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If I Built ...
If I Built a Car
?If i built a car, it?d be totally new! Here are a few of the things that i?d do. . . .? Jack has designed the ultimate fantasy car. inspired by zeppelins and trains, Cadillacs and old planes, with brilliant colors and lots of shiny chrome, this far-out vision is ready to cruise! there?s a fireplace, a pool, and even a snack bar! After a tour of the ritzy interior, robert the robot starts up the motor . . . and Jack and his dad set off on the wildest test drive ever!
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2005
48 people are currently reading
1564 people want to read
About the author
Chris Van Dusen
52 books318 followersChris Van Dusen writes: “I was born in Portland, Maine, on St. Patrick’s Day, 1960. As a child, my brothers and I would spend hours drawing pictures. We didn’t have video games or computers to entertain us, so we drew instead. One of my brothers would sketch intricate war scenes. Another would draw animals so realistic you’d swear they were breathing. My specialty was aliens, robots, and monsters.
“Dr. Seuss and Robert McCloskey were my heroes. I loved the rhythm of Dr. Seuss’ words and I was fascinated by the meticulous detail of Robert McCloskey’s illustrations. I had no idea back then that I’d end up writing and illustrating children’s books when I grew up.
“After high school, I studied fine art at The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and graduated with a BFA in 1982. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do. First I was a waiter, and then I was offered a part-time job at a magazine for teenagers. Eventually I started drawing cartoons and illustrations for the magazine and my career as an illustrator was born.
“For more than ten years I worked as a freelance illustrator specializing in art for kids. I was doing mostly editorial work and my illustrations appeared in magazines like Nickelodeon, Family Fun, and Disney Adventures. One day I started thinking about drawing a picture of a boat stuck high up in a tree. I thought that would be a really funny and intriguing illustration. At the same time, a refrain kept running through my head—“Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee / Hopped in the car and drove down to the sea.” The combination of these two things eventually became my first book, Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee (Chronicle), which was published in 2000. Since then I’ve written and illustrated A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee (Chronicle) (2003), If I Built a Car (Puffin) (2005) and I’ve had a ball illustrating Kate DiCamillo’s Mercy Watson series (Candlewick).
“Dr. Seuss and Robert McCloskey were my heroes. I loved the rhythm of Dr. Seuss’ words and I was fascinated by the meticulous detail of Robert McCloskey’s illustrations. I had no idea back then that I’d end up writing and illustrating children’s books when I grew up.
“After high school, I studied fine art at The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and graduated with a BFA in 1982. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do. First I was a waiter, and then I was offered a part-time job at a magazine for teenagers. Eventually I started drawing cartoons and illustrations for the magazine and my career as an illustrator was born.
“For more than ten years I worked as a freelance illustrator specializing in art for kids. I was doing mostly editorial work and my illustrations appeared in magazines like Nickelodeon, Family Fun, and Disney Adventures. One day I started thinking about drawing a picture of a boat stuck high up in a tree. I thought that would be a really funny and intriguing illustration. At the same time, a refrain kept running through my head—“Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee / Hopped in the car and drove down to the sea.” The combination of these two things eventually became my first book, Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee (Chronicle), which was published in 2000. Since then I’ve written and illustrated A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee (Chronicle) (2003), If I Built a Car (Puffin) (2005) and I’ve had a ball illustrating Kate DiCamillo’s Mercy Watson series (Candlewick).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 422 reviews
February 21, 2015
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 thought that was a really neat perspective.
Purposes:
1. Enjoyment/Enrichment
-Simply put, kids will like this book. I think boys will especially like it, but I can see a lot of girls loving it too. If I used this as a read aloud apart from any special unit plan or lesson and just for enjoyment, I think the kids would still like it and it would still get them thinking.
-As a read aloud, I would use this for 1st or 2nd grade and possibly 3rd grade.
