I’m From

by Gary R. Gray Jr., Oge Mora (Illustrator)

A poetic, heartwarming ode to the small, defining moments of a boy’s life, by a brilliant new debut and a Caldecott Honoree. For fans of  Last Stop on Market Street .   Early morning wakeups and homemade pancakes,  Raucous bus rides and schoolyard games,  Family games and bedtime rituals…  These are the small moments that shape a child’s day. I’m From is an invitation into the vivid world of one small boy, a poetic account of all the people and places and things that shape who he is and define where he is from. 

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Poetry, African American, School, Cultural

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 2023

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an abstract, visually illustrated children’s book that wants to answer the basic question of…

Where are you from?

And…So many times, we can box ourselves into one definition of who we are and how best to identify ourselves.

So…This book chooses to tell the story differently…

Because…So many things in our life can influence us, and tell our story – i.e., music, being a student, being a family member, being a friend, being at play, and/or being a part of something bigger than ourselves.

Basically…What makes "us" special.

The story’s message is good, but the delivery was a bit chaotic. I’m not sure how well it will appeal to young children without some adult supervision reading along with them.

Interest Level: 4-8 years – Preschool – 3rd grade

[Sarah Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Oge Mora's art style! Any picture book she's done is getting lots of points from me just on that.
This is a poignant, heart warming and heart breaking story that anyone not from the dominant culture will relate to. It highlights the community this boy is from in ways that children will immediately recognize, and does a great job of showing visually how jarring it is to constantly have people assume that you are from elsewhere.
Great visuals, not too many per page, so this will work for even the youngest storytimes.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing illutstrations by Oge Mora, as always.

The front flap is a must preread
"For one little boy, the answer isn't as simple as a street address.
All the small moments of his day come together to create
a pictue of a unique and vivid world --
one that will inspire young readers to think about the
many special ways of defining where they are from. "

Thought provoking for anyone.
In the back end flap Gray introduces us to Preston, Nova Scotia,
Canada's oldest Black community.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A luminous and poetic picture book to answer the question -- where are you from? But instead of giving a geographical answer, our kid tells all the things that make him special. That set him apart. That show he is loved and cherished and has a place in this world. Lovely.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely magic with words and images that kick you in the guts and simultaneously tug at your heart strings.

[Rachel Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top 10 kids book of 2023 - loved this

[Debra Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations and message- we are all from somewhere and we are as much alike as we are different.

[James Donald]

A boy's life in a particular day is defined during the course of this book. It is an illustrative representation of his life on this particular day from waking up until bedtime at night. Places and things define who he is (Gray, G., & Mora, O. (2024). I'm from. Puffin).

In my classroom, I would utilize this book for preschool to third grade per Amazon. It is easy to follow along with many colorful illustrations.

I would make this book part of my library because it defines the course of someone's day. It would be used to help students recall things that took place in their day. It would also be used to find out events that made them happy or sad.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Mora and her illustrations, which have so much life and sweetness, texture and layers. The poem that makes the text is a little abstract. I like the imagery and descriptive language, but I think it would have worked better as a picture book if "I'm from" started each page, or they ideas were laid out slightly differently. Still beautiful.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful, collage-style illustrations in this story of a child with a strong sense of family and culture, even when he feels out-of-place among his classmates.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the artwork in this book and how the sweet main character relates where he’s from by describing a typical day in his life. It’s so true that our experiences make a huge impact on who we are!

[Syeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m From by Gary R. Gray Jr. is a cute little book that’s honestly quite inspiring, mostly focused on celebration of identity, community, and self-pride. The author shares the story of his life, using the phrase "I’m from" to explore different aspects of his identity, such as where he grew up, his family, and the influences that have shaped him. The major themes in the book were the importance of roots and the power of personal narrative. Through his writing, the athour encourages readers to reflect on their own stories and take pride in their backgrounds, no matter where they come from. The main genre of this book is poetry, because although it’s a personal exploration of the author’s life and experiences, it’s written in poetic form with rhymes and rhythm and all. The book really, REALLY emphasizes the significance of understanding and loving one’s heritage as well as shows how the stories we tell or hear around ourselves can shape our lives. Children reading this book could learn about the importance of knowing where they come from and how it can help them understand who they are and where they are going. This book was a WOW book for me because it feels like a call to action for everyone to honor their past while moving forward with confidence and pride, while maintaining a happy-go-lucky nature, which I found rather impressive and quite endearing.

