If I Built a School (If I Built Series)

My sons loved the first two in the series, and this is just as wonderful as the others. (Or maybe even better?)

It's funny and delightful, with excellent rhymes. Great illustrations, once again.

I was also pleased that it didn't go the direction of "AND RECESS ALL DAY" (which sends the subtle message that learning sucks). There was none of that at all.

A perfect back to school or anytime book :).

My child is obsessed with Chris Van Dusen books and this newest one does not disappoint. The illustrations are spectacular, imaginative, and we stare at the playground page picking out "what we would go on first" for a long time each time we read this book.

What I love most about this series is the creativity it inspires in my child. It's like, while I was reading these "If I built" books to him for the first time -- a light-bulb went off that sparked a creative snowball effect in his life. Everything is now "if I built a playground" or "if I built a grocery store".

Chris: if you read this - please write more. We love them, and thank you.

Another brilliant book which does not disappoint!! VanDusen has to be the best children’s book author at the moment! We probably have all his work. Great stories, fantastic rhymes (that are not forced like so many others), and amazing illustrations to go with! My son loves finding the characters from his other books drawn into the pictures! I wish he had 50 more books!!

I was scheduled as mystery reader for my son’s 3rd grade class. Honestly, I was really nervous about picking a book. This was a hit! Everyone was super attentive and obviously engaged. Teacher wasn’t even familiar with it and she loved it! We have found a new series!

This author was recommended to me by a friend in ME, and I am so glad I took a chance on some of his other books. My kids (4 and 5) really like the "If I built a car" and "If I built a house" books, as well as the Circus Ship (I think that's the name), so I had this one in my cart for a while but hesitated because it was only hardcover and pricey. I finally took advantage of an Amazon '3 for the price of 2' promotion and am so glad I did. This one is the best. The kids relate and awe at everything he suggests as being "needed" in his school, and they really enjoy the other 2 now even more (My daughter says he needs to do a "If I built a boat" one next). This one is worth the extra coin - even better when it comes out on paperback but if you are waiting like I was, I recommend it despite the cost. It's a beautiful book. Enjoy!

My kids LOVE Chris Van Dusen's "If I Built A..." books. We've been waiting for this one to be released for months and it did not disappoint. It has been my 5 and 7 year old's first choice of bedtime story every night for the past week since it arrived. Vibrant illustrations bring to life the imaginative story. As always some subtle and clever delights in the details of the artwork as well. Worth. Every. Penny.

Very impressed, the book hits all the points like those before it; my kids and I loved it...so much so my son wants to pen a letter thanking the author. Enjoy!

I wrote a hands on project for my students using this book as inspiration. My kids loved it!!!

Like this book's predecessors, Chris Van Dusen creates a fantastic vision of what might be...someday. This installment contains one boy's vision of what a school could be--hover desks, robo-chefs in the cafeteria, trampoline basketball during PE, and in the library? Books with pop out, 3D characters that show you what the book is about, of course!! Such imagination is demonstrated and the vivid, detailed illustrations will be sure to grab the attention of readers. Although the book's target audience is likely grades 1-3, students of all ages might enjoy taking the intriguing ideas and taking them further or deeper. I see opportunities for all sorts of applications in writing and STEM classes for a myriad of ages and abilities. Great choice, Texas Bluebonnet Award nominating committee!

This book is another hit of this author!! My son loves Chris Van Dusen’s books, despite he is at age of reading chapter books (3d grade). Throughout the last few years, we’ve collected almost all of them and have been giving as gifts to a number of our friends. If I Build a School seems to be a prototype of If I Build a House, but it’s very fun in its own way. The author’s imagination and creativity are out of this world :)