Someone Builds the Dream

Aloving ode to folks who get their hands dirty doing nitty-gritty jobs.

It’s all well and good that visionaries—authors, illustrators, scientists, illustrators, architects, and engineers—plot ideas on paper, easels, blueprints, computers, and blackboards, but thoughts, designs, and plans remain figments until pipe fitters, diggers, solderers, construction workers, carpenters, welders, miners, electricians, plumbers, and countless others get down to business and bring dreams to fruition by actually making what creators envisioned. Skyscrapers and houses don’t rise on their own, and bridges don’t span waterways by themselves. And books don’t get published by magic, either! Who gets those words and pictures—as in this very show more book kids are reading/hearing—onto pages? Why, typesetters and workers who run the presses and load the paper machines! This is a gorgeous, respectful tribute, expressed in jaunty rhymes that read well, to the dignity and beauty of industry and the pride and pleasure derived from doing one’s best. The word build is repeatedly italicized for emphasis. Crisp, definitively lined illustrations superbly suit the robust theme. They reveal many future-job possibilities to kids and, happily, depict multiple genders and persons of various races plying various blue-collar and professional trades, including a Black woman reading to kids at a library storytime; one character appears in a wheelchair. Tool and vehicle aficionados will feel at home. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8.9-by-22.8-inch double-page spreads viewed at 35.4% of actual size.)

Marvelous as a read-aloud and as a springboard to maker projects in classrooms and libraries. (Picture book. 4-8)

-Kirkus Review show less

I like the idea of this book. But I also wonder why the more visible things in our society need to be pointed out and explained. Children see things being built all the time, but they often don't see the work being put in behind the scenes. The work behind the scenes seems more important to point out to young children then the work they can see happening around them. The loaded "But" that leads to a reveal seems a bit reductive too. The illustrations and text are fine though, all and all a great book about construction jobs and why they are important.

Super! Everything is done with teamwork. Even Steve Jobs and Thomas Edison and Vincent Van Gogh depended on laborers and other 'unsung heroes.' Do your work well and be proud of it, even if this is the only representation you'll ever see of yourself.

Speaking of representation, this is very diverse, very cool.

I highly recommend this book to families and other educators.

I think young readers enjoy this rhyming celebration of skilled labor - building the dreams. Kids are curious about how things are built. This books shows us the dreamers - the architects, designers, etc. and celebrates the workers who work hard to make these dreams a reality. There is a lot of detail in the pictures and this detail will invite several read throughs. I think Lisa Wheeler and Loren Long make a great team!

A well-deserved ode to the hard-hat and blue-collar workers who put concrete form to the plans of designers, architects and writers.

(Another project! I'm reading all the picture books and graphic novels from NPR's Books We Love 2021: Kids’ Books list.)

Explaining how it takes someone to imagine/dream a project and someone to BUILD the project.

This one does not feel impactful or memorable.