2. Curriculum
-I can see myself using this in the classroom for a variety of curricular purposes. The first would be with a social studies unit on the 1950s or 1960s. The book would provide discussion for how people in these times imagined the future.
-Another possible use would be a social studies unit on the future. I could see this book paired with another book that talks about time capsules. Kids could imagine what the future may be like.
-Another purpose would be for a science unit on inventing. I think kids would love imagining what kind of car they would invent and It would also provide for some great bulletin board art.
-A last possible purpose would be for some writing prompts that go along with any of the purposes above or own their own. Kids could write about what they think future will be like, what kind of car they would invent, or what write about what people in the past may have thought 2015 would be like.
3. Independent reading
-A child who is interested in cars may really enjoy this book. It would be for a child who is more advanced in reading or is in an upper grade.
Other:
Illustrations: I love the illustrations in this book and I think they are very creative. I like that the colors are reminiscent of 1950s and 1960s colors. It provides a great setting for the story.
Vocabulary: The vocabulary in this book is really rich and is a great source to learn some "rare" words. Some examples are "grand," "analyze," "refine," "contemplate," "zeppelins," "retractable," "keen," "burble," and "catamaran." The book also includes more technical words like "fender," "chrome," "plexiglass," "steel," and "polymer."
Purposes:
1. Enjoyment/Enrichment
-Simply put, kids will like this book. I think boys will especially like it, but I can see a lot of girls loving it too. If I used this as a read aloud apart from any special unit plan or lesson and just for enjoyment, I think the kids would still like it and it would still get them thinking.
-As a read aloud, I would use this for 1st or 2nd grade and possibly 3rd grade.
2. Curriculum
-I can see myself using this in the classroom for a variety of curricular purposes. The first would be with a social studies unit on the 1950s or 1960s. The book would provide discussion for how people in these times imagined the future.
-Another possible use would be a social studies unit on the future. I could see this book paired with another book that talks about time capsules. Kids could imagine what the future may be like.
-Another purpose would be for a science unit on inventing. I think kids would love imagining what kind of car they would invent and It would also provide for some great bulletin board art.
-A last possible purpose would be for some writing prompts that go along with any of the purposes above or own their own. Kids could write about what they think future will be like, what kind of car they would invent, or what write about what people in the past may have thought 2015 would be like.
3. Independent reading
-A child who is interested in cars may really enjoy this book. It would be for a child who is more advanced in reading or is in an upper grade.
Other:
Illustrations: I love the illustrations in this book and I think they are very creative. I like that the colors are reminiscent of 1950s and 1960s colors. It provides a great setting for the story.
Vocabulary: The vocabulary in this book is really rich and is a great source to learn some "rare" words. Some examples are "grand," "analyze," "refine," "contemplate," "zeppelins," "retractable," "keen," "burble," and "catamaran." The book also includes more technical words like "fender," "chrome," "plexiglass," "steel," and "polymer."
May 12, 2018
It has a fireplace, bookshelf, snack bar, and pool.
This kid has designed the ultimate in cool.
It dives under water, and flies in the sky.
If this car were real . . . you bet I'd buy!
This kid has designed the ultimate in cool.
It dives under water, and flies in the sky.
If this car were real . . . you bet I'd buy!
February 13, 2017
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 of questions when we finish books by this author. Sometimes we close the book and get right on the internet to look up some of the things described in the book. Catamarans for instance.
Van Dusen manages to create a truly imaginative story but elevates it beyond a simple childrens book. He literally shows children that with a great imagination all things are possible. While reading his books I often have the feeling that Van Dusen not only loves the written word but the mind itself. He seems to praise and encourage children to limitless heights of imagination. He encourages them to be architects of things yet to be imagined and conceived; to be the visionaries of the future by keeping their imaginations alive and not resigning their dreams to childhood fancy.
The artwork is beautiful as well!
As a parent I appreciate the authors frequent use of multisyllabic words. I have often found that my son is full of questions when we finish books by this author. Sometimes we close the book and get right on the internet to look up some of the things described in the book. Catamarans for instance.
