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Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art
This striking nonfiction picture book investigates who created ancient wall art that’s been discovered around the world, and why—the exact answers may be out-of-reach, but the investigation is half the fun. Complete with extensive backmatter, including a bonus double fold-out gatefold, Ancestory is perfect company for pictorial nonfiction by Jason Chin and Candace Fleming. Around the world, our ancient ancestors’ mysterious art is left behind on cave walls, in rain forests, and with ink made from charcoal and crushed clay. These people told their stories in magnificent drawings that still speak to us today, echoing across generations. In her own stunning artwork that features the deserts of North America to the caves of Papua New Guinea, Hannah Salyer showcases ancient rock paintings, drawings, and etchings and invites us to add to the ongoing story—our ancestory.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 2023
4 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Salyer
5 books7 followersHannah Salyer is an award-winning illustrator, author, and mixed-media artist whose work celebrates the profound connections between humans and the natural world. Recognized by American Illustration and the Society of Illustrators, her books, including PACKS and ANCESTORY, have earned critical acclaim for their breathtaking visuals and compelling narratives. A Maurice Sendak Fellow and educator at Parsons School of Design, Hannah also co-directs Underland Gallery. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, where her art continues to inspire a deeper appreciation for our shared planet.
See more of her work on her website https://hannahsalyer.com/
See more of her work on her website https://hannahsalyer.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 12, 2023
I will probably use this book in my library art program, but it wasn't as gripping as I wanted it to be. Cave art is so cool, and I wish this book invited young readers/listeners to ponder more questions about it themselves. I also wish it had included more photographs of cave art!
Themes: Art, History, Ancestors
Age range: Elementary
Themes: Art, History, Ancestors
Age range: Elementary
March 14, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up. I really liked this book! It's simple in the best way. Really makes the reader appreciate ancient cave art. and WOW! The pictures are gorgeous.
December 1, 2023
Art is universal and stands the test of time. This book was a lovely depiction of this.
I live in Utah, USA and we have lots of Petroglyphs around, I have even seen them in Wyoming. The are special, beautiful, sacred, open to interpretation, they are interesting, more the most part free to visit and many are very easy to get to and some bone head can just walk up to it and vandalize it...UGGG!
I wish in Utah we did more to protect these sites. They are monitored but not really protected! Do we put up a clear plastic barrier between us and the rock. maybe... because there is always going to be someone who is like "Hey I want to carve my name in the rock next to these ancient petroglyph. " It's happened. Like the idiot who recently carved his name into the walls of the Colosseum in Rome...wow that guy is the poster child for idiotic . The ancients aren't coming back to draw or build more so need to protect them.
I live in Utah, USA and we have lots of Petroglyphs around, I have even seen them in Wyoming. The are special, beautiful, sacred, open to interpretation, they are interesting, more the most part free to visit and many are very easy to get to and some bone head can just walk up to it and vandalize it...UGGG!
I wish in Utah we did more to protect these sites. They are monitored but not really protected! Do we put up a clear plastic barrier between us and the rock. maybe... because there is always going to be someone who is like "Hey I want to carve my name in the rock next to these ancient petroglyph. " It's happened. Like the idiot who recently carved his name into the walls of the Colosseum in Rome...wow that guy is the poster child for idiotic . The ancients aren't coming back to draw or build more so need to protect them.
May 17, 2025
The wonderfully talented Hannah Salyer, an artist and picture book creator who made her debut in 2019 with
Packs: Strength in Numbers
, returns to the form in this beautiful and thought-provoking exploration of parietal art for young people. Parietal art, sometimes known as cave art or rock art, is a form of human expression dating back thousands of years, and is the first recorded form of human creativity we possess. As Salyer notes, it is part of our common history as human beings—our "ancestory." The simple text here explores when, how and where this art was created, emphasizing what extraordinary labor it must have involved for its creators, who would have been consumed by the need for survival in a harsh world, and speculating on what it meant to them. The book closes with a site map, giving locations of parietal art from around the world, a brief discussion of the discovery of the caves at Lascaux, an author's note, glossary, timeline, and list of further resources...
