Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Girl explores life purpose in sweet 4th installment.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
When WAYS TO BUILD DREAMS begins, Ryan Hart, a Black 5th grader living in Portland, Oregon, is planning a Black History Month presentation about Beatrice Morrow Cannady, editor of Oregon's largest Black newspaper, with her classmates, and also a prank to play on her annoying older brother. But as the weeks roll on towards 5th grade graduation, Ryan grapples with looming challenges and changes. How will she overcome her fear of speaking to give her valedictorian speech at graduation? What if her and her best friend go to different middle schools? Are her dreams of being a chef and a good big sister big and important enough?
Is It Any Good?
This is a sweet, relatable middle grade tale. In Ways to Build Dreams by Renée Watson, readers encounter a lively main character who's imaginative, caring, and vulnerable, along with a likable crew of family and friends. The dilemmas the 5th grader faces are realistic, and readers will identify with the big and small worries Ryan faces throughout the book. The short chapters make for accessible reading, and though there's nothing super dramatic happening here, there's enough yearning and joy to pull readers in and keep them interested. Although it's part of a series, this title can be read on its own, though all the books are great and recommended reading.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about dreams like in Ways to Build Dreams. What are your dreams for the future? What kind of person do you hope to be? What job(s) do you want to try? What are your hope(s) for your family? How can perseverance help you achieve your dreams?
What are some ways you'd like to make the world better? Talk about how communication allows the characters in the book to develop their goals and ideas?
Discuss the theme of teamwork in this story. What are some examples of teamwork among friends and family members? Have you played or worked on a team before? What was exciting or challenging about it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Activism , Cooking , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury Children's Books
- Publication date : October 17, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 7 - 10
- Number of pages : 208
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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