When I tell my children stories about artists or architects, I want them to know that they dream big, work hard, and redirect the ship towards something better. “Roberto The Insect Architect” by Nina Laden is one of my favorite picture books about being an architect. It’s also a story about building dreams and being creative that applies to all littles growing up. Roberto goes against the flow and struggles to find his place in the field. The clincher for me is that he overcomes the odds and builds a successful career by being generous and helping others. Roberto is a termite bent on constructing rather than deconstructing. This is a hard sell to his friends, family, and employers. While he is down on his luck, he uses his skills to help insects who have even greater needs. Then he lives happily ever after with a successful career. The ending is rosy, but even the cynic in me is okay with some things working out.

There are a few star appearances, including “Hank Floyd Mite,” “Fleas Van Der Rohe,” and “Antonia Gaudi” that make the book.

We are going to the Biennale Architettura in Venice, Italy soon. It is an exceptional event that surveys the current pulse and vision of architects around the world. This year the US Pavilion is an exhibition of proposals by 12 architect teams for four specific sites in Detroit. It is curated by two women who believe in architecture’s power to “construct culture and catalyze cities.” Design Boom’s Instagram coverage of the venues is getting me so excited to visit!

This is one stop on our family vacation. You can follow along on Instagram or Twitter. I’ll be posting longer reviews about the museums and travel arrangements following the trip or as time permits.