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by Schele Williams (Author), Tonya Engel (Illustrator)
This powerful and uplifting picture book redefines how African American history is introduced to young readers.
Four starred reviews: "A truly powerful perspective shift."* I "Joyous."** I "Outstanding.""*** I "A strikingly worthy introduction of 400 years of Black history to young readers."**** Beginning in Africa before 1619, this beautifully illustrated narrative honors the strength, resilience, and brilliance of enslaved ancestors--offering young people a proud and empowering foundation for understanding their heritage. Author Schele Williams and illustrator Tonya Engel guide readers through centuries of courage and survival, celebrating the extraordinary legacy passed down through generations. With poetic language and evocative art, the book reframes history not as a story of victimhood, but as a testament to perseverance, dignity, and cultural richness. Perfect for classrooms, family reading, and community discussions, Your Legacy invites children to see themselves as part of a lineage of strength and possibility. It's a bold reclaiming of the past--and a hopeful vision for the future. Youn ancestors passed down the best of themselves--that is your legacy. *Kirkus I **Booklist I ***School Library Journal I ****Publishers WeeklyAuthor Biography
Schele Williams is a director, performer and author committed to cultivating work with authentic representation on stage and off. She is currently making her Broadway directorial debut this 2024 season with The Notebook (co-director along with Michael Greif) and the highly anticipated Broadway revival of The Wiz. Upcoming: Director of Disney's revival of Aida and Hidden Figures. Schele is a founding member of Black Theatre United, a co-chair on the Broadway Inspirational Voices board of directors, and serves on the board of trustees for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. She is the author of the critically acclaimed children's book Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History and the recipient of the 2022 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor, as well as Your Legacy Begins.
Tonya Engel is a self-taught artist living in Houston, Texas. Folk artists of the deep South have influenced her work, as well as contemporary masters such as Marc Chagall, Frida Kahlo, Romare Bearden, and Gustav Klimt. Her bold style is figurative, textured, colorful, and ripe with symbolism. Engel made a spectacular debut in children's publishing with her illustrations in Rise!: From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou, written by Bethany Hegedus and published by Lee & Low Books in 2019, and My Hair is Magic! by M.L. Marroquin.
