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 August 19, 2026

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

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.

In reading order