Book Description About the Author Kelly Starling Lyons is the author of multiple award-winning picture books and chapter books, most recently Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations, illustrated by Keith Mallett, and the Jada Jones series, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton. Like Philip Freelon, Kelly grew up in Pennsylvania in a family that prized creativity, and now lives in North Carolina with a family of her own. Please visit her website at kellystarlinglyons.com and follow her on Twitter at @kelstarly. Laura Freeman has illustrated more than thirty picture books, including the picture-book edition of Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, which won both the NAACP Image Award and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award, and Jazz Baby and Bedtime Fun, both published by Lee & Low’s Bebop Books imprint. Laura lives near Atlanta, Georgia, and you can find her on the web at lfreemanart.com. Read more Customers Review: Great for preteens.
Should be in every library and in every children’s book section on the planet!
This picture book biography does a wonderful job of telling the reader about architect Phillip Freelon who was part of the team that designed the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The story weaves together his early childhood, including struggles with reading, and his gift for math and art that ultimately led to his choice of career as an architect. The author also weaves in civil rights and black history; there is so much to take in from this book and deserves multiple re-readings to absorb it all. Well worth it!
Philip Freelon was a talented and gifted architect who lived in North Carolina and Philadelphia. I never knew of his work really until I visited the African-American Museum in Washington DC. His work is breathtaking and take your breath away. Kelly Starling Lyons brains from ups work into you for a little videos. Learning about his life as an architect was very interesting and any child would enjoy reading this book. Even the adults reading two children Will definitely be in lightened.
Here is a book for young readers allowing them to see themselves as creators and innovators of their own fate. Why aspire to work in a building when you can build it to suit your wildest dreams? Why draw a picture when you can take your drawing and turn it into a three dimensional edifice–splendid and grand. The life of Philip Freelon will inspire young readers to activate their creative minds.
This is a well-written and necessary book. It is the first children’s book to tell the story of Phil Freelon, lead architect of the National Museum of African American History & Culture and a successful, Black STEM figure. It also conveys the learning challenges Phil had as a child and how he overcame them to become one of the most important architects of our time. It is a book that offers representation and inspiration at once. We need more books like Dream Builder.
I’d never heard of Philip Freelon before, but I found his story very moving and inspiring. The writing is beautiful and the story moves along quickly. I recommend this to anyone, but might be particularly interesting to kids thinking of a career in architecture. |
8 reviews