My Dream Playground

PreS-Gr 2—From her apartment window, a young girl gazes out at an empty lot and wishes it could be transformed. In her sketchbook she draws her vision, complete with slides, swings, monkey bars, and trampolines. When a man with measuring tape and a clipboard arrives, she enthuses, "You're here to build the playground, aren't you? …I just knew you would come." The character is inspired by the real-life example of the driving force behind the first playground built by the nonprofit organization KaBOOM!. As project manager, the narrator works side by side with Darrell Hammond, KaBOOM!'s founder, and a crew of volunteers. The digital illustrations show the evolution of the project, from childlike stick drawings to workers digging holes and cutting wood, and, finally, the completed playground. The story is thin on details, but it captures the child's excitement and could spark discussions on community engagement and teamwork.—Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada