About viviankirkfield

Writer for children - Reader forever - Mom of 3, educator, author of FOUR OTTERS TOBOGGAN: AN ANIMAL COUNTING BOOK (PomegranateKids, PIPPA'S PASSOVER PLATE (Holiday House), SWEET DREAMS, SARAH (Creston Books); MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD: THE INSPIRING FRIENDSHIP OF ELLA FITZGERALD AND MARILYN MONROE (Little Bee Books); FROM HERE TO THERE: INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED THE WAY THE WORLD MOVES (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Jan 19, 2021); PEDAL, BALANCE, STEER: Annie Londonderry, First Woman to Bike Around the World (Calkins Creek/Astra, Feb 20, 2024) picture book junkie, lover of travel, hiking, fly-fishing, cooking, and playing Monopoly with my grandson.

Book Birthday: MY BACKYARD USED TO BE Plus GIVEAWAY

Posted on September 23, 2025 by viviankirkfield

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!

Book Birthday: UNIQUE LIKE YOU Plus Giveaway

Posted on September 16, 2025 by viviankirkfield

From idea to published book…what a process! It takes passion, practice, preparation, patience, and perseverance! And that’s why our Book Birthday posts are so very special because we are celebrating all of that hard work – and we are thrilled that the story we hoped to share is ready to fly into the hands of young readers. More than anything, our children need books that will lift them up and empower them to believe in themselves…so, when I heard that UNIQUE LIKE YOU, written by Allison and Rafael Rozo and illustrated by Angie Alape, I knew I had to share it with you.

And guess what? Allison stopped by to share the story behind the story…and to offer a wonderful GIVEAWAY…one lucky person will receive a copy of the book AND an adorable stuffy!

ME: Dear friends…that’s a cover to sing about, right? So, let’s welcome Allison who co-wrote this story with her husband…and she’s going to talk about how that process unfolded also. Allison, thanks for stopping by Picture Books Help Kids Soar!

ALLISON: Thank you so much Vivian for helping us celebrate the Book Birthday of UNIQUE LIKE YOU, a story that is near and dear to our hearts! We would be thrilled to do a Giveaway of a signed copy of our book!

SHORT SUMMARY OF UNIQUE LIKE YOU

What makes you unique?

While helping her Mamá collect empty cans, old newspapers, and other recyclable treasure to sell, Lina discovers a wall of graffiti with the words ÚNICO COMO TÚ, UNIQUE LIKE YOU. This discovery sends her on a quest through Bogotá, Colombia, to find treasure where she least expects it, and to discover what makes her unique.

With Spanish vocabulary woven throughout the story, Unique Like You transports readers to the colorful streets of Bogotá and encourages them to look at the world with curious eyes. What unique treasures wait to be discovered around us? What makes each of us unique? A helpful glossary in the back of the book makes it an accessible read for all.

WHY WE WROTE UNIQUE LIKE YOU

UNIQUE LIKE YOU was inspired by a photograph I took in 2009 on a trip with Rafael to Bogotá, Colombia of recicladores (a mother, her young daughter, and their donkey who collect reusable trash to sell or trade) in the middle of the bustling capital city as they stopped in front of a wall of graffiti with the words ÚNICO COMO TÚ, UNIQUE LIKE YOU. The image sent us on a journey of looking at our own world with new eyes, seeing special things that are all around us every moment.

Rafael is from Bogotá, and together we created a story that represents our family and incorporates pieces of his beloved city, including graffiti art. It shows how one small moment on an average day can inspire a journey of discovery about how each one of us is unique, from a far-off country to our own neighborhood. As youths, it would have been invaluable to have a relatable character, like Lina, who speaks a different language, and is impoverished, but sees trash as treasure, opening our eyes to the beauty that is hiding all around us.

It’s our hope that readers of UNIQUE LIKE YOU discover, not only what makes them unique, but the special things in others that make them unique as well. It doesn’t have to be big, or even one thing. Many little things make each of us unique if we take the time to look. Treasure can be found where you least expect it, in the people we talk to everyday to discarded trash collected on the street. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and we wanted this book as a piece of art itself. Angie Alape’s illustrations are stunning and more beautiful than we ever imagined! You truly feel immersed in the city and find new things to see on each page.

THE WIFE & HUSBAND COLLABORATION

It is a dream come true to have this book out in the world, especially since we wrote it together. Rafael and my writing process is that I usually come up with an idea I want to explore, and I write a rough outline of the story arc or plot. Then we discuss what is working and what can be revised. When we write bilingual books, we craft the story in a way to include Spanish words and try to weave them seamlessly into the manuscript. We always add a glossary at the end of our books, but it is our intent for the words to be understood from the context and illustrations. We include moments from both of our childhoods, Rafael growing up in Colombia, and my childhood in the Midwest. We often hit walls on things that don’t translate, so we decide if it’s a language barrier or if it simply doesn’t make sense. It is a fun process, and we love creating stories that connect readers to people, places, and words that perhaps they’ve never seen or heard of before.

SHORT BIO FOR ALLISON & RAFAEL

Allison and Rafael Rozo are authors who write bilingual English and Spanish picture books to weave together their Hispanic and American cultures. They are proud to create books that represent their family—including their two children Vivian and Gianluca. The Rozos began writing when they lived in Chicago, IL, and are currently living in Akron, OH. You can go to rozobooksart.com to learn more about both Allison and Rafael.

