You might remember from our recent discussion on Christmas-related LEGO books (see: Books for Expanding the LEGO Winter Village), the LEGO Holiday Ideas: More Than 50 Festive Builds book by DK Publishing. It’s similar to – but smaller – than the LEGO Build Your Own Adventure book series (also published by DK Publishing) with stories, inspirational build ideas, as well as step-by-step instructions for some smaller models, along with a good handful of LEGO pieces to build those models.
Turns out that the LEGO Holiday Ideas book is not alone, and DK Publishing recently released several books in the same size and format. I have already been a big fan of the LEGO Build Your Own Adventure books, and it’s nice to see another, smaller version based on the same idea of including stories, inspirations, and bricks to build with. The quality of the books is excellent, with sturdy cover, high-quality pages, beautiful printing, and big text – perfect for firing up kids’ imagination. The books are great for travel, long car rides, and short reading/building sessions before bedtime.
Speaking of bedtime, one of the new books in the series is titled The LEGO Book of Bedtime Builds, with bricks to build eight mini models. Here is the description of the book: A relaxing bedtime routine with quiet, screen-free activities – like building with LEGO bricks – and stories is recommended by pediatricians to help children sleep better. “Calming activities and stories before bed can help your child get a good night’s sleep,” says Lauren Hale, PhD, sleep expert. This book includes eight adventures to build, play, and read to help kids wind down before bed and let you spend quality time together. To get started, choose and build one of the LEGO models from The LEGO Book of Bedtime Builds, then read the story together. When it’s time to sleep, the mini model and story will inspire exciting dreams. The next night, take apart the mini model and choose another adventure to build and read together. Convenient brick storage and packaging make for easy building at home or on the go. Includes easy-to-follow building instructions and bricks. Stories feature a pirate ship, dinosaur, robot, bird, castle, elephant, spider, and spaceship. Regular price: $19.99 – CHEAPER PRICE AT AMAZON
Another book in the series is the LEGO Animal Atlas to discover the world of animals and get inspired to build. This book includes inspirational models, as well as instructions and builds to build four of them. Here is the description of the book: Discover the planet’s amazing animals with specially commissioned LEGO models and maps. Which animal gobbles up 4,000 clams in one meal? Where can you find a snail as big as a baseball? The LEGO Animal Atlas has answers to these questions and a whole lot more. The book is packed with fascinating facts, images, and building ideas for more than 110 models of the world’s most awesome animals. A detailed LEGO map, dotted with charming micro-build creatures, introduces each of the continents. The maps are followed by colorful spreads featuring up to seven LEGO animals in their habitats. From a cute koala in the Australian outback to a mighty lion prowling the African savanna, this book showcases many of the world’s favorite animals–plus some unusual sights, such as the bizarre blue-footed booby and the mysterious giant squid. The models are built with mostly standard bricks, and tips and breakdowns will inspire children to create their own animal models. A combination of clear photos, authoritative text, fun facts, and classic LEGO humor helps children learn as they build and play their way around the animal world. Regular price: $19.99 – CHEAPER PRICE AT AMAZON
The last book in the series that I have seen published so far is the LEGO Amazing Vehicles book with LEGO pieces to build four of the models (plus lots of other inspirational ideas). Here is the description of the book: Which vehicle could fit five jumbo jets along its deck? How did firefighters travel to blazing emergencies before the invention of motor-powered fire engines? LEGO Amazing Vehicles is packed full of fascinating facts and images of more than 100 models of cool things that go, including airplanes, trains, boats, cars, and even futuristic vehicles. Best of all, it comes with 61 bricks to build four exclusive LEGO mini-vehicles! Colorful scenes showcase fan-built LEGO vehicle models accompanied by fascinating facts, data, and record-breaking information about the machines. From trains and tractors to aircraft, spacecraft, and automobiles, this book showcases every kind of machine that moves-from past to present, and far into the future. Timelines featuring micro-build models drive readers through the history of transport. The models are built with mostly standard bricks. Tips and photographic breakdowns will inspire children to build their own LEGO vehicles. A combination of clear photos, authoritative text, fun facts, and classic LEGO humor help children learn as they build and play. Regular price: $19.99 – CHEAPER PRICE AT AMAZON
As I mentioned above, I quite like these books, and found them particularly popular with younger kids (the recommended age range is 5-9 years). They make great gifts for kids who are just starting out with LEGO, and also for families with kids who are already into LEGO and you would like to gift them something other than just the usual LEGO sets. They are especially helpful for those who are just starting out with free-building and designing their own models. They are appreciated by LEGO fans of all ages.
What do you think? How do you like these smaller inspirational LEGO books with included LEGO bricks? Do you prefer the larger format of the LEGO Build Your Own Adventure books, or these smaller ones? Do you have any of them already? Feel free to share your own reviews in the comment section below!
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We have the Christmas book. The kids like it. I’m inclined to get the other ones too.
I like the ones with the animals and vehicles. I see some great designs there. Are there instructions for all of them?
Not the butterfly, probably, but at least every build with a small text caption.
They should make books like these for afols too. I know the ideas books and adventure books have projects that are interesting to afols, but if they would include some bricks too, they would be even more popular.
I was able to get some of Build Your Adventure books on sale at Barnes and Noble after Christmas. I think they are great. I like them even as an adult.