Publishers Weekly
04/28/2025
This uplifting picture book visualizes the first day of school for children the world over. Beginning in Africa, where the rising sun eases “over Kenya and Tanzania,/ Uganda and Somalia,” communal lines read, “ ‘Habari za asubuhi!’ We sing in Swahili, welcoming the morning air.” As the narrative moves across continents, Zoboi references cultural elements such as food, language, song, religion, and music. Velvet-textured multimedia illustrations from Londoño supply cultural and geographical cues: on one page, children in China write with ink in Tian Zi Ge notebooks. Concluding in New York City, the work highlights diversity and interconnectivity across the globe, celebrating “believing and dreaming across oceans and borders.../ all around the world,/ on this first day.” An author’s note concludes. Ages 4–8. (June)
From the Publisher
"[E]motionally resonant." — Kirkus Reviews
“[U]plifting…highlights diversity and interconnectivity across the globe.” — Publishers Weekly
"[E]xuberant." — Booklist
PRAISE FOR THE PEOPLE REMEMBER: “[Ibi and Loveis’s] collaboration focuses on Black resilience, a cultural inheritance powerful enough to break the curse of generational trauma. Guided by the seven principles of Kwanzaa, Zoboi’s narrative explores both the burden and the strength of collective consciousness…. The image and the words work in harmony to emphasize the limitless potential of the human spirit.” — New York Times Book Review
PRAISE FOR THE PEOPLE REMEMBER: “This immaculately illustrated picture book walks through a vast swath of history… Zoboi’s poetic retrospective breathes life into Black history narratives and reverently celebrates Black lives.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
PRAISE FOR THE PEOPLE REMEMBER: “Zoboi employs magnetic, allusive free verse to describe the course of history as experienced by members of the African diaspora and enslaved African peoples…. Zoboi’s lyrical verse is further strengthened by Wise’s eye-catching digital illustrations, composed of lushly colored images realistic and fantastical, historical and contemporary, and painted with spectacular vibrance to portray the experience of African and African American people throughout time. A rich resource ideal for Kwanzaa and beyond.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
PRAISE FOR THE PEOPLE REMEMBER: “Zoboi and Wise beautifully ‘sew together a tapestry of / their stories / one fine quilt / a blanket for the children / to keep them warm, protected, and safe.’ Each brightly colored spread tells of important moments and people in African American history.…Wise’s sumptuous digital illustrations are reminiscent of the patches created by African American quilters to remind future generations of their past.” — Horn Book (starred review)
PRAISE FOR THE PEOPLE REMEMBER: “In lyrical verses with a smoothly rolling, sonorous quality… Zoboi’s poem is a master class in conciseness, expertly evoking powerful images, concepts, and emotions out of just a handful of words, particularly when paired with Wise’s exultant art, and the robust back matter offers even more context and nuance. A must-have for holiday collections, but let its light shine throughout the rest of the year, too.” — ALA Booklist (starred review)
PRAISE FOR THE PEOPLE REMEMBER: “Zoboi’s gorgeous prose illuminates… and Wise’s illustrations highlight the beauty of African American culture. Their color palette takes readers on an emotional journey that is also a brilliant blend of poetry, African, and African American history. Zoboi skillfully weaves together the narratives of enslaved Africans into a wonderful tapestry that is honest and beautiful. Perfect for school and public libraries, this must-have offering celebrates African American cultural identity should be included in all collections.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
PRAISE FOR THE PEOPLE REMEMBER: “An exquisite gift book that every member of the family will appreciate.” — BookPage
School Library Journal
05/01/2025
Gr 3–4—This title takes readers on a vibrant journey from Addis Ababa to New York, showcasing the universal experience of starting school. Through bright, whimsical illustrations, the book highlights daily activities and traditions in various countries, including Morocco, Japan, and Argentina. Each page captures the essence of school life, from national anthems to packed lunches, emphasizing both the similarities and differences among cultures. The narrative weaves together the experiences of children across the globe, demonstrating how, despite geographical distances, the first day of school binds them together in shared excitement and anticipation. The text is rich and complex, serving as an excellent resource for teachers and librarians aiming to introduce diversity and multiculturalism to young students. VERDICT A delightful celebration of global connection through the lens of education.—Haley Amendt
Kirkus Reviews
2025-04-04
Worldwide, children share the experience of attending their first day of school.
Mirroring the school day, this ambitious book begins at dawn, with a description of African kids eating their breakfasts and donning fresh uniforms, before transitioning to a discussion of the many ways students travel to school. Then it’s off to the Middle East and Asia to explore first-day rituals before journeying to Europe for lunch. As the day winds down, South and North American students head home through bustling communities to rest and reflect. Every continent is represented (even Antarctica; in one scene, kids learn about our coldest continent), with a handful of regions highlighted per page, making for a satisfyingly thorough global tour. Though the author devotes just a few sentences to each place, the book contains enough specificity (“coffee with a pinch of salt,” greetings of “Sabah al-khair”) that children from those cultures will surely feel seen. Zoboi’s commitment to covering so much ground could make for a challenging read-aloud; the book’s length, combined with her expressive, poetic style and sophisticated language, results in a rich but dense narrative. Londoño’s bright digital cartoon illustrations make each location feel like an exuberant travelogue. Diverse in terms of skin tone and ability, the characters wear culturally specific clothing, while Zoboi laudably acknowledges that though some children long to attend school, they must instead take part in “another day of work.”
Both monumental in scope and tightly focused, with an emotionally resonant core.(Informational picture book. 5-10)
