Lawrence, Patrice. Our Story Starts in Africa. Magic Cat Publishing, 2022. 978-1-4197-6022-8. Unpaged. $18.99. K-3.

When Paloma, a young black girl, visits her family in Trinidad, she feels like somewhat of an outcast. Her cousins have a very different way of speaking, and the children therefore have trouble understanding one another. This leads them to question how they could possibly be family. Luckily, Tante Janet has an answer. She explains how their entire family has roots in Africa, going all the way back to Africa’s warrior queens and ancient relics. She proceeds to describe how other countries became jealous and stole Africa’s precious things, including its people. This forced Africans into slavery in new countries with new languages. Therefore, although they all had to adapt to different cultures and languages, their stories can all be traced back to Africa, indisputably making them a family. Brightly colored illustrations depict Paloma’s world, while more muted, sepia tones portray scenes from African history. Some elements of Caribbean culture are mentioned throughout the story as well, including coconut water, ginger beer, and cocoa trees. An author’s note, a recommended reading list, and questions and answers about Africa and slavery are included at the end. 

THOUGHTS: This is an informative tale about the history of Africa, colonization, and slavery. It would make an excellent addition to any elementary social studies collection. Include it in a display during Black History Month, or use it to introduce African history, Caribbean culture, or slavery. 

Picture Book          Julie Ritter, PSLA Member