Book Birthday: BEFORE I LIVED HERE Plus Giveaway

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How much do I love Book Birthday posts???

SO MUCH!!!
And when the author is one of the first CPs I ever had…way back when I first started writing…that’s even more fun!

 And when I got to see an EARLY draft in the first stages of this amazing story…well, as you can imagine, I am EXCEEDINGLY thrilled to sing Happy Birthday to BEFORE I LIVED HERE, written by Stacy S. Jensen, illustrated by Victo Ngai, and published by Neal Porter Books/Holiday House.

Listen friends…this is a truly special book! Just look at that cover! And wait till you see the inside spreads…you know you want your own copy, right? Thanks to the generosity of author Jensen and her publisher, there is a brand new copy that will be given away to one lucky winner…so please make sure you leave a comment and do your part to spread the word by sharing this post on social media.

And we are ALL lucky today because Stacy has stopped by to chat with us and share some of the story…and the story behind the story.
ME: Welcome to Picture Books Help Kids Soar, dear friend! Please tell us a little bit about the story and how it came to be.

STACY: Hello everyone! And Vivian, thank you so much for having me!

BEFORE I LIVED HERE is a book about a little boy who’s living in a new neighborhood. The story goes back in time with each page turn to share a different period of the land. It’s about the history of where you live. 

What inspired you to write this book? 

I lived in a neighborhood called Banning Lewis Ranch in Colorado Springs. It was an interesting place to live from the day we moved into the neighborhood to the day we left. Before the neighborhood, the land was part of a cattle ranch. 

How long to make this book? 

I scare people a little when I tell this story. I wrote the first draft in 2013. My son was three years old. When I received my first author copy and he held it, he was 15. While the book has a long journey, I always received nice feedback from professionals and critique partners. Writers, who also worked in classrooms, were always positive and sharing ways the book could be used in a school setting. I kept going and it sold to Neal Porter Books in 2021. Now, it’s a book that teachers and families can enjoy. 

When people look at my path to publication, some are surprised. Has it taken a long time? Maybe. Do I love the final product? Yes. The illustrations by Victo Ngai are gorgeous and will entertain young readers. BEFORE I LIVED HERE has received five nice trade reviews — two starred — and is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. 

I’ve also met so many nice people along the way like you Vivian and so many others who have read my work and helped me grow as a writer. Hopefully, I’ve returned the favor and helped others along the way too. 

Also, as a huge picture book fan, working with Neal Porter, Taylor Norman, Victo Ngai, and the team at Holiday House has been a delight. 

Thanks Vivian for sharing this special day with me and your readers. 

 ME: Thank you, dear Stacy! You definitely exhibited all 5P’s – Passion, Practice, Preparation, Patience, and Perseverance – and I am so very thrilled for you!

And now, dear blog readers, here is a little bit about the author and illustrator:

Stacy S. Jensen is a former newspaper journalist always searching for unique stories for children, which has led her to historical sites, state and national parks, and everyday spots like the grocery store. When not writing, she enjoys time with family, reading, and paper quilling. She also volunteers to support literacy, youth, and children’s programs. Previously a Colorado resident, she now lives in Marietta, Georgia at the base of a mountain with her husband, son, and two Vizslas, who walk their humans daily. Stacy can be found online at stacysjensen.com.


Victo Ngai is a Forbes 30 Under honoree and a Society of Illustrators New York Gold Medalist. Her illustrations have been featured in the New York Times and the New Yorker, among others; she also creates storyboards and art for NBC, Dreamworks, and other animation studios. Originally from Hong Kong, she now lives in Los Angeles.

For the interior credit: Interior 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.  

For more information about the book, this Holiday House link is great: https://holidayhouse.com/book/before-i-lived-here/

And don’t forget, there is a GIVEAWAY…please leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of BEFORE I LIVED HERE…maybe you can share what you see when you look out your back window.

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

Book Birthday: GILBERT AND THE GHOST

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Hip Hip Hooray!!! It’s a Book Birthday Post! Today we are welcoming GILBERT & THE GHOST into the world!

Written by Heather Stigall / Illustrated by Jess Mason
Beaming Books / August 19, 2025

Book Synopsis:

The ghost at 632 Savannah Street is real . . . right?

Gilbert often feels invisible, just like the ghost living at 632 Savannah Street. Despite his family’s disbelief, Gilbert leaves gifts for the ghost: a friendship bracelet, a plate of cookies, even a drawing with a note. When each disappears one by one, Gilbert finds that believing and friendship are worth the effort.

For kids who might often feel unseen, Gilbert and the Ghost is a ghostly tale of overcoming obstacles and finding friendship in mysterious places. Gothic, whimsical illustrations make this picture book perfect for spooky season, while its earnest themes make it worth a read all year round.

ME: I love books that can be used year-round! I also love when authors stop by to share a bit about how their books came to be…let’s welcome a dear kid lit friend of mine, author Heather Stigall.

