Lalalala! I’m getting my voice ready to sing a joyous Happy Book Birthday to MY BACKYARD USED TO BE, written by Lynn Baldwin, illustrated by Megan Elizabeth Baratta and published by Tilbury House Press. I’m especially excited about this book because I saw an early draft of this years ago and I told Lynn…this is a book! And now it is! And guess what!! The lovely Lynn is offering a GIVEAWAY…a brand new copy of MY BACKYARD USED TO BE for one lucky WINNER. Just leave a comment on this blog post.

WOW! This is a fabulous story…and kids will connect with it because it’s all about what came before us…whether a kid lives in a city or rural farmland, they can imagine what it was like before they were there…and the book goes WAY back in time…fascinating! And, what’s also fascinating is that author Lynn stopped by to chat with us – and share the story behind the story.
ME: Welcome, Lynn! Thank you for stopping by Picture Books Help Kids Soar. Can you tell us a little about the story and how you came to write it?

LYNN: Thank you so much for inviting me, Vivian. And thank you for helping to celebrate the book birthday of MY BACKYARD USED TO BE.
Here’s a short synopsis of the book:

My backyard is where we play and learn, but it wasn’t always my backyard…

Hit rewind on the view out your backdoor as this story zips back in time, showing readers how people, lifestyles, and land have changed over time. My Backyard Used to Be makes history feel current and accessible to young readers―and encourages them to discover what their own backyard used to be.

About the Story:

I’m so excited to be celebrating the release of my first picture book on your blog, Vivian! It’s especially meaningful because I hired you to do a critique of this story early on and I’m sure some of your suggestions helped improve the story☺ 

I had several sources of inspiration for this story. A few years back, I read the amazing picture book Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome and loved how she told the story backwards. I tried a few different ideas using that framework, but nothing clicked…until I remembered that a neighbor had mentioned that our neighborhood used to be a farm. One day, I was thinking about that, and about how important it is for kids to be active outdoors. As I kid, I loved playing in my backyard with my sisters and friends, and I also have many happy memories of backyard fun with my son when he was younger. All of these ideas came together to create My Backyard Used to Be. 

This story is loosely set in Ann Arbor, MI, where I live but it’s not tied to a particular piece of land. My goal was to write a lyrical book that would be fun to read aloud. As it evolved, I realized the story could help kids think about the joy of playing outside, the history of their own backyard and what we can all do to make sure our backyards can be enjoyed by the next generation. 

The interesting thing about this story is how quickly it came together! I connected with editor Sarah Rockett through an SCBWI critique event and actually signed the contract for the book one year to the day of the first draft! Then, the story went from acquisition to publication in less than a year-and-a-half! I know this is highly unusual and likely won’t happen again, especially as most of my other stories have been “in the making” for years. However, it didn’t feel that fast because I’ve been writing and working toward publication ever since my son was a toddler…and he’s now a teenager! 

I’m really thrilled with what illustrator Megan Elizabeth Baratta added to the story, and I’m really looking forward to a launch event at my local independent bookstore and school visits. 

Author Bio:
Lynn Baldwin is a picture book author who lives in Ann Arbor, MI, with her husband and teenage son. She writes in a purple office under a “Create with Joy” sign or on her deck surrounded by trees. Lynn loves being outdoors – whether exploring the world or in her own backyard. My Backyard Used to Be is her first book. To find out more about Lynn and connect with her: https://www.lynnbaldwinbooks.com/

Illustrator Bio:

Megan Elizabeth Baratta is a children’s book illustrator and winner of the School Library Journal’s inaugural 2022 Endies Award for Best Map. She lives in central New York with her husband, daughter, and son. Her books include Most Days, I Begin with Spring and The Secret Stream. 

ME: What a talented team! The book is beautiful, Lynn…and I’m thrilled for you – and for all the kiddos who will enjoy reading it!

And now, dear blog friends, let’s do our part to help this book get into the hands of young readers. We can:
Buy the book
Review the book
Tell friends about the book (PLEASE share on social media)
Ask local libraries to purchase copies for their collection

And, if you want to purchase from Lynn’s local indie:
Link to Purchase from Schuler Books, my local bookstore: https://www.schulerbooks.com/book/9781668955239Thank you for spending your precious time with us…and don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to WIN a copy of MY BACKYARD USED TO BE…maybe you can share what you see when you look in your ‘backyard’.
I hope you all have a wonderful week. Tomorrow I will be meeting Laura Knoy, the host of ReadLocalNH, a podcast direct from Concord, NH. Laura has invited me to join her to chat about ONE GIRL’S VOICE…I’m excited!