If I Built a School

Chris Van Dusen

BookEarly ChildhoodElementaryArchitect

About

In this exuberant addition to the award-winning If I Built series, Jack fantasizes about his dream school—from classroom to cafeteria, from library to playground!

“My school will amaze you. My school will astound.
By far the most fabulous school to be found!”

Jack is back! And this time, his imagination takes him back to school, where he dreams up the ideal environment for him and his classmates. If Jack built a school, there would be hover desks and pop-up textbooks, skydiving wind tunnels, a trampoline basketball court in the gym, a robo-chef to serve lunch in the cafeteria, field trips to Mars, and a whole lot more.

Complete with detailed, futuristic illustrations, bright colors, and an infectious rhythm, this out-of-this-world read-aloud is a master class in imaginative fun.

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Why it’s great

Rhyming text and retro-bright art follow young Jack as he imagines classrooms with hover desks, aquarium hallways, and a zip-line recess—​a joyful invitation to think beyond the box. The exaggeration makes kids laugh while subtly teaching that architects solve real user needs (comfort, flow, fun). Great for sparking family discussions: “What would your school look like?” A read-aloud that blends creativity with design thinking.

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Resource Details

Resource Type: Book
Age Ranges: Early Childhood, Elementary
Careers: Architect
Subjects:

Book Details

Author: Chris Van Dusen