"Nonetheless, successfully communicating their message in a simple language that expert and amateur planning practitioners and novices can easily comprehend is of great significance. Furthermore, pictographic illustrations—a unique and commendable feature of the text—aid understanding in a way that is both precise and concise. The book will undoubtedly contribute to the existing body of knowledge on urban planning and related disciplines."
— Journal of the American Planning Association
"There is community engagement, with surveys and PowerPoint presentations. Then there is the James Rojas and John Kamp approach, which involves a kit of colors and materials, and a joyful process of hands-on, intuitive learning-by-doing. Dream Play Build is a must-read for anyone wanting to meaningfully draw people into the creation of their own environments—through dreaming it and making it, themselves.”
— Frances Anderton, design and architecture journalist; former host, KCRW’s podcast "DnA: Design and Architecture"
"Part personal journeys, part planning toolkits, Dream Play Build offers an antidote to the common frustrations of public participation. Focusing on senses, memories, and play, James Rojas and John Kamp present methods that can free practitioners and participants from fear, biases, and preoccupations, leading to more imaginative explorations in solving today’s planning and design challenges."
— Jeff Hou, Professor of Landscape Architecture, University of Washington, Seattle
"Dream Play Build is a must-read for land-use planners and government decision makers who engage in place making and community development. It incorporates captivating community stories, useful photos, and illustrations to provide a guide to the Place It! method—a groundbreaking, tactile, and playful tool. Together, Rojas and Kamp make a compelling case for the need to democratize knowledge of, and participation in, city planning for 'everyday people.'"
— Samuel Assefa, Director of the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research