spread, was dedicated to an individual in each section. The use of color could have helped to distinguish who was speaking as well.
3. I also wish that there had been a bit more in terms of text to distinguish each speaker. I know that the theme of our "oneness" as a humanity is the point here - but also significant is the idea that within this "oneness" are countless numbers of unique individuals. At the end there is an attempt to do this - but this, too, is inconsistent. Each passage in this ending section begins with the author's name and the first line of each section, and then an explanation. However, the first lines are inconsistent with the page itself. It seems like a good editor would have "fixed" this. For instance, I could not find the piece/page that begins "I am a myth."
4. The text and language here are sometimes pretty sophisticated, especially for the intended readers, picture-book readers. The book, to be most successful, would most likely need the guidance of an adult - a parent or teacher.
Nonetheless, this is a really beautiful read - and especially relevant in our current political situation. Diversity, books, and libraries are essential to our democracy!
This lovely picture book is a testament to the fact that, though we come from far and wide, perhaps speak different languages, possess different religions and spiritual beliefs, wear different colored skin, carry different stories, etc. we are all human beings, we are all Americans, and we all have so much in common!
Takeaways:
1. The language here is poetic, beautiful. I so admire each of these authors.
2. Dion MBD's illustrations are wonderful! I especially enjoyed the portraits of each of the four authors as children. I wished that the illustrator, however, had done more to distinguish who was speaking in each section. I was only able to parse who was, in fact, speaking because I am very familiar with each author - I have met and interacted with each of them on several occasions and am familiar with their backgrounds. The illustrations were also inconsistent in terms of whether or not a single page, or a double-page spread, was dedicated to an individual in each section. The use of color could have helped to distinguish who was speaking as well.
3. I also wish that there had been a bit more in terms of text to distinguish each speaker. I know that the theme of our "oneness" as a humanity is the point here - but also significant is the idea that within this "oneness" are countless numbers of unique individuals. At the end there is an attempt to do this - but this, too, is inconsistent. Each passage in this ending section begins with the author's name and the first line of each section, and then an explanation. However, the first lines are inconsistent with the page itself. It seems like a good editor would have "fixed" this. For instance, I could not find the piece/page that begins "I am a myth."
4. The text and language here are sometimes pretty sophisticated, especially for the intended readers, picture-book readers. The book, to be most successful, would most likely need the guidance of an adult - a parent or teacher.
Nonetheless, this is a really beautiful read - and especially relevant in our current political situation. Diversity, books, and libraries are essential to our democracy!
January 24, 2023
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This lovely, poetic book explores the many facets of WHERE WE COME FROM: from the fact that we are made from the stuff of stars; to the journeys, hardships, and lifestyles of the diverse authors' various ancestors; to the authors' hometowns; right down to their families. It explores the complexities of what makes us who we are and how we are intricately tied to the stories of those who came before us. The book presents the perspectives of four American authors, one of Native American descent, one of Korean descent, one of Irish and African descent, and another of Irish and Scottish descent. It is written in spare verse, which makes the story sing, but I also appreciated that the book contains back matter with further information about each author's perspective.
With picturesque and atmospheric illustrations, WHERE WE COME FROM will send you on a beautiful journey!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Multicultural Children's Book Day so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This lovely, poetic book explores the many facets of WHERE WE COME FROM: from the fact that we are made from the stuff of stars; to the journeys, hardships, and lifestyles of the diverse authors' various ancestors; to the authors' hometowns; right down to their families. It explores the complexities of what makes us who we are and how we are intricately tied to the stories of those who came before us. The book presents the perspectives of four American authors, one of Native American descent, one of Korean descent, one of Irish and African descent, and another of Irish and Scottish descent. It is written in spare verse, which makes the story sing, but I also appreciated that the book contains back matter with further information about each author's perspective.
With picturesque and atmospheric illustrations, WHERE WE COME FROM will send you on a beautiful journey!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Multicultural Children's Book Day so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
January 24, 2023
I was not sure what to expect when I started this book. However, by the time I reached the end, I was awed and so very grateful that I read it. It is hard to believe that four different people worked on its narrative. On the one hand, you can hear each of their voices distinctly. And on the other, they are all woven together in an effortless manner to make it all seamless and beautiful. Somehow, this helps add to the central message that no matter where we are from, we are all essentially the same while being unique in our own ways.
