Brasília

Can you guess what I am. I stretch out like a giant airplane resting on the warm ground. My wings are not for flying, but for playing. They are big green parks where children laugh and run. My body is made of cool, smooth buildings that shine in the sun. I am not in the sky, but I am a very special city. I am Brasília, the capital city of Brazil.

A long time ago, this spot was just empty land. But a kind president named Juscelino Kubitschek had a very big dream. He wanted to build a new capital city right in the middle of Brazil for everyone to share. In the year 1956, he told everyone about his wonderful idea. Two very creative friends got to work drawing pictures of me. One friend, Lúcio Costa, drew my fun airplane shape. My other friend, Oscar Niemeyer, designed my amazing buildings. He made them look like they were from a storybook about the future, with beautiful curves and shapes that touch the sky.

To make the big dream come true, thousands of helpers came from all over. These helpers were called 'candangos'. They worked so hard, day and night, building me piece by piece. It was like building the biggest block tower in the world. And guess what. In just a few years, I was all finished. On the 21st of April, in the year 1960, we had a giant party for my birthday. I was a brand-new city, shiny and new, waiting for families to come and make me their home.

Today, I am full of life. Many happy families live inside my airplane shape. My big green parks are filled with happy shouts and laughter. My special buildings welcome friends from all around the world who come to see me. I am here to show everyone that with a big dream and good friends, you can build something beautiful for everyone to enjoy.