Before You Were Here

Dive into a vibrant celebration of our connection to the natural world in this stunning picture book perfect for fans of Matt de la Peña and Loren Long’s LOVE and Jason Chin’s THE UNIVERSE IN YOU.

Before you were here, you were everywhere...

You were once the sunshine when it struck the trees. You were water, powerful enough to wear away mountains. You were soil deep beneath the earth.

Now that you’re here, the world waits for you.

Everywhere.

Follow a young child as he explores the world around him and begins to understand that he is connected to all things -- sunshine which nourishes us, water which makes up most of our bodies, and soil which contains minerals that keep us strong and healthy.

Blending a tale of new life with real science, this picture book by New York Times bestselling author of the Uglies series Scott Westerfeld and illustrated by Sibert Honor-winning Jessica Lanan is a sweeping ode to a parent’s love for their child, budding life, and the Earth that we live on.

*Includes robust backmatter that expands on the ways the natural world lives in our bodies.

Scott Westerfeld is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of over thirty books for adults and young readers, including the Uglies series and the Leviathan trilogy. He has been nominated for and has won numerous awards, including the Locus, the Nebula, and the Aurealis. Scott lives in New York City. Before You Were Here is his debut picture book.

Jessica Lanan is the creator of Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider and The Fisherman & the Whale, a Colorado Book Award finalist and winner of the Bull-Bransom Award for wildlife art. She has illustrated many other picture books, including The Lost Package, Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet, and Thank You, Moon. She lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her daughter and cat.