Before I Lived Here

Before I Lived Here

About the Book

Journey backward in time through all the layers of history that led up to your neighborhood’s existence.

The building you live in has probably been around longer than you, so you may think it’s been there forever. But no matter where you live, a whole lot happened before your home was built. 

In Before I Lived Here, a boy peels away each layer of the history of the land his house sits on. Follow along from the construction of the neighborhood back to the planning of it; from the ranchers and log cabins that predated it, back to the region’s Indigenous people and their eviction from the land . . . all the way back to the time of the dinosaurs.

Before I Lived Here reminds us that history isn’t something that happens far away, to other people—it’s in our own backyards. Debut author Stacy S. Jensen makes the learning readily digestible. There’s something here for every reader—from the irresistible depiction of construction sites for vehicle fans, to the somber facts of indigenous displacement recounted without flinching, making for a great family conversation starter on many different levels.
Read more
Close

Praise for Before I Lived Here

This would be a perfect jumping-off point for a classroom project about local history, but the gorgeous digital and analog artwork elevates it beyond plain fact, making it an equally strong choice for storytime. . . .
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

Ngai’s precisely lined, radiant mixed-media illustrations pull readers into each moment. . . . Complex yet comprehensible and suffused with rich science and social science content, including an excellent glossary, this is an invaluable resource for educators and curious youngsters alike.. . .Jensen’s tour through time is a tour de force.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Retro-style artwork from Ngai (Wishes) employs glowing colors, crisp lines, and a mixture of textile-like patterns. Culminating scenes embrace a scratch art technique for a powerfully layered visual of the way the past remains etched on the present.
—Publishers Weekly

A powerful springboard for classroom discussions on change, place, and history, this book will have readers reflecting on how land evolves and shapes the lives of its ­ever-changing inhabitants.
—School Library Journal
Read more
Close

About the Author

Stacy S. Jensen
Decorative Carat

About the Author

Victo Ngai
Decorative Carat

By clicking submit, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime.

Random House Publishing Group