The Other Side of the Garden by Sili Recio and Elena Djome Lawrence

Today we feature Sili Recio & Elena Lawrence and their picture book, The Other Side of the Garden, illustrated by Brianna McCarthy.

KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book?

Elena told me this story on November 2, 2019. I know the date because it was recounted during one of our nighttime convos. She said "when I was little" and that phrase, combined with the things she was saying, made me take notes as she spoke. I wasn't sure what this would become, but it felt like such an important story. It sat in my notes app and I slowly created the full story around what she shared. I didn't send a proposal until July of 2021. Months later, I spoke to Denene Millner, my editor, and we talked about the themes. I took lots of notes, edited the story and submitted the final draft. We received a formal offer in October of 2022. 
 
KLiC: What kind of research did you do for The Other Side of the Garden?

Because this was a story that Elena recounted as a lived experience, there wasn't a lot to research around the heart of the story. The research we did was around what other books existed in the space for kids. I felt that there was a need for more books like this one, and I'm now glad that it's here for others. I'm especially grateful to be in the company of a book like The Toy Airplane which offers another opportunity to dance with the topic of grief.

KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book?

Brianna is such a brilliant illustrator. This book wouldn't land with the power, beauty and depth that the story carries without her illustrations. When I saw the first sketches, my breath caught in my chest at the spread toward the end of the book where it shows the little girl's growth over time. I tear up recounting this even now. It reminded me of how much Elena has grown over the years, but also how much life has grown around our grief.
 
Elena: I love every single illustration created by Brianna. I'm truly grateful we have such an amazing artist to help bring this project to life. If I had to pick one, I'd say it's the cover image where the girl is holding the butterfly. I also love the cats that can be found in the background throughout the book.

KLiC: What's the one thing you want children to take away from your book?

Elena: I hope that when kids read this book, they gain a sense of comfort. It can be hard losing someone at a young age, but it's important to understand it gets easier with support from others.
 
Sili: I want children to feel seen and validated. We don't often explore what children are feeling after the loss of a loved one because they might not have the words to explain. I pray this gives them visibility and an understanding that they're not alone.
 
KLiC: What's next for you?

​Elena would probably say college. She will be a junior next year and we are already discussing college visits, SATs, and application essays. I'm sitting in expectation as to what our little book will do for her as she moves forward in life. That's been the unexpected treat this project has provided.
 
For me? There's another children's book in the works and I'm mulling over several other projects for older children and adults. But immediately next is the desire to be present with this new book, to sit with people in their grief – children especially – as this book makes it out into the world.

Sili Recio has been calling herself a writer since she won a trophy in a poetry contest in the sixth grade. She is an Afro-Dominican storyteller, disruptor, and Mami. Sili earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rollins College. She entered the world of social media via her blog in 2010 and has never looked back. Sili lives in Florida with her daughter, the Frog Princess, and tries not to pass on her love of café con leche to her child. She is failing. You can visit her at SiliRecio.com.

Elena Djome Lawrence is an artist and violinist who excels in both her schoolwork and creative projects. Her literary debut picture book The Other Side of the Garden was inspired by a story she shared with her mother when she was nine years old. Her imaginative telling of her own grief serves as the foundation of the book, offering inspiration to those navigating their own journeys of loss.

Headshot credit: Deshay Washingtongton)