SHORT BIO FOR ANGIE ALAPE

Angie Alape grew up drawing on cardboard boxes to build worlds to play win with her siblings. Now she illustrates picture books! When not illustrating, she loves playing with her adopted dogs and trying new restaurants. Angie was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, and still lives there today.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram:
@allisonrozo
@angie.alape

Bluesky:
@allisonrozo.bsky.social

Facebook:
@allison.rozo.books

Twitter:
@allison_rozo
@AngieAlape

Link to Purchase https://www.beamingbooks.com/store/product/9781506492544/Unique-Like-You

UNIQUE LIKE YOU

ME: Thank you so much, Allison, for all of the insights you shared…and for the giveaway!
To grab you chance to win a copy of UNIQUE LIKE YOU and that amazing little stuffy, please leave a comment. And please share this post on social media so that more folks will find out about this beautiful new book.

Look at this amazing stuffy that is part of the giveaway!

Thank you all for spending your precious time with us. I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Cover Reveal: THE OCEAN’S HEART: The Tiny Creatures Essential to Life

Posted on September 15, 2025 by viviankirkfield

Hip hip hooray!!! Time to lift the curtain and REVEAL a beautiful new picture book COVER!

And this one is for a dear friend, author Jilanne Hoffman who has a new book launching March 3, 2026 from Millbrook Press, illustrated by the amazing Khoa Le.

TA-DA!!!

There is so much we don’t know about the oceans…and just look at this cover!!!! It hints at the mysteries that still are yet to be explored.
And we are so lucky because Jilanne stopped by to share a little bit about the book and why she wrote it.
ME: Welcome, Jilanne! Thank you so much for stopping by. Can you tell us a little bit about the book…and the story behind the story?

JILANNE: Thank you for having me, Vivian. It’s great to be here on Picture Books Help Kids Soar. I’d love to tell you a little bit about the bookAnd here’s

Plunge far below the ocean’s surface where billions of restless animals called zooplankton (including jellyfish) dwell in the Twilight Zone. Some are tiny, some enormous, and most are exquisitely beautiful. The setting sun cues their journey to surface waters for a midnight feast on trillions of tiny plants (and each other). It’s a daunting, perilous, nightly migration that transforms the dark ocean into a carnival of lights amidst a feeding frenzy in this eat before being eaten world—a journey that’s vital to all life on Earth.

And here’s what inspired me to write the story:

When I was writing A River of Dust, I discovered that NASA’s CALIPSO satellite not only measured the North African dust that flies across the Atlantic, it also recorded the massive nightly migration of zooplankton in the ocean. First, I was astounded that a satellite could do this, but then as I learned more about these delicate, beautiful animals, and that they’re in danger, I knew I had to share what I’d learned with kids. The marine biologist from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) who reviewed THE OCEAN’S HEART at every step, Dr. Steven Haddock, was extraordinarily helpful. He’s taken blackwater photos of many of the creatures shown in the book (some that are so new to scientists, they have not yet been named). In fact, Khoa used MBARI photos and videos extensively to inform her illustrations since the action of the story is based in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. And the luminous illustration used on both end papers is based on a satellite view of the bay. I also want to add that Haddock has a coffee table book (co-authored with Sönke Johnsen), called THE RADIANT SEA: Color and Light in the Underwater World, hot off the presses from Abrams. It features such stunning photography of these creatures, I knew I had to own it, and I plan to use it during school visits.

No path to publication is totally smooth.
The manuscript had been out on submission for some time, and most editors said they liked the story but “didn’t have a vision” for how to turn the manuscript into a picture book, so they had passed. One of my longtime critique partners, Katy Tanis— a terrific illustrator—was getting frustrated with these responses, because, to her, it was obvious. So she put together a “vision board” using a variety of images from other books. It was amazing. When Carol Hinz expressed interest in the book, but said something similar, I asked my agent to send her what Katy had pulled together. Carol liked what she saw, and decided it was doable. So that clinched the deal.

Jilanne’s bio: Jilanne Hoffmann is an industrial engineer turned author with an MFA in creative writing. Her children’s books focus on the environment, natural wonders, and how we’re all connected on this tiny blue planet. In addition to THE OCEAN’S HEART, Jilanne has a middle grade novel in prose and verse, HEARTLAND, forthcoming from Little Brown in July 2026. Her published books include A River of Dust: The Life-giving Link Between North Africa and the Amazon (2023), which received a PW starred review, a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, a Crystal Kite, was named an ALA Notable and Bank Street Best for 2024, and received the Louis J. Battan Author Award (K-12) from the American Meteorological Society. She’s also the author of two nonfiction board books for young explorers, Happy Camper (Amazon editor’s pick) and The Honey Bear Hive. Jilanne lives on the California coast with her husband, son, and rescue dog. For more info check out her linktree.

Khoa’s bio: Khoa Le is the author and illustrator of numerous picture books. Alongside Khoa’s love for reading, art, and music, she draws inspiration from her travels, discovering the beauty of the world—particularly through her deep love for the ocean and all things connected to it. Khoa finds peace in her small studio in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, accompanied by her beloved cats, and she also cherishes the tranquility of nature. See more of Khoa’s work on her website.

PREORDER LINK for signed copies, bookmarks and stickers from my local indie,Noe Valley Bookstore. If you would like it personalized, please put instructions in the note during checkout. Those who order through my local indie will receive bookmarks, stickers, and CALIPSO satellite magnets.

Thank you so much, dear Jilanne, for sharing all of this with us. I’m so excited for this beautiful book! It’s coming out right during #50PreciousWords…that’s so exciting.

And, dear blog readers, we all know how we can help books like this one become a success and get into the hands of the young people who need them. We can:

Ask our local library to purchase copies
Tell friends about the book (Please share this on social media)
Review the book on Amazon, B&N or other review sites

BUY THE BOOK:

Preorder Link for Bookshop.org
Preorder Link for Barnes & Noble
Preorder Link for Amazon

Thank you for spending your precious time with us, dear friends. I hope you all have a wonderful week!