Local author Lynn Baldwin’s picture book, “My Backyard Used to Be,” is a beautiful, timeless story, perfect for igniting curiosity in your little ones. Loosely set in southeastern Michigan, the story travels back in time and peers into the vast history of a young girl’s backyard.
“When you give a child a book, you’re giving a present that sparks imagination and encourages bonding over reading,” said Baldwin. “My book inspires curiosity as it prompts kids to think about what their own backyard used to be.”
Initially inspired by a biography of Harriet Tubman written in the similar “backwards” format, Baldwin had taken a while to find the right story to go with it. After a conversation with a neighbor at a block party on how their entire neighborhood used to be a farm, the two strings of thought tied together to make “My Backyard Used to Be.”
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In the story, readers start in the backyard and fly back through time all the way to the era of the mastodons, teaching children about the vastness of the past and the history of our world. One of the most stand out qualities of the book is Baldwin’s lyrical writing style. It focuses on sound and clarity rather than complexity in order to get the point across to a younger audience in a way that keeps them engaged.
“For me, I really enjoy language and trying to find exactly the right word,” Baldwin said. “I liked trying to find the words that are fun to say and fun to read aloud because since picture books are for kids, they’re more often heard by them than read by them.”
Baldwin’s focus on her target audience goes beyond the writing. When asked what the most rewarding part of her process has been, she responded “I really enjoy sharing the book with children.” Since the release of the book, she’s done readings at bookstores and schools, all for the joy of watching kids react to her story.
“For younger kids I made a song about the book to the tune of ‘Three Blind Mice’,” Baldwin said. “Younger kids really enjoy that and it’s just really fun watching them sing it.”
On March 21, Baldwin will be doing a reading of “My Backyard Used to Be” at Courageous Books. The book is also featured in a StoryWalk at the Tridge in downtown Brighton where readers can walk and explore both the story and the route. My Backyard Used to Be is available in store at select independent bookstores and wherever books are sold online.