Van Dusen manages to create a truly imaginative story but elevates it beyond a simple childrens book. He literally shows children that with a great imagination all things are possible. While reading his books I often have the feeling that Van Dusen not only loves the written word but the mind itself. He seems to praise and encourage children to limitless heights of imagination. He encourages them to be architects of things yet to be imagined and conceived; to be the visionaries of the future by keeping their imaginations alive and not resigning their dreams to childhood fancy.
The artwork is beautiful as well!
February 14, 2023
Greatly encourages creativity, ingenuity, and inventiveness!!! If you have a child who loves to build things, this could be a perfect book.
March 30, 2019
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!
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!
September 12, 2019
If I Built a Car is the first book in the children's picture book series If I Built..., written and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen, which follows an imaginative boy named Jack who wants to design the perfect car.
The text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and lyrical. Written in rhyming couplets, the narrative tells the car that a little boy growing up in 1950s suburbia would like to create. The illustrations are colorful, sleek, and shiny, reinforcing the 1950s suburbia ambiance and the narrative.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. As Jack, his father and the family dog drive by trim lawns and plastic pink flamingos in a red, wood-paneled station wagon, the young hero regales his staid-looking father with a description of the car of his dreams. Jack gives his amazed father and eager pooch a tour of his vehicle, showing off the flush fender skirts and retractable wings, enclosed fireplace, swimming pool and snack-bar, and introduces the automated driver, Robert the Robot. The boy then takes his dad for a ride through the neighborhood and onto the lake and underwater before heading back to town, where a crowd of neighbors applauds.
All in all, If I Built a Car is a wonderful book about a little boy and his boundless imagination in creating the perfect car.
The text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and lyrical. Written in rhyming couplets, the narrative tells the car that a little boy growing up in 1950s suburbia would like to create. The illustrations are colorful, sleek, and shiny, reinforcing the 1950s suburbia ambiance and the narrative.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. As Jack, his father and the family dog drive by trim lawns and plastic pink flamingos in a red, wood-paneled station wagon, the young hero regales his staid-looking father with a description of the car of his dreams. Jack gives his amazed father and eager pooch a tour of his vehicle, showing off the flush fender skirts and retractable wings, enclosed fireplace, swimming pool and snack-bar, and introduces the automated driver, Robert the Robot. The boy then takes his dad for a ride through the neighborhood and onto the lake and underwater before heading back to town, where a crowd of neighbors applauds.
All in all, If I Built a Car is a wonderful book about a little boy and his boundless imagination in creating the perfect car.
May 28, 2017
A kid with a fantastic imagination describes to his dad his dream car.
With rhymes and imagination worthy of Dr. Seuss, this is fantastic! I wish I'd found Van Dusen's books sooner! I am glad I read Mr. Magee first of his books he did by himself since Mr. Magee and his dog Dee seem to make a guest appearance in every other book of Van Dusen's (so far I've found them in Circus Ship, this book, and If I Built a House). A delightfully fun book that imagines the perfect car. Keep the imagination going by asking readers what they'd add, change, or do different in their dream car.
With rhymes and imagination worthy of Dr. Seuss, this is fantastic! I wish I'd found Van Dusen's books sooner! I am glad I read Mr. Magee first of his books he did by himself since Mr. Magee and his dog Dee seem to make a guest appearance in every other book of Van Dusen's (so far I've found them in Circus Ship, this book, and If I Built a House). A delightfully fun book that imagines the perfect car. Keep the imagination going by asking readers what they'd add, change, or do different in their dream car.
February 27, 2020
This picture book, aimed at older kids, explores the imagination of a young boy as he explains exactly how HE would design a car. I love the vintage 1960s -inspired illustrations. The gadgets and things the boy wants in his car are fantastical, even for today but they made me smile. I thought this book would inspire my nephew to share how HE would build a car if he could. I liked the book but I didn't get any feedback from nephew or family about whether he liked the book.
