Elissa Haden Guest is the author of Baby Builders, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata and the award-winning Iris and Walter series illustrated by Christine Davenier. She holds an MFA in Children’s Literature from Hollins University and teaches classes in writing for children and young adults at Stanford Continuing Studies. She and her husband have two swell children and two hilarious little grandsons. They live in San Francisco where they root for the Golden State Warriors.

I grew up in Greenwich Village, New York City. My older brothers and I played in Washington Square Park. We leapt off benches, stood on seesaws and zipped around on our bikes. At home I spent hours playing with my dolls.

The village felt cozy to me with its crooked streets, tenements, and brownstones. When my family moved uptown, it felt as if we’d moved to the country. Riverside Park was around the corner and suddenly there was all this green space—all this room to run around.

Cherry trees blossomed in the spring. And, in the winter, you could see large chunks of ice floating down the Hudson River.

Once during a huge blizzard, my best friend and I trudged through the snow and into the park. We didn’t see another soul. It was thrilling! The snow kept falling and falling and we felt as if the whole city belonged to us alone.

I loved growing up in the city. I loved roller-skating up and down my block. I loved the giddy feeling of racing outside and exploring Riverside Park. I loved my independence.

Now I live on the other side of the country. I still love parks. And now when I go exploring, it’s my grandsons who lead the way.