Like any other child of her age, Ava loves spending time in the park. That her friend Sofia Jo is unable to accompany her there saddens her. Sofia, being blind, is dependent on her seeing-eye dog, Sadie. However, the rules prohibit all kinds of dogs from entering the park, thus excluding Sofia. Ava sets out to resolve this unfair rule with some assistance from her grandfather. When everyone starting from the policeman patrolling the park to the mayor of the town seems unable to help them, Ava is disheartened. Should she quit her mission, or should she continue fighting for her friend’s rights? What does the US constitution have to say about this? Ava’s Dream by Joseph J. Ridgway can provide the answers.

Seemingly a sweet and short story geared towards children, Ava’s Dream holds a few profound messages. Ridgway introduces young readers to the US constitution and the legal system in the form of a relatable story. He describes the three branches of the government - legislative, executive, and judicial - and their limitations. This book helps children to understand clear concepts through repeated elucidations. Taking Ava’s experience as an example, Joseph J. Ridgway shows how even good-intentioned rules can be unfair, depending on the circumstances. He demonstrates the way to stand up against such rules, albeit in a law-abiding manner. Ava’s story emphasizes that when a cause is worthy enough, you should never give up fighting for it. This book teaches children patience and perseverance, two skills they will require throughout life.

Civics lessons in school seem to be dry and uninteresting. Ava’s Dream by Joseph Ridgway makes Civics lessons interesting. Ava is an eleven-year-old girl excited about a new park in her city. The grand opening is the summer’s big event and much awaited by all citizens. During the event, Ava is overjoyed with the beauty, vastness, and activities of the park, except for the fact that dogs are not allowed. That means her blind friend Sofia Jo cannot enter the park with Sadie, her seeing-eye dog. Determined to help Sofia Jo, Ava partners up with her lawyer grandfather to solve the problem for Sofia Jo. The story that follows is Ava’s journey and a Civics lesson rolled into one. The appendix includes the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Children’s books are great sources to learn about critical topics. Ava’s Dream by Joseph Ridgway is written for children but is useful for anyone who is curious to understand the structure of governance at a city level. Through Ava’s story, Joseph outlines the basic structure of the United States government, and how a citizen can solve a public problem. The story is narrated in a simple and lucid manner. I found the story straightforward, instructional, and inspirational. It is critical to educate our children – future citizens – in a relatable manner. This ensures that they are interested in the subject and can further their knowledge as they grow older. The story form is especially effective to hold children’s attention. I highly recommend Ava’s Dream to young children and adults too.