Some of the literary devices the author used in writing this book were repetition and imagery. These literary devices added to the quality of the writing by creating a rhythm and setting in the tone and idea of the book. The phrase “I’m from” is significant and obviously repeated throughout the book, not just as a starting point for each section, but as a reminder of the deep connection the author feels to his roots. This repetition emphasizes the significance of origins and reminds us that our backgrounds shape who we are. The vivid imagery game is strong as well, especially when he’s describing his neighborhood and family - it brings his experiences to life in such a way that readers can almost feel like they are right there with him. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it challenges preconceived notions about identity and celebrates the diversity of experiences that make each person unique. Overall, it’s a great book for children around the world, and especially if they’re from different or unique countries and homes!

[Zubeida Niazie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that will encourage you to celebrate everyone’s unique identity! I’m From by Gary R. Gray Jr. is a beautifully crafted poetry book that explores the concepts of identity and belonging. It goes through a day in the life of the main character and how each aspect of his life shapes him and is a part of his identity. This book made me reflect on my own identity and heritage and how each place I’ve lived and every tradition in my home is a part of me. The themes in the book that stood out to me are identity and pride. Even though the book was seen through the personal lens of the small boy, it reminded me how universal the experiences of this book are. It reminded me of my own struggles with being proud of who I am and where I come from. The genre of the book is poetry. This book can be important for children in understanding how to embrace all the things that make you, you. After reading the book, I felt inspired to embrace my own experiences and memories that make up my identity. This book is a WOW book for me because of how emotional it was and how, after I read it, I immediately reflected on my own life. I feel like this is a book that can make many people feel seen. The book also made me learn about the author's story in understanding his roots. What impressed me the most was how personal the poetry was written, to the point where it felt like I was going through his day with him. The book's message is one that I feel would resonate with most people.
The author used repetition with the saying “I’m from” to emphasize all the parts of his life that make up his identity. Each line added to the description of where he is from. The author also used descriptive language, and this helped me visualize the author's emotions. I also liked how the author's poetry flowed together in a way that shared how complex identity is and how it’s not just one thing. A key takeaway of the book is that where you're from is not just a country but a makeup of your memories, experiences, culture, etc. I’m From is an anti-bias book because it celebrates diversity and lets readers reflect on their own backgrounds and appreciate others. Overall, I’m From is a book that I would recommend to anyone that wants to explore the idea of identity and wants a book that makes a person reflect.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice artwork. It has so much energy in it. The children feel like they will bounce off the page any second. The artwork is Acrylic, gouache, china markers colored pencils tissue paper, airbrush, pastels, patterned paper and old book clippings.

This is a day in the life of our main character who appears nameless. He's telling us his story and who he is by what he does. It's a day at school. Someone asks him where he's from because he talks different than they expect. He didn't like that question.

I grew up in Arkansas and sometimes, when I met new people, they would ask me where I'm from as I got older because I didn't have their accent. I thought it was weird, but I never really felt connected to the south. Anyway.

An ordinary day for a person in school. Good book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oge Mora shows off the words with the usual flair and creative story-telling with cut paper, surrounding the proud words written by Gary R. Gray, Jr. from a young boy who tells us loud and clear "Where he's from!" The heart of that are phrases like "I come from early morning wake-ups, handcrafted blankets, knitted with memories." There are family scenes and school scenes, loads of action and kids. (He also declares he's from 'stubby pencils, drawing my own heroes, writing my own stories.") I imagine reading this aloud and writing with a group of kids who will tell exactly where they're from! It's terrific!

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful picture book with all the moods and feels of a day in the life of a young black boy, from wake up breakfast time to riding the school bus, to playtime in the school playground before the morning bell rings, to a loooong school day (and a book or two that our protagonist enjoys), back home and to end of day.

Written poetically (with a poet's sense), the words fall easily from the pages, paied with collage style (digital?) illustrations. Would work great in circle time with early elementary kids.

Themes: black culture, childhood, school days, family
Ages: preK-3rd grade
Pub year: 2023

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Wow. Wow.
I have been eagerly anticipating Gary Gray, Jr.'s debut picture book, I'M FROM, illustrated by the incredible Oge Mora ever since I first heard about it. I got to read it in the booth at #alaac23 & was blown away.

It's so, so good. A take on the Where I'm From poem that dives even deeper into feelings of belonging, family, identity, and more. All enhanced with the energy & joy & love Mora's art brings to it.