HEATHER: Thank you, Vivian, for celebrating Gilbert and the Ghost’s book birthday on your blog! This story began with two things – a title idea and a childhood memory. The title came about during Tara Lazar’s 2020 StoryStorm challenge. Because I like wordplay, I thought “ghost writer” had potential for a picture book title. The childhood memory came from my happy place – the beach. When I was a child, my parents and aunt and uncle rented the same beach house for a few weeks each summer. One year, before we left our rental for the season, my cousins and I hid a note somewhere in the house, hoping to find a reply when we returned the following year. Surely someone would want to be our pen pal! The next summer, we checked our secret hiding spot. Did anyone reply? No. But our note was missing! Someone must have read it, right? Maybe they did reply, but another renter received the note before us. So, we tried again, for several years, believing that eventually we would become friends with another beach lover, even if we never met. With that memory in mind, I wondered if I could write a story about a child who wrote notes to a ghost he believed lived in his neighborhood, even though no one else believed. A friendship story between a child, who understood what it felt like to be invisible, just like a ghost, and a ghost, who might want a friend too. So, I did!

But the story doesn’t end there. Just like Gilbert in his pursuit to befriend the ghost he believes lives in his neighborhood, this book’s publication journey took persistence, resiliency, and belief. After several revisions and rounds with my critique partners, I began querying the manuscript. Among the usual rejections, I received a few requests for more work from agents and one offer of representation. After signing with my agent, we went out on submission to publishers. That resulted in several passes until an editor from Beaming Books expressed interest. But they didn’t offer immediately. The team had some questions about the story’s ending. So, I explained my vision for the story and crossed my fingers while waiting for a response. I was thrilled (and relieved) to receive a book deal with expected publication in fall 2024 (nope, that’s not a typo). In spring 2023, after I had completed edits and seen cover sketches for the book, my agent decided to step back from agenting, my editor was let go, and Beaming decided to push Gilbert’s publication to fall 2026 (still not a typo). It was a rough spring! Fast forward one more year: I had found a new agent, and Beaming Books decided to published Gilbert in fall 2025. That brings us today. Finally, after years of effort and waiting and believing, Gilbert and the Ghost is out in the world for readers to enjoy! 

ME: Oh my goodness! What patience! What persistence! We are so happy you never gave up on this story, dear Heather! And I know that many blog followers will relate to and sympathize with your journey…you give all of us hope!

Heather’s (Author) Bio:

Heather Stigall uses her experience with children and her degrees in Child Development, Psychology-based Human Relations, and Social Work to create stories that speak to kids. She is an active volunteer for the Eastern PA Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, a member of the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, and a wife and parent to five children and one pup. When she’s not writing, you can find Heather hanging out with her kids (hopefully at the beach), reading, eating chocolate, baking, or creating all sorts of treasures. She is the author of GILBERT AND THE GHOST (Beaming Books, 2025) which Kirkus Reviews praised as “a surefire hit for readers looking for seasonal fun.” Her debut picture book, PAISLEY’S BIG BIRTHDAY (Clavis Publishing, 2023), was a 2023 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award nominee and is available in six languages. You can connect with Heather through her website, HeatherPierceStigall.com, and her social media links at https://linktr.ee/HeatherStigall.

Jess Mason’s (Illustrator) Bio:

Jess Mason is an illustrator, cat lover, and avid reader. She graduated with first-class honors in illustration from the University of Worcester in 2018. Since then, she has worked on twelve middle-grade and picture books. Jess happily resides in a tiny cottage in Worcestershire, England with her beloved cat, Steve.

To find out more about Heather Stigall:

Website: https://www.heatherpiercestigall.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherpstigall

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_stigall7/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/heatherstigall7.bsky.social

You can find ordering options for Gilbert and the Ghost on Heather’s website as well as free downloadable educator materials

Thank you all for spending your precious time with us…and if you have a few more minutes, you can help this book become a success:
Buy the book
Review the book
Tell friends about the book (Please share on your social media)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: LIZARD INVASION

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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I always love featuring books that entertain and educate…and when they are written by dear kid lit folks I have met in person, that makes it even more enjoyable! Author Marta Magellan and I met at NCTE in Boston last November…and it was wonderful! And so, when I discovered that one of her books has been updated, I knew I’d want to share it with you. PLUS, Marta stopped by to share the story behind the story.


Written by Marta Magellan

Illustrated by Mauro Magellan

Published by Eifrig (Update printing September 15, 2025

Ages: 5 and up

Themes: Lizards, Animal Habitat, STEM

Why I Love This Book:
1. I love books that entertain and educate – books that spark a child’s interest and get them to want to know more!
2. I love books that can be enjoyed at home as well as used in the classroom!
3. I love books that provide young readers with great illustrations and photos!

