Read Across America Road Trip: Wright 3 in Chicago

Although Yolanda’s Genius and the Chicago Blues Festival were the primary inspiration for our road trip to Chicago, I also sensed that the time was right to further acquaint my kids with the architectural genius of Frank Lloyd Wright. 

Sometimes I have to look hard to figure out if the kids actually like something that could be considered educational, but both seemed interested as we passed the Frank LLoyd Wright room on a recent visit to the Met.  They lingered at the exhibit, and they didn’t yawn.  That’s enough of a sign of interest for me.

I’d bought a copy of Blue Balliet’s The Wright 3 as soon as it came out, but it had been sitting on my bookshelf, untouched, waiting for this perfect moment when: a) they have an interest in the topic, b) we could enrich the reading experience with a visit to book’s setting.

So, I downloaded the audiobook from Audible.com, and we listened to the story on our way to Chicago.

First off, I must admit that I was not riveted by the story, or the reading.  Perhaps my ears were tainted as I’d really enjoyed the previous audiobook of Yolanda’s Genius, read in the rich voice of Novella Nelson.   The narrator of Wright 3 is no Novella Nelson.

Also, I just didn’t find the mystery in The Wright 3 as interesting or as captivating as that of Blue Balliet’s previous book, Chasing Vermeer.

Since I wasn’t a big fan of the story, I guess it’s not surprising that I was underwhelmed by our tour of Robie House, the Frank Lloyd Wright building that is endangered in Wright 3.

I had booked the Wright 3 Tour of Robie House in advance, and was aware that the tour would be led by a student.  I’d thought that it would be a good thing to have my kids see someone not much older than themselves being so deeply involved in the story, and working with the museum. 

Although our tour guide did not exhibit the enthusiasm and passion for the subject that I’d hoped for, my kids didn’t think the tour was as lame as I thought it was.

Quite the opposite, they really enjoyed the tour.  Even Alex, who wasn’t thrilled with the story, was fascinated by Robie House, and asked at least a dozen questions on the tour.  Afterwards, he was so carried away by the experience, that he decided that he wanted to be an architect when he grows up (at least that was his plan on that day!)

I still don’t know exactly why they enjoyed the tour so much.  Perhaps it was the brevity of the educational venture.  The tour itself was less than an hour long.  Or, maybe they liked Robie House because it was designed with children in mind, and our tour started in the playroom.

Whatever the case, I’m glad the book and the tour appealed to the children.  I thought about following up their interest with a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio, but I decided to quit while ahead.

Both kids have been introduced to Frank LLoyd Wright, and architecture in general.   We’ll leave it at that for now, rather than dousing this spark of interest with too much information.  Of course, we also dropped by the Gift Shop and picked up a set of 3D Pentominos, and a book on how to draw buildings.

I wasn’t going to waste a golden opportunity to sneak in a little learning any way I can!

Related Articles:

• Alex: Review of Wright 3
• Alex: An Architect’s Dream
• Kayla: Wright Three
• Kayla: June 13, 2009

Read Across America Road Trip:

• Yolonda’s Genius: On The Road From Cleveland To Chicago
• Read Across America Road Trip Begins In NYC
• How To Plan A Read Across America Road Trip
• Reading On The Road

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