The story begins with Deja and her friends at <\/span>Summer Science Camp. But things take a surprising turn when they find themselves standing <\/span>inside<\/span><\/i> a giant snow cone. Before they can even think about taking a bite, the walls begin to melt!<\/span><\/p>\n To escape the sticky situation, Deja and her friends must put their heads and hearts together to come up with a plan. With help from Deja\u2019s mom, a professional architect, and a whimsical <\/span>dream machine, the kids dive into the world of <\/span>design thinking<\/span><\/i>. They brainstorm, build, and reimagine what\u2019s possible, learning that every great design starts with a question: <\/span>What if?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n As their adventure unfolds, readers see how Deja\u2019s group experiments with shapes, structures, and teamwork to create the <\/span>building of their dreams.<\/span><\/i> I appreciate that this book is a joyful mix of creativity, science, and problem-solving. There\u2019s also some fun and friendship along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n Designing Dreams<\/span><\/i> is a story about <\/span>belonging<\/span><\/i> and showing every child, no matter their background, that their ideas matter and their dreams are worth building.<\/span><\/p>\n The architecture and design industries still have a long way to go when it comes to diversity. According to recent data from the <\/span>National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA)<\/b><\/a> and <\/span>NCARB<\/b><\/a>, only 3% of architects are Black, less than 1% are Hispanic or Latino, and a mere 0.3% are Black women.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That lack of representation limits who we see designing buildings and whose stories, perspectives, and communities are being represented in the spaces we all share.<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s why characters like Deja the Dynamo matters. She\u2019s a symbol of what\u2019s possible when children are encouraged to dream, design, and imagine themselves in fields where they\u2019ve been historically underrepresented.<\/span><\/p>\n As an added bonus: <\/span>a portion of proceeds from book sales will be donated to the ACE Mentor Program of America<\/a><\/b>, an organization that helps high school students discover careers in architecture, construction, and engineering.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Supporting this book is a full-circle way to help more kids especially those from diverse backgrounds explore their passions and design a brighter future.<\/span><\/p>\n At its core, the book <\/span>Designing Dreams<\/span><\/i> celebrates curiosity, teamwork, and the magic of turning imagination into action. It\u2019s the kind of story that makes kids believe they can dream something extraordinary and <\/span>build it<\/span><\/i>, too.<\/span><\/p>\n
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