January 20, 2018
Love all of Chris Van Dussen’s books.
April 3, 2022
3 - 6 years
March 5, 2025
A cute book, very creative and lots of fun.
There’s quite a lot of text so I expect parents will read it out.
Buying as a gift for kids I know will like it because they love building things.
There’s quite a lot of text so I expect parents will read it out.
Buying as a gift for kids I know will like it because they love building things.
Read
May 13, 2022Great imaginative book set in the 1950/1960s!
February 13, 2018
If I Built a Car is a story about a little boy named Jack who is interested in automobiles. Not just regular automobiles, though. Jack likes EXTRAORDINARY mobiles. Jack wants to create a design for his own automobile. His reference is the Weinermobile! His creation ends up looking like a spaceship with details similar to a Cadillac. His car also has an instant snack bar, a pool, a fishtank, and a fireplace! It's an amazing vehicle, if I do say so myself. At the end of the story, the reader realizes that this car is just a fragment of Jack's imagination and he is telling his father the story of what his car would be like if he built one. The illustrations in this book are adorable! The story is set in the 1950's and it includes lots of pink houses, with turquoise shutters, and perfectly manicured green lawns! I really enjoy this book.
(Monarch Award)
(Monarch Award)
February 24, 2020
Chris Van Dusen, the illustrator for the Mercy Watson series (a longtime favorite in our family), here presents a charmingly imagined child-built wonder-car.
Preschoolers' reviews:
"I liked all of it. It was funny that they could fly and they could go underwater. It was just really funny, that's all."
"Good."
Preschoolers' reviews:
"I liked all of it. It was funny that they could fly and they could go underwater. It was just really funny, that's all."
"Good."
September 14, 2016
• If I Built a Car is a creative story about how a young boy named Jack designed a car. He has many creative ideas and draws inspiration from from Cadillac’s, Zeppelins and the Weiner-mobile. He added things like a pool and a snack bar. This creative car surprises Jack’s father and makes for a wonderful read.
• Grades K-3
• This would be a great book to have students design their own car. First they can draw a blue print then they can built their car out of materials provided by the teacher.
• Individual students that would enjoy this book include students that like cars or students that like to design things or invent things.
• Groups could work together to design a car to protect an egg from breaking when dropped. This activity can teach students to problem solve on their own and to work in groups and collaborate with each other.
• This could a great read aloud during a poetry unit to show students a variation in different types of poetry. This could be a fun way to show students that poetry doesn’t have to be intimidating.
• Students that like this E. B. White read aloud award winner and the Imagination Library Blue Ribbon Selection would also like Truckery Rhymes by Jon Scieszka.
• This book is distributed by The Dolly Parton Imagination Library and is available as an e-book.
• Grades K-3
• This would be a great book to have students design their own car. First they can draw a blue print then they can built their car out of materials provided by the teacher.
• Individual students that would enjoy this book include students that like cars or students that like to design things or invent things.
• Groups could work together to design a car to protect an egg from breaking when dropped. This activity can teach students to problem solve on their own and to work in groups and collaborate with each other.
• This could a great read aloud during a poetry unit to show students a variation in different types of poetry. This could be a fun way to show students that poetry doesn’t have to be intimidating.
• Students that like this E. B. White read aloud award winner and the Imagination Library Blue Ribbon Selection would also like Truckery Rhymes by Jon Scieszka.
• This book is distributed by The Dolly Parton Imagination Library and is available as an e-book.
February 27, 2010
Winner of the 2006 E.B. White Read Aloud Award. Publishers Weekly says, "Energetic verse and jubilant, action-packed artwork make this tale of a young inventor's fantastic daydream a joy ride."
Suited for grades 2nd through 5th.