Full disclosure: I am friends with Hannah Salyer, and am a great admirer of her work. I am so glad I finally managed to track down Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art, which was published back in 2023, as I recall having discussions about it with the author, before publication. It is a lovely book, one which captures in both narrative and illustration the beauty and mystery of this art form. I loved the fact that one of the first sites featured was the Cave of Hands, or Cueva de los Manos, in Argentina, as this is one of the most familiar of these sites to me, along with Lascaux and some of the sites in the American southwest. I also love the list of sites, with map, that was provided at the rear, as so many of those were unfamiliar to me! I found this book informative, but I also found it thoughtful, and think it can be used with young people to spark discussion about this kind of art—what it is, why it was created, why it is important. The accompanying artwork, created using ceramic sculpture, photography, colored pencil, charcoal, pigment and digital media, was lovely, and well-suited to the text. It often had a shadowy, somewhat indistinct feeling to it, echoing the fact that much of this art was created under flickering flame, and echoing the idea of it coming down to us like a shadow, only indistinctly perceived. All in all, a wonderful book, one I would recommend to those seeking to explore the history of parietal or rock art with young people!
Full disclosure: I am friends with Hannah Salyer, and am a great admirer of her work. I am so glad I finally managed to track down Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art, which was published back in 2023, as I recall having discussions about it with the author, before publication. It is a lovely book, one which captures in both narrative and illustration the beauty and mystery of this art form. I loved the fact that one of the first sites featured was the Cave of Hands, or Cueva de los Manos, in Argentina, as this is one of the most familiar of these sites to me, along with Lascaux and some of the sites in the American southwest. I also love the list of sites, with map, that was provided at the rear, as so many of those were unfamiliar to me! I found this book informative, but I also found it thoughtful, and think it can be used with young people to spark discussion about this kind of art—what it is, why it was created, why it is important. The accompanying artwork, created using ceramic sculpture, photography, colored pencil, charcoal, pigment and digital media, was lovely, and well-suited to the text. It often had a shadowy, somewhat indistinct feeling to it, echoing the fact that much of this art was created under flickering flame, and echoing the idea of it coming down to us like a shadow, only indistinctly perceived. All in all, a wonderful book, one I would recommend to those seeking to explore the history of parietal or rock art with young people!
January 25, 2025
This is a beautiful picture book which evokes a sense of excitement and wonder on the topic of prehistoric caves. Its gorgeous illustrations and simplicity of message will capture the attention of young readers. Additionally, Ancestory also contains surprisingly sophisticated information that will fascinate and inform adult readers.
Ancestory’s beauty lies in both the illustrations as well as the book’s organization. Each page is a stunning work of original art. With regard to existing cave art, it’s extraordinary that Salyer has reproduced these paintings so perfectly. Additionally, the book is thoughtfully laid out. Each element of how, why, where and when these paintings were created is addressed in a clear manner. The book makes significant points easily digestible, laying out elements simply, such as ancient peoples, their environment and the substances they used to create their art.
I was a college history major over forty years ago, and while the study of cave art was not offered, I have read extensively on the topic in the past decade. I am impressed to learn things in Ancestory that are not addressed in standard history books, such as the diverse pigments and tools that were used. Thanks to Salyer I now know that ochre was not the only prehistoric paint, and painting materials included shells.
Salyer’s world map, which artistically depicts the widespread location of rock art sites, is a revelation. Adults may consult this for further research, as well as Salyer’s page on additional resources. Finally, Salyer concludes with a Timeline of history. This is a most important concept for children and frankly, for the rest of us. Most adults have no concept of where we stand in relation to earth’s history. This book provides insight into the timeline, not just of human artwork but of human history, an understanding that is most important for the next generation as it carries forward with creating humankind’s future.
Ancestory’s beauty lies in both the illustrations as well as the book’s organization. Each page is a stunning work of original art. With regard to existing cave art, it’s extraordinary that Salyer has reproduced these paintings so perfectly. Additionally, the book is thoughtfully laid out. Each element of how, why, where and when these paintings were created is addressed in a clear manner. The book makes significant points easily digestible, laying out elements simply, such as ancient peoples, their environment and the substances they used to create their art.
I was a college history major over forty years ago, and while the study of cave art was not offered, I have read extensively on the topic in the past decade. I am impressed to learn things in Ancestory that are not addressed in standard history books, such as the diverse pigments and tools that were used. Thanks to Salyer I now know that ochre was not the only prehistoric paint, and painting materials included shells.
Salyer’s world map, which artistically depicts the widespread location of rock art sites, is a revelation. Adults may consult this for further research, as well as Salyer’s page on additional resources. Finally, Salyer concludes with a Timeline of history. This is a most important concept for children and frankly, for the rest of us. Most adults have no concept of where we stand in relation to earth’s history. This book provides insight into the timeline, not just of human artwork but of human history, an understanding that is most important for the next generation as it carries forward with creating humankind’s future.
September 12, 2023
Brief summary: This narrative nonfiction picture book explains to young readers when and how our ancestors created ancient cave art all over the world.
