If I Built a Car, Chris Van Dusen
If I Built a Car, Chris Van Dusen
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If I Built a Car

Author: Chris Van Dusen

Narrator: Pierce Cravens

Unabridged: 5 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/05/2019

Categories: Children's Fiction


Synopsis

WINNER OF THE E.B. WHITE READ-ALOUD AWARD • The first book in the If I Built series kicks off with a young boy’s ideal wheels, from acclaimed author and illustrator Chris Van Dusen.

“Energetic verse and jubilant, action-packed artwork make this tale of a young inventor’s fantastic daydream a joy ride.”—Publishers Weekly

”My car will be cool! My car will be keen!
My car will be one big fantastic machine!”

Sitting in the back seat of his dad’s car, Jack begins to imagine all the ways he would improve the vehicle. After spending the night designing, tweaking, and refining, Jack is prepared to give an eye-opening tour of the car he'd like to build.

For starters, there's a snack bar, a pool, and even a robot named Robert to act as chauffeur. Plus, the motor releases fragrances of blueberry muffins and roses rather than gasoline. With Jack's soaring imagination in the driver's seat, readers will be deep-sea diving one minute and flying high above traffic the next in this whimsical, tantalizing take on the car of the future.

Packed with detailed illustrations recalling an era of classic American automobiles, bright colors, and an infectious rhythm, this wonderful read-aloud is a launch pad for imaginative fun.

About The Author

Chris Van Dusen is the author and illustrator of several highly acclaimed picture books, including the hugely popular Mercy Watson series. His book, If I Built a Car won the 2006 E.B. White Read-Aloud Award presented by The Association of Booksellers for Children. He and his family live in Camden, Maine.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Laura

Personal response: I thought this was such a fun book. It reminded me a lot of the movie Meet the Robinsons, so it was fun to make that connection. The first time I read it, I thought it was just about futuristic cars. With more read throughs I realized that it is set in the 1950s or 1960s and I tho......more

Goodreads review by Elaine

An all time favorite! Van Dusen writes the most amazing books. My son has loved robots and all things mechanical since he was a toddler so this particular book was a perfect fit for him. As a parent I appreciate the authors frequent use of multisyllabic words. I have often found that my son is full o......more

Goodreads review by Tiuri

Greatly encourages creativity, ingenuity, and inventiveness!!! If you have a child who loves to build things, this could be a perfect book.......more

Goodreads review by Mark

Fun to read and great pictures! If you’re kids are into cars, or enjoy a Dr. Seuss style rhyme then this is a great one for you. I really enjoyed the illustration style too!......more


Quotes

Energetic verse and jubilant, action-packed artwork make this tale of a young inventor?s fantastic daydream a joy ride. (Publishers Weekly)