That You Are Here Is No Small Thing

That You Are Here Is No Small Thing is a stunning and unforgettable exploration of Black culture and history from Sibert Honor-winning author Traci N. Todd and Caldecott Medalist Vashti Harrison. At once honest and empowering, this picture book is a story about the resilience of a people through incredible hardship. With its focus on Black history and Black culture, That You Are Here Is No Small Thing reveals painful moments of American history, while celebrating the future of Black children.

Traci N. Todd wrote this book having been inspired by the words of Octavia E. Butler and a trip to Senegal and Ghana, where she visited The Door of No Return, a final exit point through which millions of enslaved Africans were forced onto ships to the Americas. In contemplating this journey and hundreds of years of violence and oppression, Todd found the very survival and existence of Black children today to be nothing less than a miracle.

“Our world is very loud. Messages come from all directions about who we should be and how and why. With this book, I want to help quiet that noise for Black children (and adults), especially those descended from enslaved Africans. We are here. That is enough. We were not meant to survive or remember. Yet here we are, dreaming. And here is this book, beautiful beyond all my wildest imaginings. But of course it is, because dear, brilliant Vashti gave it life.”

On collaborating with author Traci N. Todd, illustrator Vashti Harrison noted “It was an honor to work on a book with Traci and to feel her support throughout the process. Her rich, lyrical text was deeply evocative and opened a door for me to explore the African diaspora, from sculpture to textiles to hairstyles and beyond. I wanted the art to honor the depth of her words while expanding them into a story young readers could move through and discover. It was a challenging process that required lots of reference and research, but it ultimately allowed me to transform that door into a visual portal, inviting readers to step inside and explore our history, culture, and future.”

Throughout these pages, descendants of enslaved Africans are guided through the history that led them to exist and thrive today. Through their young eyes, we see how Black Americans have always relied on each other to fight against oppression and the ways in which the strength of their ancestors continues to course through their veins. In acknowledging the painful past that Black Americans have endured, this stirring text celebrates the important survival story that Black children carry and their hope for a radiant future.

Praise for That You Are Here Is No Small Thing
★ “A poetic telling of what it took for three Black children to exist in this place and time, from two kid lit powerhouses.” –Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW