Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art

by Hannah Salyer, Hannah Salyer (Illustrator)

Overview

*A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY TOP TEN BEST BOOK OF 2023 FOR CHILDREN * A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR * A KIRKUS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR * A BOOKLIST EDITORS' CHOICE OF THE YEAR *

★ “Vivid . . . mesmerizing . . . intriguing.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

 ★ “Breathtaking illustrations capture the beauty and power of prehistoric artwork with remarkable precision.” —ALA Booklist (starred review)

★ “Visually stunning. A fascinating look at a still-unfurling human history.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

This striking nonfiction picture book investigates who created ancient wall art that’s been discovered around the world and why—the exact answers may be out of reach, but the investigation is half the fun. Complete with extensive back matter, including a bonus double foldout gatefold, Ancestory is perfect company for pictorial nonfiction by Jason Chin and Candace Fleming.

Around the world, our ancient ancestors’ mysterious art is left behind on cave walls, in rainforests, and with ink made from charcoal and crushed clay. These people told their stories in magnificent drawings that still speak to us today, echoing across generations.

In her own stunning artwork that features the deserts of North America to the caves of Papua New Guinea, Hannah Salyer showcases ancient rock paintings, drawings, and etchings and invites us to add to the ongoing story—our ancestory.

• A winning combo of art and science.
• Curriculum tie-in potential to prehistory, art, anthropology, and geography.
• Stunning artwork and design.
• Robust back matter includes world map with keyed rock art sites, author’s note, info about the Lascaux Caves, glossary, and timeline.
• Read more books by Hannah Salyer such as Packs: Strength in Numbers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358469841
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/11/2023
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	760L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Hannah Salyer’s work, including Packs: Strength in Numbers and Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art, has been recognized by American Illustration and the Society of Illustrators and featured in various exhibitions in New York City. Her books have been deemed Gold Standard Selections by the Junior Library Guild. She teaches art to students of all ages, including those at Parsons School of Design, has a ceramics practice, and is cofounder and codirector of Underland Gallery. 

Hannah Salyer’s work, including Packs: Strength in Numbers and Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art, has been recognized by American Illustration and the Society of Illustrators and featured in various exhibitions in New York City. Her books have been deemed Gold Standard Selections by the Junior Library Guild. She teaches art to students of all ages, including those at Parsons School of Design, has a ceramics practice, and is cofounder and codirector of Underland Gallery. 

Editorial Reviews

ANCESTORY: ★ “Vivid . . . mesmerizing . . . intriguing . . . How extraordinary that ancient ancestors call out to us from the rocks we see all around. Excellent explanatory backmatter concludes this fascinating book.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

ANCESTORY: ★ "Breathtaking illustrations capture the beauty and power of prehistoric artwork with remarkable precision. This luminous picture book about humanity’s shared stories is full of discoveries." — Booklist (starred review)

ANCESTORY: ★ "Visually stunning. A fascinating look at a still-unfurling human history."
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

ANCESTORY: "An effective, efficient celebration of the human need to tell stories through art." — Horn Book Magazine

ANCESTORY: "In this informative picture book, Salyer uses brilliant images to present the “history” found in rocks and cave art, making a connection between ancient artists and creators in modern times. A lush and vibrant picture book which will leave readers wanting to know more." — Publishers Weekly

PACKS: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: "Showing how different animals benefit from living and working in groups, Salyer’s debut is a great example of the inventiveness possible in a nonfiction picture book." — New York Times Book Review

PACKS: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: "With supple, richly colored illustrations and enthusiastic text, Hannah Salyer draws readers... into the beauty and variety of wild creatures." — Wall Street Journal

PACKS: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: ★ "[An] uplifting, lively picture book that details the various ways a community structure helps a species thrive and survive.... Part natural science, part deep ecology, wholly captivating." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

PACKS: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: ★ "A must-purchase for every collection. Salyer offers a beautiful look at Earth’s herding creatures."  — School Library Journal (starred review)

From the Publisher

★ 2023-01-25
Prehistoric art “rocks” the world.

This book about rock and cave art around the world introduces children to masterpieces dating back millennia, allowing readers to appreciate unique specimens of ancient creativity and recognize human kinship with distant ancestors who “took the time to create.” The artwork, which relies on ceramic sculpture, photographs, colored pencil, charcoal, pigment, and digital media, teems with vivid images of paintings, drawings, and etchings. These include examples of rock art found all over the globe, with ages noted. Some are especially mesmerizing, presented as if in caves “illuminated” by lantern light, simulating flickering flames, akin to the conditions under which the art was made originally. Salyer makes intriguing points about these works as priceless repositories of history and culture. One example: Many animals depicted in rock and cave art no longer exist; examples of extinct creatures and when they died out are given. The illustrations highlight Indigenous peoples who may “still have distant familiarity with these ancient sites and stories.” The author raises questions about how and why our ancestors crafted their art: “Mapping the stars? Documenting the world around them?” Readers will also learn our forebears used all-natural materials, such as charcoal, ash, and malachite, and tools including flint, shells, and yucca stalks. Excellent explanatory backmatter concludes this fascinating book. Modern-day people are diverse; ancient people are seen in silhouette. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

How extraordinary that ancient ancestors call out to us from the rocks we see all around. (site map; a story within a story: the rediscovery of the Lascaux caves; author’s note; words to know; timeline; resources for further reading and investigation) (Informational picture book. 8-11)

Kirkus Reviews