Young Jack has designed the ultimate fantasy car, inspired by trains, planes, and old Cadillacs. Pack full of amenties such as a snack bar, a pool and a fireplace and upgrades with shiny chrome, this futuristic car is out of this world. It even comes complete with a driver, Robert the Robot, who takes Jack and his father for a wild test-drive they will never forget! This story has rich vocabulary and an entertaining rhyming verse. The illustrations are spectacular and make the story!
When I read this book to my class last week, they all enjoyed it, especially my boys!
Suited for grades 2nd through 5th.
Young Jack has designed the ultimate fantasy car, inspired by trains, planes, and old Cadillacs. Pack full of amenties such as a snack bar, a pool and a fireplace and upgrades with shiny chrome, this futuristic car is out of this world. It even comes complete with a driver, Robert the Robot, who takes Jack and his father for a wild test-drive they will never forget! This story has rich vocabulary and an entertaining rhyming verse. The illustrations are spectacular and make the story!
When I read this book to my class last week, they all enjoyed it, especially my boys!
Read
July 5, 2013Audience: Primary
Genre: Fantasy
Pre-Reading Strategy: This book has some complex vocabulary in it that I would want to preview with students before we read. I would use an open word sort, asking students organize the words into groups based on how they think they're related. After students have grouped their words, ask them to share their groupings as a class and their guess about what the book will be about. After each group guesses work through defining any words that remain unknown together. Tell students that this book is going to be about a young boy's dream car.
Words to include in the sort: analyze, design, tweak, refine, contemplate, zepplin, sleek, fender skirts, retractable, fins, accents, chrome, Plexiglass, concoction, cruising, submerge, waterproof,
Genre: Fantasy
Pre-Reading Strategy: This book has some complex vocabulary in it that I would want to preview with students before we read. I would use an open word sort, asking students organize the words into groups based on how they think they're related. After students have grouped their words, ask them to share their groupings as a class and their guess about what the book will be about. After each group guesses work through defining any words that remain unknown together. Tell students that this book is going to be about a young boy's dream car.
Words to include in the sort: analyze, design, tweak, refine, contemplate, zepplin, sleek, fender skirts, retractable, fins, accents, chrome, Plexiglass, concoction, cruising, submerge, waterproof,
December 11, 2008
This is a fun book! The illustrations are amazing, so colorful and bright, and retro. They remind me of a 1950's diner. The rhythm of the rhyme was spot on, too. A bit like reading a Dr. Seuss book. The children I read this to really got into it and just loved the car and all the cool things it could do. It branched off into discussions of our own imaginations and how anything is possible if we first dream and then do. This is how our voting stacked up: Really liked=207, Just okay=8, Didn't like=6.
February 18, 2010
Format: Picture Book
Award: E.B. White Read Aloud
Interest Level: K-2
Jack explains to his dad what type of care he would build if he had the chance. Jack's imagination creates a "spectacular" car.
This is a great book to read aloud to students. The pictrues are very bright and colorful. It's a good example of what we could do with our imaginations. After reading this book in the classroom, you could have students design their own car. The students will have fun with this activity.
Award: E.B. White Read Aloud
Interest Level: K-2
Jack explains to his dad what type of care he would build if he had the chance. Jack's imagination creates a "spectacular" car.
This is a great book to read aloud to students. The pictrues are very bright and colorful. It's a good example of what we could do with our imaginations. After reading this book in the classroom, you could have students design their own car. The students will have fun with this activity.
February 15, 2010
This story won the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. It is a science fiction tale told in rhyme about a boy designing his dream car. Plans include things that kids and adults alike wish would be part of car designs like a polymer gel so your car won't dent and a snack bar. It even come with a robot driver and a swimming pool. Great pictures and fun story for young kids pre-school to 3rd grade. This would be a great story to have students respond to by having them invent their own car with special features.
April 24, 2010
I loved this book! It reminded me sooo much of Dr. Williams and his architectural tendencies. This is the tale of a little boy who tells his dad how he would design a car if he built a car. The child's creativity and imagination remind me just how interesting children are. The story ends with the boy in his room drawing designs for his car. It was inspiring to me and reminded me of how we need to encourage children to pursue their dreams.
