That You Are Here Is No Small Thing

Name: That You Are Here Is No Small Thing
Brand: Penguin Random House
Availability: InStock
Author: Traci N. Todd
ISBN: 9798217081646

Author: Traci N. Todd

Narrator: Traci N. Todd

Unabridged: 6 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Listening Library

Published: 09/01/2026

Categories: Children's Fiction, Children's Social Themes, Bedtime Stories

Synopsis

A stunning exploration of the history of Black Americans by award-winning team Traci N. Todd and Vashti Harrison.

The world is forever changed because you are here.

At once honest and empowering, That You Are Here Is No Small Thing is a story about resilience. In this stunning audiobook, young descendants of enslaved Africans are guided through the history that led them to exist and thrive today. Through their eyes, we see how Black Americans have relied on one another to fight against oppression and the ways in which the strength of their ancestors is always with them.

Sibert Honor winner Traci N. Todd and Caldecott Medalist Vashti Harrison have created an unforgettable exploration of culture and history that records the important survival story Black children carry and celebrates their hope for a radiant future.

About The Author

Traci N. Todd is a Sibert Honor–winning writer and book editor whose work focuses on Black culture and social justice. Her books Nina: A Story of Nina Simone, illustrated by Christian Robinson, and Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes, illustrated by Shannon Wright, both won the Coretta Scott King Honor Award.Please visit her at TraciTodd.com.Vashti Harrison won the Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Honor Award and was a National Book Award Finalist for Big, which she authored and illustrated. She is also a two-time recipient of the NAACP Image Award for Literary Work for Children and has created many New York Times bestselling books. She lives in New York City.Please visit her at at VashtiHarrison.com or follow her on Instagram @VashtiHarrison.

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Quotes

Praise for That You Are Here Is No Small Thing:

★ “A poetic telling of what it took for three Black children to exist in this place and time, from two kid lit powerhouses. . . A sumptuous work that urges readers to recall the past in order to truly appreciate the here and now.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “Framing today’s children as the realization of their ancestors’ dreams, this is a reverent reflection on ancestry, cultural memory, and hope.”—Publisher’s Weekly, starred review

★ “A must-purchase for picture book collections. This thoughtful and beautifully illustrated title offers young readers an affirming exploration of history, identity, and connection.”—School Library Journal, starred review

★ “The lush, double-page spreads of this beautiful picture book make this piece of Black American history accessible for young kids, reminding them that though there was struggle to get to this current moment, they are a gift and part of a proud lineage of people.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

“A beautiful and raw homage to the African American experience, this book is an ode to how the past paves the way for future generations…Harrison’s soft, ethereal artwork beautifully captures this connection between past and present, illustrating how these three young girls exist because of the strength and perseverance of their ancestors.”—Booklist Reviews