An absolute must-purchase for elementary libraries & definite read aloud recommendation for classrooms.

[S.K. Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a celebration of things that are meaningful to a young boy. Children will find much to relate to in this story – from pancakes to recesses that are too short and school days that are too long to personal moments spent with family. This story will inspire young readers to think of where they are from – what makes them unique and what makes them feel special. In fact, I bet kids will be inspired to come up with their own “I’m from” lists. This book is sure to inspire connections and build relationships in classrooms and communities where it is shared.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 NWKCP
Words by poet educator Zgary R Gray, jr.
Pictures by OGE Mora, Caldecott honor winner for Than You, Omu!

Childlike crayon scribble art alternates with multimedia illustrations of collage like pages to depict Gary’s child hood growing up in Preston, November Scotia, Canada’s oldest Black community. Memories of family, riding the school bus, games long hours at school with books he mostly didn’t love, then home, family time and the fierce pride of being a boy who creates his own heroes and stories and remembering he comes from “our dreams, hopes, ambitions, lionlike traditions. “

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. A young boy wakes up and gets ready for the school bus, going through his school day, not quite fitting in. From the kids who ask where he's from (but not in a new immigrant from another country kind of way) to the library shelves where he only sees himself in a few books. At home he's reassured that he comes from his parents' dreams, hopes, ambitions, and lionlike traditions! Outstanding illustrations. Love to see the boy's dog with a superhero cape on his comic book drawings.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dang it, Oge Mora's illustrations notwithstanding, this book disappointed me.

I think because it is a bit existential for the audience I read for. The audience that is, admittedly, not really Black. So many elements of the book will not resonate with them. HOWEVER it is a an accurate portrayal of many--right down to the dialect.

But the reminder that we all come from somewhere is important for kids to know no matter what race they are~!

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lyrical story about family and school and fitting in. Where are you from? A young boy takes pieces of his day to help answer that question.

If you peek under the dust jacket, you will notice that the cover is different - it looks like a composition book. That book appears throughout the story as our young protagonist records daily life with words and doodles.

I always enjoy reading a book with Oge Mora's illustrations!

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy describes where he comes from in answer to a stubborn question from a classmate. Indeed, he is from a lot of places—schoolyards, candy shops, home, his family…the list goes on. He is from his ancestors’ wildest dreams. Oge Mora’s beautiful paper and paint illustrations really bring the whole message home in this book featuring a common question: Where do you come from?

Mia’s Year of Books: Day 180

[Allison]

‘I’m From’ is a great book that includes a stereotype that black children often face. It also demonstrates that every child is different, we are all from different backgrounds grounds, different places we call home, and different loved ones. I think this is an important message for children, that even though we all come to school and do the same thing, we all have differences that make us special and unique.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm from notebooks, stubby pencils, drawing my own heroes, writing my own stories."

Where we're from is so much more than just a town, city, or country. Where we're from is the sum total of our experiences and the people that we interact with daily. It's who we are and what we like to do. And it has very little to do with the stereotypes that other people expect of us.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy describes all of the small parts of his life that define where he is from.

Maybe not for literal minded children without some preparation. However, it could be a good foundation for discussion for middle or older elementary students. Also, maybe for helping those who are of mixed ethnicity to help figure out their unique identities...

Maybe a 3.5.

[Connie T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

When asked, "Where are you from?" the young protagonist in this picture book shares small moments of his day that come together, creating the world he inhabits. As an adult, we would reference different neighborhoods, states, or countries, so this perspective seemed a bit odd at first. However, I think this perfectly reflects how children view the world and their place in it.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evocative, collage-style illustrations depict many of the ways in which a boy locates himself and defines his “somewhere” with his family at home, friends at school, in books, around the neighborhood, and the locale of his own handcrafted artwork and stories. The poetic text and its abstractions might baffle young readers, but the artwork is mesmerizing.

[Erin]

A poetic rumination on what makes up a person, where are they from, what are their roots and history? I always appreciate Oge Mora's illustrations, and this might be a fun tool to inspire kids to think about the bits and pieces that make up their own personal histories.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant story of a child describing where he comes from; no, not his address, city and state; the sounds of his childhood have defined where he comes from. For example, "I come from early morning wake-ups, handcrafted blankets knitted with memories." He comes from "Good morning beats, hip-hop and vibrating seats..." (the bus ride to school).

This is genius and highly recommended.