Before I Lived Here

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.

Author: Stacy S. Jensen
Publisher: Neal Porter Books
Published: 08/26/2025
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 10.20h x 10.30w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9780823452231
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 06/01/2025
Publishers Weekly 05/19/2025
School Library Journal 07/01/2025 pg. 65
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2025
Booklist 08/01/2025

About the Author
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.