March 17, 2010
Move over Dr. Seuss...Chris Van Dusen is the new master at imaginative storytelling in rhyme with fantastic illustrations to match! Colorful, contemporary artwork captures our imaginations as a young boy reveals his ideas for a spectacular car of the future.
Recommended for grades KG - 2. Great book for read aloud and class discussions on creativity inspiring invention.
Recommended for grades KG - 2. Great book for read aloud and class discussions on creativity inspiring invention.
January 14, 2013
A terrific rhyming picture book that is great fun to read aloud. Jack imagines his perfect car which is a mix of the clever, safe, and wildly imaginative. It also throws in great vocabulary words to talk about, including words like analyze, refine, reveal, and retractable.
January 12, 2016
This book was a humorous story with enriching vocabulary, and uses descriptive language throughout the story. With nice illustrations and descriptive language this book keeps children's attention and helps foster a young child's imagination.
September 29, 2009
We really enjoyed this book. The rhymes are great, the imagination is outstanding and it involves coming up with a great invention. It was right up my boy's alley. Ages 3 and up.
October 3, 2009
Every time we read this book our son talks about how he would build a car. Even randomly throughout the week he will mention this... this book definitely stirs a child's Imagination!
December 11, 2013
The boys like this one, and it captures girls too. What kind of super neat car would you build if you could? (complete with swimming pool and snack bar, a car which can also be a submarine etc.)
December 12, 2015
This book is great! A fun one to read aloud with the kids. My son loved this one. An imaginative story that encourages children to be innovative and creative and has great rythm and illustrations.
March 5, 2016
Excellent descriptive vocabulary, helps to foster your imagination. Nice use of rhyming words. Keeps listeners involved.
December 8, 2018
What I love about this book is the thought that went into the main character’s idea of a perfect car that he himself would build. Seeing his ideas come alive as if we were exploring right through his imagination. The bright colors and little details throughout the book were really eye-catching. It is definitely something I will read aloud to my classroom one day. The age group classified for this book is a range from preschool-first grade. I feel this is a great age group because of the rhyming pattern throughout. Phonemic awareness is a big focus for these primary grades so this is a perfect book to use as they are learning about it. This book won the E.B. White Read Aloud Award in 2006, two years after the establishment of this award. The illustrations contributed greatly to the overall understanding of the text. As one is reading the book or listening to someone read it to them, they can to visualize and actually see what the main character is imagining his car to be. It is coming to life through the illustrations rather than just the text. The artwork was done in digital art and mixed media. I feel children would definitely love the illustrations because of the bright, vibrant colors, the textures displayed, and the super cool car that is being shown. The illustrations are double-page spread which is awesome for this age group because, though they are beginning readers, they are still reading the story through the illustrations so they are able to see it clearly. The illustration where Jack is showing his dad that the outside of his car is made of polymer gel, the car does look like steel/metal. The car is bright red and yellow and one can see the reflection marks on it from the sun so it looks like it would feel like real metal as well as the chrome parts of the car that show Max’s reflection. But then we observe Jack sticking his hand through the car because polymer gel is squishy, the texture it displays almost looks like what happens when one sticks their hand in slime or goo. It is just really fun to see the deception actually happen! This style used in the book is Surrealism. While it does express some realistic characteristics of Jack riding in the back of his dad’s car or sitting in his room imagining what the car he would build would look like, the majority of the illustrations are dream-like, fantasy. The illustration of his car having a Plexiglas dome and then inside is a lounge area and pool—it is beyond realistic. With this book I would, again, teach a lesson about phonics. Rhyming and syllables are two main focuses in phonological awareness so this is a great opportunity to have them identify what words rhyme on each page. For monosyllabic terms that they may not have been familiar with at first, we could get to know them and then have an activity where they clap out how many syllables it has.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 422 reviews