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    The Children's Book Review

    If I Built a School, by Chris Van Dusen | Book Spotlight

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze2 Mins Read General
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    The Children’s Book Review

    Award-Winning Author-Illustrator Chris Van Dusen is back with an exuberant companion to If I Built a Car!

    In If I Built a School, a boy fantasizes about his dream school—from classroom to cafeteria to library to playground—and it’s totally awesome. This is a book for any child that loves to stretch their imagination far off into the future!

    About the Book

    If I Built a SchoolIf I Built a School

    Written and Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

    Publisher’s Synopsis: If Jack built a school, there would be hover desks and pop-up textbooks, skydiving wind tunnels and 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. The inventive boy who described his ideal car and house in previous books is dreaming even bigger this time.

    My school will amaze you. My school will astound.
    By far the most fabulous school to be found!
    Perfectly planned and impeccably clean.
    On a scale, 1 to 10, it’s more like 15!
    And learning is fun in a place that’s fun, too.

    Ages 5-8 | Publisher: Dial Books | August 13, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-0525552918

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    About the Author-Illustrator

    Chris Van Dusen was born in Portland, Maine and received his BFA from University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He has created illustrations that have been published in magazines and books and printed on T-shirts and greeting cards. He won the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award for If I Built a House. In addition to his own books, Chris has illustrated Kate DiCamillo’s Mercy Watson and Tales from Deckawoo Drive chapter book series. He lives in Maine with his wife, two sons, and their dog.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Illustration Inspiration: Chris Van Dusen, Illustrator of If I Built a School
    2. The Schoolies Series | Book Reviews
    3. Edda: A Little Valkyrie’s First Day At School, by Adam Auerbach | Book Review
    4. Kisses for Kindergarten | Book Spotlight

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Back-to-School Chris Van Dusen Dial books School School Life Spolight
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    Previous Article5 Reassuring Picture Books for New Kindergarteners and the Back-to-School Crew
    Next Article How to Prepare for a Successful School Year 
    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

    29 Comments

    1. Sara on August 8, 2019 2:03 pm

      The two other books in my school library: How to build a car and How to build a house are very popular. I’d love to win this so the students can enjoy it too.

      Reply
    2. Jazmin G. on August 8, 2019 2:52 pm

      We love Chris Van Dusen’s work!

      Reply
    3. Nancy Jachcik on August 8, 2019 7:51 pm

      I think my grandson would enjoy reading this book . He has quite the imagination and I am sure he would relate to the story!

      Reply
    4. Sara Oppler on August 8, 2019 7:58 pm

      Oh my gosh my kids love these books!

      Reply
    5. Beth T. on August 8, 2019 10:16 pm

      I would be thrilled to add Chris Van Dusen to the “little library” I’m putting together for my grand-nephew; his books are absolute gems.

      Reply
    6. Carol Luciano on August 8, 2019 10:16 pm

      This sounds like a book my grandsons would love. Since both boys are great with their imagining and creativity. Sounds like a very talented Author. Thanks for the giveaway chance.

      Reply
      • Val Ledesma on September 3, 2019 6:04 pm

        It is every kids dream to build a school to their very own liking. Trips to Mars would be my nephew’s favorite thing too. I am most excited to win this book for my nephew

        Reply
    7. Linda A Gawthrop on August 9, 2019 5:40 am

      I volunteer at my local library and I would love to share this with my young patrons. We offer visits with the kindergarten teachers to get them ready to start school and this would be a great story to read to them!

      Reply
    8. Mary W on August 10, 2019 5:19 am

      The kids are just starting or about to start real school and this book would help with the transition.

      Reply
    9. Barbara on August 13, 2019 10:21 am

      I’m always adding books for my grandchildren to the book shelves. They are all different ages and this would be a good one for them.

      Reply
    10. Anne on August 13, 2019 4:07 pm

      My grandchildren who are all readers would love this delightful and wonderful book.

      Reply
    11. John Smith on August 13, 2019 4:17 pm

      “Tell us why you are excited to win a copy of this book!” Chris Van Dusen is great!

      Reply
    12. Donna on August 19, 2019 3:42 am

      This book sounds so fun! I would love to share it with my grandchildren. They would really enjoy it!

      Reply
    13. Lisa Frank on August 20, 2019 5:32 pm

      If I Built a School sounds like a story that would make every child want to use their imagination to expand on the main characters idea of a dream school. I’d love to read this to my niece over and over again – because once won’t do.

      Reply
    14. Lynn Pendlebury on August 21, 2019 5:29 am

      This book would be a pageturner and good topic of conversation after reading it.

      Reply
    15. Teresa D Kunberger on August 24, 2019 5:07 am

      My kids would adore this book I’d love to add to our home library 😉

      Reply
    16. Gina Ferrell on August 24, 2019 8:23 pm

      I’m excited to win this book because Chris Van Dusen they’re full of imagination and fun.

      Reply
    17. Esperanza Gailliard on August 27, 2019 9:03 pm

      I am super excited to read this book to my grandboys!

      Reply
    18. Pauline Milner on August 28, 2019 5:09 am

      This book sounds like a lot of fun. I would certainly enjoy reading it with Cameron and Patrick! Thanks for the super giveaway opportunity.

      Reply
    19. Brenda on August 31, 2019 7:30 am

      For the past several years, my nephew gives each student at Longfellow Elementary a new book for Christmas. Last year there were more than 550 kids. He and I spend the year buying and gathering new books so that he can make sure each child gets something new and enjoyable for Christmas. “If I Built a School” would be a wonderful gift for one of the children to have.

      Reply
    20. NANCY on August 31, 2019 11:35 pm

      Looks like a fun book. Thanks.

      Reply
    21. susan hartman on August 31, 2019 11:38 pm

      My grandson loves being read to. This one looks like a goodie!

      Reply
    22. Victoria Scott on September 1, 2019 4:59 pm

      I think my kids would love this book!

      Reply
    23. Natalie on September 2, 2019 1:22 pm

      My niece loves reading with me and would love this book!

      Reply
    24. Tina on September 3, 2019 5:37 pm

      It looks like a cute book. I am always looking for fun books that my granddaughter would love to read over and over again.

      Reply
    25. LeAnn Harbert on September 5, 2019 7:33 pm

      I want this book for my granddaughters. I think they would enjoy it.

      Reply
    26. Susan P. on September 5, 2019 11:50 pm

      This looks like a book the younger kids would love!

      Reply
    27. Antoinette M on September 6, 2019 1:42 pm

      This would be a great book for my niece!

      Reply
    28. LeAnn Harbert on September 7, 2019 6:53 pm

      My son would like this book for his classroom.

      Reply
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