The four authors each come from varying backgrounds and the beauty of diversity plays out wonderfully through their words here. And the artwork – what can I say about it except it is amazing and frame-worthy. I spent longer than expected to finish this book for I kept looking at the art and reading the lyrical words a few times over. Plus, so much to learn through their narratives – histories, cultures, and stories so rich in everything!
In summary, this one is simply gorgeous in its artwork and powerful in its narrative! And last, but not the least, the backmatter adds so much to this already must-have stunning book.
It is one for all ages.
Disclaimer: I received a digital ARC of all the featured book from NetGalley, and these are my honest opinions of the book.
The four authors each come from varying backgrounds and the beauty of diversity plays out wonderfully through their words here. And the artwork – what can I say about it except it is amazing and frame-worthy. I spent longer than expected to finish this book for I kept looking at the art and reading the lyrical words a few times over. Plus, so much to learn through their narratives – histories, cultures, and stories so rich in everything!
In summary, this one is simply gorgeous in its artwork and powerful in its narrative! And last, but not the least, the backmatter adds so much to this already must-have stunning book.
It is one for all ages.
Disclaimer: I received a digital ARC of all the featured book from NetGalley, and these are my honest opinions of the book.
August 15, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for this review.
The most striking thing about this title, at first glance, are the vivid illustrations. Dion MBD's use of color entrances readers and invites them into the mood of each page. The writing is sparse but contains wells of depths, and I can see how carefully considered the arrangement of the pages are.
This picture book features authors of several different ethnic and racial backgrounds describing their personal and family histories, though it begins with the beginning of evolution of life on earth. From there, children are invited to imagine their own unique histories, the lives of their ancestors, and how the land around them supports them even now.
I imagine this would make for an incredible elementary read, especially first or second graders, but younger children, older children, and certainly adults will find plenty to admire and enjoy about this title as well. I will certainly be adding this title to our collection, and I would highly recommend it for other libraries as well!
The most striking thing about this title, at first glance, are the vivid illustrations. Dion MBD's use of color entrances readers and invites them into the mood of each page. The writing is sparse but contains wells of depths, and I can see how carefully considered the arrangement of the pages are.
This picture book features authors of several different ethnic and racial backgrounds describing their personal and family histories, though it begins with the beginning of evolution of life on earth. From there, children are invited to imagine their own unique histories, the lives of their ancestors, and how the land around them supports them even now.
I imagine this would make for an incredible elementary read, especially first or second graders, but younger children, older children, and certainly adults will find plenty to admire and enjoy about this title as well. I will certainly be adding this title to our collection, and I would highly recommend it for other libraries as well!
October 12, 2023
I read this book along with a number of coworkers for an upcoming project and my goodness, what an amazing work! A mixture of melodic poetry and gorgeous illustrations, this children's book introduces the ideas of heritage and identity that are full of love and intention. The blending of history and belief, culture and passion, are all very good. And the art is just spectacular! The hidden images throughout make poring over every page even more rewarding.
The additional postscript text is a great addition for adults and older readers, who can connect the themes of the work to specific ideas and histories. The further reading section is a very helpful resource for continued reading on the perspectives included within the book.
I'm a massive fan of this book and would recommend it to many, including my friends Tom, Caroline, Maura, and my fiance Abby.
The additional postscript text is a great addition for adults and older readers, who can connect the themes of the work to specific ideas and histories. The further reading section is a very helpful resource for continued reading on the perspectives included within the book.
I'm a massive fan of this book and would recommend it to many, including my friends Tom, Caroline, Maura, and my fiance Abby.
July 13, 2022
Received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Due to be published in October of 2022
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!
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!
January 26, 2023
Where We Come From is a beautifully written and illustrated tale that seamlessly weaves the four authors' stories together. It highlights all of the differences throughout the world but also unites them as they all connect and relate throughout the book. The information in the back of the book makes this book even more special. The authors provide details from their lives and history that further explain the lyrical words in the book. The illustrations alone are breathtaking but they flow perfectly with the words.
