Very few of us — children or older — have had the opportunity to see ancient cave and rain-forest art in its original settings, and we can only wish to be able to go back in time and witness the pictures' creation. But we can come as close as possible to these experiences through this dynamic, engaging book about our "ancestory" — a clever blend of "ancestry" and "story".
Realizing that our ancestors exercised imagination even 70,000 years ago — when they engraved crosshatch-patterns at Blombos Cave, South Africa — is mind-blowing. So this book's journey through time and worldwide cultures allows children to get oriented in the present before diving into the past. It begins in the present-day southwestern United States and in Indonesia, where "time capsules" of ancient art "wait to be discovered." The shift back in time from these rock paintings, drawings, and etchings starts with curiosity: "But who made them all?"
The book then delves into Paleolithic history, adapted for four- to eight-year-old readers. It speaks of the enormous effort and purpose involved in each art piece. We're reminded that our ancestors had not paint or brushes or other modern tools and get to see an array of their raw materials, from ash and calcite to yellow ochre and yucca stalk.
The book shows many examples of pictures from around the world, with their locations and approximate dates. One drawing from Kimberley, Australia that's clearly of a clothed person is approximately 10,000 - 17,000 years old! We see now-extinct animals represented in the art, learn how fragile and in need of protection the art is, and even get to open a breathtaking centerfold with the silhouettes of modern people viewing a magnificent cave-art display.
In one of our favorite of the book's touches, the story ends in a modern city, where children's sidewalk art bears a remarkable resemblance to the ancient art the book describes. (Imagine a six year old's picture of a horse, and you'll know what we mean.)
Extensive supplementary materials close the story: A map of rock-art sites, a "story within a story" about the rediscovery of the Lascaux Caves, a glossary, a timeline, and resources for further reading and exploration. In the Author's Note, Hannah Salyer — who's also the book's illustrator — explains that "rock art" is actually a misnomer because "to our ancestors, the works were functional, held information, and in many ways were considered to contain connection to spirits, energies and planes of existence." She puts special emphasis on the importance of preserving these threads that connect us to our past.
In addition to making children's books, Hannah Salyer teaches art to students of all ages, has a robust ceramics practice, delves into mixed media projects that fascinate her, and runs a community arts space called Underland. She lives with her partner and her three cats (all of whom are related and were born on her fire escape) in Brooklyn, New York.