Comments: Nonfiction text features help explain the materials used to make the art, when it occurred, and where. Although the illustrations were detailed, I would have liked photos of the most famous art cave drawings.
This book is a good choice for an art teacher and school librarian lesson collaboration. The librarian could teach how to research online for art cave drawings, and the art teach could help students creating their own modern art cave drawings.
The back sections include Site Map, A Story Within a Story: The Rediscovery of the Lascaux Caves, Author's Note, Words to Know, Time Line, and Resources for Further Reading and Investigation.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Comments: Nonfiction text features help explain the materials used to make the art, when it occurred, and where. Although the illustrations were detailed, I would have liked photos of the most famous art cave drawings.
This book is a good choice for an art teacher and school librarian lesson collaboration. The librarian could teach how to research online for art cave drawings, and the art teach could help students creating their own modern art cave drawings.
The back sections include Site Map, A Story Within a Story: The Rediscovery of the Lascaux Caves, Author's Note, Words to Know, Time Line, and Resources for Further Reading and Investigation.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
June 3, 2023
The title of this book is brilliant. A new word to describe our ancient human history. The dark-tinged illustrations give the feeling of being in a cave to view the art on the walls left there many years ago. This slim book is full of information about cave art. Some art is painted, some is carved into stone. Minerals used for their color for the cave art are illustrated so readers can identify their individual colors. The book includes a number of additions: a site map, timelines, glossary and a list of other resources for reading and exploration. Young readers will find much to satisfy and tantalize their curiosity.
November 21, 2023
I was interested to read that the artist used ceramic sculpture, photography, colored pencil, charcoal, pigment, and digital media to create the illustrations for this book, which took readers on a tour through many of the pictographs in the world. The illustrations paired nicely with the text. I appreciated the site map of locations of rock art around the world in the back matter. Back matter also included info on the Lascaux Caves rock art, author's note, glossary, timeline, and bibliography.
However, since I do not believe in the evolutionary myth of deep time, I did not agree with many of the dates ascribed to the rock art in the book.
However, since I do not believe in the evolutionary myth of deep time, I did not agree with many of the dates ascribed to the rock art in the book.
December 12, 2023
This is a beautiful picture book packed full of interesting information about cave art. My 4th grader really loved it and I could see it tying in nicely with Utah's 4th grade curriculum.
Somehow this book was both more and less detailed than I hoped... I feel like it had some real potential as a younger book K-3, and certainly some students in that age range may love it. As a read aloud for that age range, though I felt like it fell short by being both too detailed and also not having enough of a cohesive story/good questions...
I got a copy for free from Granite Media in exchange for posting a review on their site.
Somehow this book was both more and less detailed than I hoped... I feel like it had some real potential as a younger book K-3, and certainly some students in that age range may love it. As a read aloud for that age range, though I felt like it fell short by being both too detailed and also not having enough of a cohesive story/good questions...
I got a copy for free from Granite Media in exchange for posting a review on their site.
November 3, 2023
Author and illustrator Salyer presents a worldwide panorama of cave art from Alaska to Australia encouraging young readers to contemplate the lives and artistic abilities of our most ancient ancestors. Including a two gatefold spread of the 1940 discovery of the art in the caves of Lascaux France, which inspired the search for more rock and cave art, a search that has so far resulted in discoveries in every continent except Antarctica. It’s a stunning presentation of the art and lives of our homo sapiens and neanderthal ancestors, lives that “were filled with difficulties and danger,”
December 30, 2023
Absolutely stunning. I had to stop at the picture of the echoes and just sit with it, it was so jaw-dropping. I mean, how do you create a visual representation of an auditory medium (the echo), in the style of ancient rock art? She absolutely nailed it. I loved the author's point that people were making both representational and symbolic art. Also, they drew creatures in their surroundings that have since been lost or changed. This could be a great library program - I just need to find an artist to present it because I don't feel like I have the artistic background for it.
January 3, 2024
Rounded up to a 4 from 3.7 (there was some repetition) The lack of historical facts mixed in with the poetic text was both a plus and slight negative. The focus on the fact the artwork/symbols are "there" with no assumptions of meaning is fresh, however, giving some context would have helped center things. The ending felt a bit forced. However, the artwork, while busy/crowded and a bit hard to make out details, are clever and colorful. The extras at the end help the book grow with the child. Overall, a unique book.
(Though currently available, read via an online reader copy).
(Though currently available, read via an online reader copy).
