● 2025 California Reading Association Gold Award Winner
Portraits of Indigenous children and their communities from around the world in a stunning presentation emphasizing community and a connection to the land and the environment
We are all one. We all inhabit the same planet, and we all have a common human origin.
This is the core theme of this important book. Each double-page spread presents a contemporary and fascinating look at more than 20 Indigenous peoples from across the globe. These first nations were the first humans to inhabit their territories, which are under threat today from "civilization" that seeks to profit from them and their lands.
In these societies, a sense of community life prevails, based on reciprocity, solidarity, mutual aid, avoiding excess, and honoring what nature provides. Indigenous peoples are also the guardians of 80 percent of terrestrial biodiversity—they are the first conservationists of the natural environment.
Franco-Uruguayan author Nat Cardozo has created a unique book with beautiful illustrations that blur the lines between humans and their environment and present a wide variety of ways of life from little-known cultures. In addition to collecting 22 first-person stories, this informative book is about the past and present of Indigenous peoples, recounting a long history of struggle and resistance and of defense—not only of their territories but also of their languages and traditional ways of life.
This book provides a unique opportunity to acknowledge our common origin and reflect on how we might create a new unity for humanity to reconnect us to living things and bind us together again as one.
Native tribes featured in the book are from all five continents and include: !Kung, Orang Rimba, Inuit, Tuareg, Moken, Anangu, Bijago, Evenki, Bribri, Cherokee, Mosuo, Uru Chipaya, Tz'utujil, Ngati Hau, Wayuu, Q'ero, Sami, Mbuti, Juchiteca, Gitxsan, Dongria Kondh, Yanomami
Praise
"This amazing picture book is a window into the worlds of over twenty of the approximately 5,000 groups of Indigenous people on our planet. . . The beautiful illustrations feature a child with images superimposed on them, showcasing the landscape, flora, fauna, and traditional dress of each indigenous group. . . The artwork is breathtaking and unique; This book will open the world to anyone who reads it and shows us how we are all different, but also how much we all have in common.Budding anthropologists will love this book, as will anyone who wants to protect our planet and learn more about these people." 5/5
—Youth Services Book Review
YA Book Central"Beautiful and Eye-OpeningOrigin is a breathtakingly beautiful and profoundly important book that bridges art, culture, and environmental awareness.Through stunning, ethereal artwork that blurs the lines between people and the landscapes they inhabit, The visual storytelling alone is mesmerizing—rich in color, symbolism, and emotion—inviting readers to linger over every detail.
But Origin is more than a visual experience; it’s a powerful educational journey. The text thoughtfully explores themes of reciprocity, solidarity, sustainability, and guardianship of the Earth, reminding readers that Indigenous peoples protect nearly 80% of the planet’s biodiversity. The book balances fact and feeling, past and present, offering a respectful and accessible introduction to global Indigenous histories, philosophies, and ongoing struggles.
Cardozo’s narrative voice is both poetic and enlightening, guiding readers to reflect on our shared humanity and common origin. It encourages empathy, cultural awareness, and environmental stewardship without ever feeling didactic. The result is a book that belongs equally on coffee tables, in classrooms, and in the hands of curious readers of all ages.
A masterpiece of art, storytelling, and truth, Origin is not just a book to read—it’s one to experience, discuss, and treasure. It’s a call to remember where we come from and how we might, together, care for the world that connects us all."
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