I’m excited to share with you this new thought-provoking title from debut author Stacy C. Jensen and illustrator Victo Ngai. Before I Lived Here takes readers on a journey backward in time, prompting them to wonder what came before.
The book opens with a young boy looking out a window in his house to the Colorado mountains. From there, we learn that the boy’s house wasn’t always there. In fact, when we jump two years back in time we learn that the house has just been built. Each page turn takes us back in time from the development of the city, to cattle ranches, to the tipis of the Ute people, and all the way back to the dinosaurs, as a fascinating trajectory emerges. The narrative journeys ever further into the past until finally the mountains that are depicted at the beginning are formed.
The structure of the text is brilliant. By starting in the present day and taking the reader through history, the author invites children to wonder about the past. Difficult events are treated in a sensitive, age-appropriate way; it’s noted that the homesteads shown in one spread “were built on stolen land,” a portrayal that is honest without being heavy-handed. Victo Ngai’s luminous illustrations have a dreaminess that makes time-travel feel possible.
The brief back matter is thoughtful and includes questions to spark discussion and a glossary. This book will find a home in classroom history lessons and will be equally enjoyed as a read aloud. One lucky Picture Book Builders reader will receive a copy of Before I Lived Here. To enter for a chance to win this delightful book, please comment below. U.S. mailing addresses only please.
Interiors from BEFORE I LIVED HERE. Text copyright © 2025 by STACY S. JENSEN. Illustrations copyright © 2025 by VICTO NGAI. Used with permission from Holiday House Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
How lovely. Thanks for sharing!
What a wonderful journey young readers can take through so many layers of time in one book. Congratulations, Stacy! Thank you for sharing it, Sara.
This way of looking at a location is amazing! Looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for sharing!
This is such a vivid, comprehensible virtual time-travel book with so much science and society embedded within a child-centered story. What a great way into complex ideas!
Wow! What a fresh idea for a story! I love it! It will be fascinating not only for the child being read to, but for their grown up as well. Such an ingenious way to travel back in time. Kids will be learning and won’t even realize it! Congratulations on a wonderful book, Stacy! And Sara thanks for sharing it with us!
LOVE this book! I’ve already purchased a copy for my Colorado-based grandkids!
Stacy has written a wonderful book! You don’t have to live in Colorado to recognize the parallels in our own backyards. (any book for kids with dinosaurs is a winner, lol)
Thank you for sharing this book’s interesting and unique structure. I’m glad to hear that it works well. I look forward to reading the whole book.
A fascinating way to make history relevant for young readers. Great idea. Well done, Stacy and Victo!
I love the acknowledgement about land acquisition!
How fun! Clever storytelling and look at the use of color!
Looks interesting! Congrats, Stacy & Victo! Thanks for sharing, Sara.
This makes me think of WHO CAME DOWN THAT ROAD by George Ella Lyon, another wonderful book that makes the past personal for kids.
Congratulations to the creators on a lovely book! Lots to ponder and beautiful art, thanks for sharing!
Every place has its history … its story to tell. This is a great way to open a door to the past for children. I think they’ll be fascinated with the thought!
Wow! What a thought-provoking book! This will trigger lots of discussion.
This is so amazingly beautiful and unique!
This looks like a book that would have fascinated me as a child and also now!
I can’t think of a book that does this kind of journey. It is definitely needed in our schools now with the glossing over of some of our history. Thank you for writing this book.
What a great way to introduce history and “going back in time”.
Love it.