This would be a perfect book for older elementary and even middle school students and would challenge them to think about where they come from. #ReadYourWorld
This would be a perfect book for older elementary and even middle school students and would challenge them to think about where they come from. #ReadYourWorld
August 1, 2022
Unique premise: 4 authors, each describing their very different homes, culture, experiences while also revealing many similarities between them. Illustrations by Dion MBD are lovely and supplement and support the text beautifully. Back matter adds additional information about the Dakhota people, enslaved Africans, and those from Irish/Gaelic, Korean backgrounds. Origin of humans is presented as single cell mutation/adaptation and differentiation over time.
Thank you for the galley copy, Lerner Publishing Group.
Thank you for the galley copy, Lerner Publishing Group.
August 2, 2022
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
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 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.
March 25, 2023
The illustrations in this book are beautiful and intriguing, and I love that the story is told by four very different authors. Their stories beginning at creation and tracing through their ancestral history is lovely in conjunction with the illustrations. The use of figurative language and imagery is also lovely. However, I fear some students, without back knowledge, would get lost and abandon this book. I would recommend this to upper elementary teachers for social studies units on our personal histories, immigration, etc.
February 26, 2024
I feel that this book will be beneficial for small group or being on the bookshelf for students to grab. If they have questions, they can come up to me and talk to me about it. This book is poetic and beautifully written. It is based on culture, backgrounds, and life experiences based on people you meet every day. I feel that this book is great due to the multiple different culture writers that is embraced in writing this book and it talks about their past due to their backgrounds and family cultures/traditions.
December 31, 2024
I wanted to like this more than I do. As an adult with a lot of background in both the "I am From" poetry style popularized by George Ella Lyons and visual rhetoric, I found the mixing of the four voices to not always be as successful as I would have liked. Each of these poets has a unique backstory, but the commonality of the poetic structure can cause them to run together in ways that can only be pieced apart by reading the back matter or finding the ghost of the poet that MBD puts on the page.
July 10, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for the e-arc.
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 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
July 15, 2022
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!
September 28, 2022
Gorgeous. The art was absolutely breathtaking. Soft watercolors and brilliant use of negative space - chef's kiss. The prose itself is approachable, yet lyrical and can easily be understood by its target audience. It includes further reading, and doesn't shy away from talking about colonialism, slavery, and famine. While it talks about some serious topics, it also talks about how beautiful the world is, how beautiful humanity is, and why these stories matter.
January 29, 2023
The artwork in this picture book is gorgeous, and the way that all these authors come together to tell the story of their ancestry is equally lovely. I liked the way it didn't shy away from some of the harder parts of that history while still clearly being very approachable for a child audience. Such a great book!
Content Warnings:
colonialism, displacement, enslavement, residential schools, racism
Content Warnings:
colonialism, displacement, enslavement, residential schools, racism
July 23, 2023
I read this book as an adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. Four very different authors all come together to discuss where they come from. Where can we track our roots? This book would make a great springboard into a discussion about ancestry. It was written in free verse poetry, so it did feel like it was written for a bit older than K-3rd graders. I think 4th-5th graders would really appreciate and relate to this book.
December 9, 2023
"We come from a place, language and spirit. And each of us comes from story."
Four authors from different backgrounds tell “their” stories. The illustrations by Dio MBD bring in another as we follow each one’s journey. They add more of their stories at the back, with helpful pronunciations, added reading, and a bibliography. It was wonderful to read each part, would be lovely to read aloud to a group, inspiring them to write where they come from.
Four authors from different backgrounds tell “their” stories. The illustrations by Dio MBD bring in another as we follow each one’s journey. They add more of their stories at the back, with helpful pronunciations, added reading, and a bibliography. It was wonderful to read each part, would be lovely to read aloud to a group, inspiring them to write where they come from.
February 17, 2024
I read this book for a library project. It is a childrens' book and I identify as a grownup (most days). It was amazing! Complex enough to interest an adult, straightforward enough for a child, with absolutely beautiful illustrations. I loved the way it didn't over-simplify the answers to the question in the title: Every person comes from lots of different backgrounds, and it's important to remember and honor all of that. THE LIBRARY WINS AGAIN.
April 27, 2024
This was such a lovely book, but I think it's for a bit older thank my daughter (5 yrs old). I could see this actually being a nice read for even up to that early middle school age if/when they get asked to do anything related to genealogy. It's thought provoking to inspire more questions around where we come from, how we are similar or different from others around us. Gorgeous illustrations too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews