If I Built a Town
Chris Van Dusen
- Pages
- 41 pages
- Published
- 2025
Content report card
What's inside
Violence
Fighting, weapons, death
Language
Swearing, crude humor
Sexual content
Romance intensity, nudity
LGBTQ+ themes
Presence of characters or themes
Scary or mature
Horror, trauma, heavy themes
Substance use
Alcohol, drugs, smoking
What it offers
Positive messages
Kindness, courage, honesty, resilience
Positive role models
Characters who model good judgment and growth
Educational value
History, science, culture, how the world works
A note for parents
This is a delightful, imaginative picture book with no concerning content that celebrates creativity, civic engagement, and inclusive community planning. Jack models enthusiasm, generosity, and problem-solving while engaging respectfully with an authority figure (the mayor). The story encourages young readers to think about how communities can be improved and designed with everyone's needs in mind, making it ideal for preschool through early elementary ages.
Analyzed by AI · 1 hour ago
Parent age guide
Is “If I Built a Town” right for your kid?
Ready to read at any age.
Based on this book's content report card and typical guidance by age. You know your reader best.
For your family
Checking the fit for your readers…
Where to borrow
Checking free sources…
From the publisher
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A joyful and inventive read-aloud, part of the award-winning If I Built series! Join Jack and his larger-than-life imagination as he dreams up his ideal town, where everyone is welcome. “Sunny, inclusive, and imaginary.”—Kirkus Reviews "My town will be swanky! My town will be swel... AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A joyful and inventive read-aloud, part of the award-winning If I Built series! Join Jack and his larger-than-life imagination as he dreams up his ideal town, where everyone is welcome. “Sunny, inclusive, and imaginary.”—Kirkus Reviews "My town will be swanky! My town will be swell! My town will be prized as the best place to dwell!" Jack has some great ideas for improving the community he lives in. And who better to describe them to than Mayor McKay! As they walk through the park together, Jack eagerly tells the mayor his plans for improving their town. And what a town he has dreamed up! The zoo is packed with fantastic, Jurassic, and mythical creatures, the mail is delivered by super-fast hover vans, the health clinic travels right to your door, and a parade passes through each and every week. And don't forget the robots! All of Jack's plans include the most exciting and useful serving machines. But best of all, everything is free! Jack's over-the-top creativity and infectious enthusiasm will inspire budding young inventors. It's a story time romp that you'll want to return to again and again.
Shelved under
- Juvenile Fiction
ISBN 9780593324981 · Penguin Group