Book Series · 4 Books

If I Built Books

In order from If I Built a Car to If I Built a Town.

Young Jack imagines fantastical improvements to a car, a house, a school, and an entire town, filling each design with playful machines and welcoming ideas.

Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated

If I Built a Car
If I Built a House
If I Built a School
If I Built a Town
If I Built a Car
If I Built a House
If I Built a School
Reading order

How to Read the If I Built Books

The four English picture books are independent, so readers may begin anywhere. Publication order shows Jack's inventions growing in scale from one vehicle to a whole community.

Sources: Penguin Random House: If I Built series.

For parents

What Parents Should Know

Detailed retro-style illustrations and energetic rhymes invite repeated read-alouds and conversations about design, engineering, and what makes a place work well.

The inventions ignore real-world limits in deliberately playful ways. The emphasis is on creative problem-solving, generosity, and imagining spaces that are fun and useful for everyone.

Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

If I Built a Car
Sale price
$958
Book #1 · Picture Book · Ages 3–5 · 2005

If I Built a Car

By Chris Van Dusen

A boy's dream car takes him and his dad on an unforgettable test drive.

40 pages· 694 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud
4.9/7 Bookroo
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Jack dreams up the ultimate fantasy car, complete with a fireplace, pool, and snack bar. Inspired by zeppelins and Cadillacs, his creation is a marvel of imagination. With Robert the robot at the helm, Jack and his dad embark on a thrilling test drive. What adventures await in this extraordinary vehicle? Discover the wild ride that fuels young inventors' dreams.
Ages 3–6Picture Book Club

Love If I Built? Keep them reading.

Two hardcover picture books a month, perfect for reading aloud, with coordinated spines for a beautiful shelf.

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In reading order

If I Built Series

4 books · Published 2005–2025

#1
If I Built a Car
#1 in Series
Sale price
$958

If I Built a Car

Picture Book · Ages 3–5 · 2005

A boy's dream car takes him and his dad on an unforgettable test drive.

#2
If I Built a House
#2 in Series
Sale price
$958

If I Built a House

Picture Book · Ages 3–5 · 2012

A boy envisions a dream house with wild, imaginative features. What will he create next?

#3
If I Built a School
#3 in Series
Sale price
$1899

If I Built a School

Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2019

A boy imagines the ultimate school with futuristic features and endless fun.

#4
If I Built a Town
#4 in Series
Sale price
$1899

If I Built a Town

Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2025

A boy envisions a fantastical town with mythical creatures and futuristic inventions.

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the If I Built series?

There are 4 books in the If I Built series. It began with If I Built a Car in 2005, and the newest book, If I Built a Town, was published in 2025.

What order should you read the If I Built books in?

Start with If I Built a Car and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #4.

What ages are the If I Built books best for?

The series is best for ages 3–8, based on the age ranges of the individual books.

Which If I Built book is the longest?

If I Built a Town (Book #4) is the longest book in the series at 961 words (40 pages).

Which If I Built book is the shortest?

If I Built a House (Book #2) is the shortest at 608 words (40 pages).

The people

The Creative Behind the Books

The people who bring If I Built to life.

01

Chris Van Dusen

Author & Illustrator
CD

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