Executive Overview
The intersection of children’s literature, historical memory, and contemporary social justice has found a remarkable new touchstone in the picture book collaboration That You Are Here Is No Small Thing (Viking, September 1). Written by Sibert Honor author and book editor Traci N. Todd and illustrated by Caldecott Medalist and National Book Award finalist Vashti Harrison, the book has already garnered critical acclaim. Reviewers have lauded it as a "stirring meditation… on the past, present, and future of Black Americans" and a "reverent reflection on ancestry, cultural memory, and hope."
In this exclusive joint interview, Todd and Harrison pull back the curtain on the creative genesis of their collaborative masterwork. Moving beyond conventional children’s literature paradigms, the creators discuss how a deeply personal pilgrimage to West African slave dungeons catalyzed a text rich with spiritual resonance, cinematic composition, and the philosophical framework of Afrofuturism. From the profound biological persistence of ancestors recovered through modern DNA science to the artistic influences of Aaron Douglas, Octavia Butler, and Julie Dash, this conversation explores the mechanics of rendering complex historical trauma and soaring intergenerational triumph accessible to young readers.
Detailed Chronology: From West African Soil to the Printed Page
The journey of That You Are Here Is No Small Thing spans continents, decades of artistic evolution, and deeply visceral personal experiences. Understanding the book requires tracing its origins backward and forward through time, mirroring the Sankofa principle that underpins its thematic core.
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The Pilgrimage to West Africa
The conceptual foundation of the book was laid when author Traci N. Todd undertook a solemn and transformative journey to Ghana and Senegal. Her primary objective was to bear witness to history by visiting the slave dungeons that marked the point of departure for millions during the transatlantic slave trade.
During her visit to one specific dungeon in Ghana, Todd confronted physical, lingering evidence of the captives: a three-to-four-inch-thick layer composed of dried human waste, filth, and shed skin cells. This haunting physical matrix of human suffering became a pivotal anchor for her creative consciousness. As Todd later noted, contemporary science is only now beginning to extract and identify DNA from this biological sludge. In a very literal sense, ancestors previously lost to historical erasure are being identified and brought into the future. This revelation of science meeting memory became the spiritual heartbeat of the manuscript.
The Writing and Illustrating Process
Upon returning from West Africa, Todd approached the writing process not through the exhaustive, forensic historical research required by her acclaimed nonfiction picture book biographies—such as Nina: A Story of Nina Simone and Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes—but through sensory memory and emotional synthesis.
For illustrator Vashti Harrison, whose previous masterwork Big earned her the Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott King Honor, the text demanded a different kind of excavation. Upon her first reading of Todd’s manuscript, Harrison was struck by deeply evocative cultural touchstones, ranging from subtle nods to speculative fiction icon Octavia Butler to sensory details like "smothered chicken"—a nostalgic reminder of the down-home Southern cooking her father prepared during her childhood in Virginia.
To visually match the text’s profound emotional landscape, Harrison immersed herself in family photo archives, Octavia Butler book covers, and cinematic works that mirrored the manuscript’s aesthetic. Treating each page spread as an individual cinematic scene, Harrison drew heavily from the bold, simplified forms and spiritual intensity of Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglas, particularly his mural series Aspects of Negro Life.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Accolades and Influences Shaping the Work
To fully appreciate the cultural weight of That You Are Here Is No Small Thing, one must examine the decorated pedigree of its creators and the robust ecosystem of Black art, literature, and critical theory that informs it.
Creator Profiles
- Traci N. Todd: Recognized as a leading voice in children’s literature focusing on Black culture and social justice, Todd’s previous biography work has earned her prestigious accolades, including Sibert Honors and Coretta Scott King Honor Awards. Her editorial eye and rigorous narrative style position her as a vital chronicler of Black history.
- Vashti Harrison: A powerhouse in both writing and illustration, Harrison is a two-time recipient of the NAACP Image Award for Literary Work for Children. Her groundbreaking picture book Big achieved historic acclaim as a National Book Award finalist, Caldecott Medal winner, and Coretta Scott King Honor Award recipient.
The Theoretical Framework: Afrofuturism and Sankofa
While Todd’s manuscript organically channeled the tenets of Afrofuturism, it was Harrison who explicitly identified the framework during their artistic collaboration. Drawing on her studies with filmmaker Cauleen Smith and her reading of Ytasha Womack’s seminal text Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture, Harrison recognized the book’s alignment with the movement.
