“If I Built a School,” by Chris Van Dusen
Dial Books for Young Readers, New York, 2019, 32 pages, K-2
Sometimes books are just supposed to be fun and enjoyable. These books are refreshing to youngsters because they are not moralizing about proper behavior. This gives the stories laughter and joy.
Chris Van Dusen writes such books. “If I Built a School” is one such story. In this tale, we see a young boy telling his teacher that the school he attends is boring. To her surprise, he then tells his teacher all the ways he will make the school more fun and exciting.
It all begins with young Jack discussing their school with his teacher, Miss Jane. The basic problem is that the school is too boring. Miss Jane is puzzled. Why is the school boring? Everything is ordered and in its place which makes the teacher feel comfortable. Jack tells Miss Jane that this is really the basic problem. With this, the boy launches off into a detailed account of how to make the school better.
First, puppies need to greet the children when they come to school. This will be a joyful event each day and will ensure that the students will want to come to school. Since puppies make the children feel good, Jack will also include zoo animals at the school entrance.
Second, all the students will zoom through tubes to class. This will make the day exciting. Next, Jack will construct planetariums throughout the building. As the students move throughout the structure, they can study plant life and learn how things grow.
The desks in the school will be hovercrafts. Now, the students can zip easily everywhere they want to go. Thoughtfully, Jack requires that the hovercrafts have bumpers on them in case of driving accidents.
School lunches will be exciting as well. The cook in the lunchroom is a giant robot named Pete. He can make anything from peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to seared squid. Jack’s school just keeps getting better and better as he explains his excited thoughts to Miss Jane. What else does Jack dream about?
What does the library look like? How do you learn music and art in this school? How do the students travel and explore outside of the building? What does Miss Jane think about Jack’s ideas? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out Chris Van Dusen’s delightful book, “If I Built a School.”
Children will love the fanciful ideas and quirky plans shared by Jack. The artwork in the book is delightful and eye-catching. Reading this story is more like a romp through the imagination.
While it is impossible to attempt most of the ideas in this book, children will laugh and enjoy all the episodes in Jack’s adventures. So if you are looking for a book filled with fun and laughs, this is the title for you. Chris Van Dusen’s other two books in the series, “If I Built a Car” and “If I Built a House” are equally charming.