And now the promised treat…a visit from author Marta.
Welcome, my friend! Thank you for stopping by to chat with us. Can you tell us a little bit about the book…and how it came to be?

MARTA: Thank you so much, Vivian. I’m so happy to visit Picture Books Help Kids Soar.
Synopsis: 
The little green lizard called the Carolina or green anole is the only native anole in the United States, and it is in trouble. An invasion of lizards from other countries is taking their territory, eating their eggs, even eating them. Green anoles are important to gardens and forests because they are unintentional pollinators. As they search for insects to eat, they spread pollen and help plants grow. Green anoles belong here, but the invading lizards moving into Florida from other areas are more aggressive. Will the little green anole survive? 

How I came to write the book:

For some reason, I love watching lizards. I even had several lizards for pets until I decided wild animals belong in the wild. Back in 2009, I wrote a book titled Those Lively Lizards for Pineapple Press, a Florida regional publishing house. A librarian in the north of Florida found it on her stack and suggested it be used for a summer workshop called Nature Detectives, sponsored by the St. Augustine Garden Club. They invited me to present the book. The St. Augustine Garden Club gave each child a plant, and they were willing to buy the kids who attended a book, too. Those Lively Lizards was about all types of lizards from anoles to Komodo dragons, and my presentation had nothing to do with pollination (which is what they wanted). So my book just wasn’t quite right for them (I had heard that before–the story of my writing life–“it’s not the right fit for us” LOL). 

Five years later, the director of the program wrote to me again. She wanted a book solely on anoles, the small kinds that unintentionally pollinate plants, and she asked me to recommend one. I could not find any still in print. A small independent publisher, Eifrig Publishing (a PAL publisher with SCBWI), had just published my picture book, The Nutty Little Vulture, which my brother, Mauro Magellan had illustrated. I proposed a book about anoles to Penny Eifrig, and she said she would publish it with a caveat “…if Mauro illustrates it.” Anole Invasion was published in 2019. Since then, every book but one that I wrote for Eifrig Publishing has been illustrated by Mauro (interspersed with photographs). Together we have created several books about pollinators, and the garden club always uses them for their Nature Detectives workshops. He also illustrated one we wrote for Pineapple Press, Python Catchers, Saving the Everglades, about the Burmese python invasion.

Why an update?

Five years after using Anole Invasion in the St. Johns County libraries, the director of the Nature Detectives workshops, Cathy Snyder, wrote that she wanted to use it again (they usually bought from 200-250 copies). In those short few years, Florida has been overrun with nonnative reptiles. You might have heard about the Burmese pythons that invaded the Everglades, but all kinds of reptiles now call Florida home. Because Eifrig is a small publisher, she had run out of copies of the original, so she agreed to update the book when Cathy Snyder suggested it. The person listed as Science Editor, Kirsten Hines, is a herpetologist, who is environmentally focused, and she once again vetted the manuscript. We changed the title to Lizard Invasion because now all kinds of lizards are invading the little native lizard’s territory, not just anoles. My brother also redesigned the cover to be bolder and cleaner, and the publisher listed it and got a new ISBN number. Those leaves are design elements; I don’t think Mauro illustrated them. He illustrated the lizards on page 4, 10, 15, 19, 20, 23, and the cover. I am attaching a photo of both of us if you need it.

Other information:

The only one of the Eifrig books Mauro did not illustrate was Amazing, Misunderstood Bats, which sold to schools and even to use as a mentor text in an education class at Columbia University. Although Eifrig Publishing is a very small publisher, it has been delightful writing for Penny Eifrig. I love presenting the pollinator books to children all over Florida, and especially to the Nature Detectives workshops. The kids enjoy getting a new book, signed by the author and a plant to boot. It’s a great program.

Bios:

Author Marta Magellan and Illustrator Mauro Magellan are a brother and sister team who have collaborated on picture books focused on conservation and wildlife. Almost all their books have won honors from Eureka! Nonfiction Award, Green Earth Book Award, Florida Book Award Bronze, Crystal Kite and more. Marta spent most of her career teaching English Composition, Creative Writing and as advisor to the literary magazine at Miami Dade College. Now she writes full time. Mauro is a songwriter as well as an author, illustrator, and drummer with the band Dan Baird and Homemade Sin. 

Lizard Invasion will be in print on Amazon and Barnes & Noble September 15. It is also available in print in advance on the Eifrig website from June 15.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lizard-Invasion-Floridas-Little-Survival/dp/1632334062/ (until Sept. 14, Kindle only)

Amazon link for the paperback updated version which should be available Septembeer 15.

Eifrig Publishing: https://www.eifrigpublishing.com/products/anole-invasion 

Thank you all for spending your precious time with us. If you love the books that are featured here, I hope you will help them become successful. You can:
Buy the book
Review the book
Tell friends about the book (Please share this post on social media)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!