Afrofuturism, in this context, extends beyond science fiction tropes into the philosophical realm of Sankofa—an Akan symbol and concept teaching that one must reach back to retrieve the best of the past in order to move forward intelligently. By connecting ancient deities (the Orisha) and folklore figures (Anansi) with futuristic liberation, the book bridges the ancient and the avant-garde.
Curated Companion Media: The Official Reading and Viewing List
During their conversation, Todd and Harrison curated an expansive multimedia list designed to deepen readers’ engagement with That You Are Here Is No Small Thing. For educators, parents, and young readers looking to contextualize the book, the creators recommend the following works:
- Literary Works:
- Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture by Ytasha Womack
- The poetry of Dudley Randall, specifically the poem "Ancestors" (featuring the evocative opening line: "Why are our ancestors always kings and princes and never common people?")
- The speculative fiction and visionary works of Octavia Butler
- Visual Art & Photography:
- The paintings and mural series Aspects of Negro Life by Aaron Douglas
- Historical issue designs and hand-lettering for The Crisis magazine by Aaron Douglas
- The documentary and street photography of Gordon Parks
- Classic Afrofuturism-infused Sun Ra album covers
- Film, Music & Podcasts:
- Daughters of the Dust, the landmark film by Julie Dash
- Lemonade (specifically select visual sequences) and the song "Black Parade" by Beyoncé
- The song "There’s a New Day Coming"
- The NPR podcast Throughline (specifically the 2021 episode "Octavia Butler: Visionary Fiction")
Official Statements: In Their Own Words
The dialogue between Todd and Harrison illuminates the deep emotional and structural collaboration required to bring a multi-layered picture book to life. Below are key excerpts from their discussion regarding process, sensation, and aesthetic inspiration.
On the Transition from Nonfiction Research to Emotional Resonance:
Traci N. Todd: "The real difference between doing this kind of book and the typical nonfiction I do is that I didn’t have to do the level of research I normally would. The research was just to anchor this book as much as I could… It’s more about feeling. How do I put words to the thing that I’m feeling? Sensation is really important to me. Like, when I saw that spread in the beginning with the Orisha and Anansi—I could hear the celestial hum."
On Visual Storytelling and Cinematic Composition:
Vashti Harrison: "To me, each spread is a scene. I’m thinking about, How are we getting from scene to scene? And sometimes when I don’t have a very clear image of where to begin, I can get a little bit stuck… I really looked to Aaron Douglas and the way he simplified forms, and they have that sort of intensity and boldness. His art was the aesthetic that inspired me the most throughout the book."
On Connecting Personal Memory to Collective Cultural Heritage:
Vashti Harrison: "There were a lot of things in this text that were really evocative upon the first reading—specifically the references to Octavia Butler, but also some of the smaller things like the reference to smothered chicken… some of the research was looking through family photos, and Octavia Butler book covers, and going through different films and books that offered the sort of aesthetic match for what I felt when I was reading it."
On the Haunting Reality of the Past Meeting the Future:
Traci N. Todd: "I went to Ghana and Senegal specifically to see the slave dungeons. One of the dungeons in Ghana has a layer like 3–4 inches thick of dried human waste and filth and skin cells—real physical evidence of the people who went through there. Scientists are just now beginning to identify the DNA in this sludge, so the ancestors are literally being brought into the future."
Future Outlook: The Enduring Impact on Young Readers and Literature
As That You Are Here Is No Small Thing enters the literary marketplace, its implications for the future of children’s publishing are profound. By demonstrating that young readers are fully capable of engaging with complex themes of generational trauma, historical survival, and spiritual continuity, Todd and Harrison have raised the bar for what picture books can achieve.
The book arrives at a critical juncture in cultural discourse, offering educators and caregivers a vital tool for discussing ancestry not as a distant, abstract concept, but as a living, breathing lineage. Through Harrison’s striking visual homages to Aaron Douglas and Julie Dash, paired with Todd’s lyrical prose grounded in real-world historical excavation, the publication serves as a bridge connecting past atrocities to future possibilities.
Moving forward, That You Are Here Is No Small Thing is poised to become a staple in classrooms, libraries, and family bookshelves. It challenges creators across the industry to reject sanitized depictions of history in favor of honest, reverent, and imaginative storytelling that honors young readers’ innate capacity for depth, empathy, and wonder.
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