Honoring Our Ancestors: Stories and Paintings by Fourteen Artists

by Harriet Rohmer

Through stories, art, and photographs, fourteen outstanding artists remember the ancestors who most touched their lives. Caryl Henry honors his grandmother and America's first Black woman millionaire, Madame C. J. Walker. Nancy Hom's father worked in a Chinese restaurant but possessed the strength of a mighty warrior. Mira Reisberg's Jewish grandparents were killed in the Holocaust, but their spirit helped shape her life. Other artists include Hung Liu, Enrique Chagoya, George Crespo, Judith Lowry, Joe Sam, and Patssi Valdez. This book will inspire children and their families to honor their own ancestors.

Genres: Art, Cultural, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Vamos a Leer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honoring Our Ancestors: Stories and Pictures by Fourteen Artists, edited by Harriet Rohmer, offers meaningful and poignant examples of how people from different cultures can all uniquely honor their ancestors. It is also a perfect example of a multicultural book, as it includes paintings from a diverse selection of artists, each with a distinct heritage.

Each page spread includes the paintings on one side and the artists’ statements on the other. Each artist dedicated his or her painting in honor of the ancestors who most influenced his or her life. The editor states in the introduction, “Some of these ancestors are family members. Others are ancestors in spirit. Some are still alive today. Others lived hundreds of years ago. They are African, African American, Chinese, Filipino, Jewish, Lebanese, Mexican, Mexican-American, Native American, and Puerto Rican-important people who usually don’t make it into the history books. They’re the heart and soul of who we are as a people.”

Grandparents are reoccurring figures throughout the book. Artists portrayed themselves with their grandparents, being guided by them, and learning from them. Highlighting these special shared moments might result in students making an effort to spend time with their own grandparents, and being more willing to learn skills and wisdom that they have to pass down.

The artists’ dedication page opposite each painting includes a photo of the artist accompanied by captions that include a brief biography. Each statement page also includes a photograph or portrait of the chosen ancestors. The text format is interesting to the eye as it includes a variety of fonts, colors, shapes and symbols, as well as a stylized effect of having the painting bleed across the spread, pouring into the statement page.

This book can work to inspire children to honor their own ancestors, learn from and about their elders, and can be used as an introduction to a classroom activity in which students are encouraged to produce drawings or paintings of their own ancestors.
To read our full review including links to classroom resources, visit the Vamos a Leer blog at http://tiny.cc/vamosaleer

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through stories, art, and photographs, fourteen outstanding artists remember the ancestors who most touched their lives. Caryl Henry honors his grandmother and America's first Black woman millionaire, Madame C. J. Walker. Nancy Hom's father worked in a Chinese restaurant but possessed the strength of a mighty warrior. Mira Reisberg's Jewish grandparents were killed in the Holocaust, but their spirit helped shape her life. Other artists include Hung Liu, Enrique Chagoya, George Crespo, Judith Lowry, Joe Sam, and Patssi Valdez. This book will inspire children and their families to honor their own ancestors

[Whitney Bailey]

Great book to read to create diverse students within your classroom. Allows stories to be told to paint pictures of the past and history of people's lives. Allows your students to be grateful for their families past and gain strength for the present days that lie ahead. Filled with stories, pictures, and inspirational means for students to be grateful and thankful for thier ancestors.

[Kione · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring.

[Colleen]

Family Album - unit 1
Theme Library

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't remember where I heard about this delightful book, but I am glad that I found it.