March 28, 2024
The art in this book is STUNNING and as an adult, I learned so much about cave paintings. I love that this approaches the subject from an anthropological angle, as well as the importance of studying these sites and preserving them, and listening to indigenous knowledge. Also I think kids would be super engaged and continue to ask questions and have thoughts about this book, with the super insightful questions on every other page that encourage critical thinking and also encourage kids to seek further info. Such a great accessible nonfiction picture book that I'd recommend to any kid, really.
November 12, 2024
Ancestory by Hannah Salyer is a beautifully illustrated picture book that looks at the connections between family members across generations. With simple, flowing words and colorful artwork, Salyer shows how families pass down skills, stories, and traditions over time. Each page celebrates the ways we learn from those who came before us and how family shapes who we are. With its gentle message and detailed pictures, Ancestory is a touching tribute to family history, perfect for kids and families who enjoy learning about their roots and shared memories.
November 24, 2023
I know we are only supposed to compare with this year's nominees, but I can't help but think of so many of Even Turk and Jason Chin's wonderful nonfiction. I learned so much from this and admire how the author and team at Clarion put so much great work into this history. May not garner a Caldecott or Siebert, but I sure hope this gets recognition so it is seen be all the budding artists, historians, scientists, and other planet and human lovers.
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January 8, 2024Read for RCLS Mock Caldecott 2024...
I don't know what to think about the illustrations for this one. They certainly conveyed the cave vibe and were quite striking in places, but many of them are reproductions of real cave art paintings. The Caldecott criteria states "There are no limitations as to the character of the picture book except that the illustrations be original work." Can they be original if they are replications of other paintings?
I don't know what to think about the illustrations for this one. They certainly conveyed the cave vibe and were quite striking in places, but many of them are reproductions of real cave art paintings. The Caldecott criteria states "There are no limitations as to the character of the picture book except that the illustrations be original work." Can they be original if they are replications of other paintings?
January 30, 2024
This fascinating book explores ancient art that has been discovered in caves all over the world! I never realized how many sites there were. I knew about the Lascaux Caves in France - though not about how rapidly they had been damaged by visitors. I also did not know about White Shaman Preserve in Texas! And all of the other sites listed. I have mostly seen petroglyphs but would love to explore more cave art. It's a fascinating look at ancient history - or, as the author says, our ancestory!
April 14, 2023
Another exquisite book from author/illustrator Hannah Salyer. I have been following her work for several years now. This visually keen book has depth, history, and spirit wrapped in enchanting storytelling.
A must for readers young and old who are interested in the lineage of humanity. The backmatter is replete with information that will spark curious learners to pursue their interests more deeply.
A must for readers young and old who are interested in the lineage of humanity. The backmatter is replete with information that will spark curious learners to pursue their interests more deeply.
August 11, 2023
Very interesting! I love petroglyphs and visited them here in Washington and in South Africa. I find them fascinating, but I did know how they could write a picture book about them. The illustrations just drew you in making connections. The Site Map in the back was really neat. It also has a timeline and other interesting facts. It brings all humans together through these representations.
February 9, 2024
Stunning illustrations and outstanding text introduce prehistoric cave art, what historians have learned about it and its importance. A fold-out section is particularly effective. This is a fascinating book and contains excellent back matter.
A must purchase for elementary school and public libraries.
A must purchase for elementary school and public libraries.
April 11, 2023
This book is timeless magic. Kids and adults alike will be utterly enchanted by this story and Salyer's illustrations, I know I was. Also appreciated that there was plenty of backmatter to help point young readers to other resources to learn more.
April 12, 2023
A striking, luminously illustrated nonfiction picture book investigates who created prehistoric wall art discovered around the world, and what it can tell about the creators and ourselves. Excellent end matter.
May 8, 2023
This is my favorite non-picture book of the year. Maybe the last several years. The writing is clear and interesting. The illustrations are out of this world. An absolutely extraordinary title and Caldecott 2024 worthy. Ancestory is a must have for every personal, private library and classroom.
July 19, 2023
This could be a good intro to a unit of study, but as a standalone, I don't think it gives enough details. Lots of conjecture. I mean, yeah, we don't have any written communication to explain the art or who made it, but this was a little vague for me to use as a Mock Sibert.
March 31, 2023
3.5. The timeline was unexpected.
May 1, 2023
The artwork is stunning in this one and it covers a topic that is not often present in childrens nonfiction. Unique and stand-out.
May 19, 2023
I thought the subject would have been better served with photographs (though the drawings were good), but the text and the intention were very good.
July 14, 2023
3.5 Cool graphic design and font
August 4, 2023
Brittany Swansboro you would have loved this book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews