Cool Castles

October 15, 2012
Preschool-G Kenney's fourth LEGO book for children interprets the castle theme broadly. After opening with several medieval scenes showing a farm and a village on market day, he introduces the castle itself, an extensive complex that can be built in sections (keep, drawbridge, towers, walls). Readers are encouraged to combine the sections as they choose. The castle pages feature outdoor scenes dramatizing a tournament and a dragon attack, and interior scenes showing the king's court and the dungeon. Short sentences introduce each double-page spread and provide how-to tips, such as Pieces act like hinges when they're attached only at the ends. While certain structures look challenging, small digital illustrations offer step-by-step visual instructions. Throughout the book, clean page design enhances the clear color photos, which provide inspiration for children's own medieval constructions and imaginative play. A fine addition to this popular series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2013
Photos of medieval scenes, built using "off-the-shelf LEGO products" by a "premier LEGO brick builder" are intended to inspire readers to think outside the LEGO box and create their own designs. In case they can't, pictorial instructions for some constructions, such as a circular tower and a dragon, are included. LEGO fanatics will appreciate this instructional manual; no one else will care.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)