Besides books, building toys are my top choice to give as gifts and to enjoy with my kids at home. Their appeal is wide-ranging. Babies studiously manipulate and mouth them, then steadfastly move them from one container to another. To toddlers, nothing is more hilarious than knocking down a teetering tower \u2014 over and over and over! Older kids love to create, whether with interlocking bricks, magnetic blocks, traditional wooden unit blocks, or materials salvaged from the recycling bin.<\/p>\n
The benefits<\/a> of construction play for children are numerous, from encouraging creativity and motor development to providing opportunities for flexing math and problem-solving skills. Building play can even influence a child\u2019s career choice; Frank Lloyd Wright credits a set of wooden blocks<\/a>, a gift from his mother, with inspiring his architectural designs. While simply sitting down on the floor together with a pile of blocks will usually get your little one interested in construction play, books about building can spark fresh ideas and interests. These books will encourage children to imagine, stack, wreck, and rebuild again and again:<\/p>\n no no 9781101999202 Little Excavator<\/i> by Anna Dewdney <\/p>\n If you enjoy the rhyming text and expressive illustrations in the Llama Llama series, you\u2019ll love this book by the same author. Little Excavator works with a team of machinery to create a neighborhood park. This delightful story shows readers that even small people can make a big difference. 9780763679309 Bigger! Bigger!<\/i> by Leslie Patricelli <\/p>\n Leslie Patricelli knows that girls love to wear construction hats and transform piles of blocks into imaginative masterpieces just as much as boys do. She\u2019s also spot-on with her portrayal of a Godzilla-like baby sibling approaching one such masterpiece. The story ends sweetly with the older sister initiating her younger sibling into the fun of building together. 9780593569177 Built to Last<\/i> by Minh L\u00ea, illustrated by Dan Santat <\/p>\n In this heartwarming story, two friends spend their time building and creating their own imaginary worlds using just cardboard and their boundless imaginations. Whenever something falls apart, they don’t get discouraged. Instead, they pick themselves up and try again. But when they finally build their greatest masterpiece, and it crumbles in a way they never expected, their friendship is put to the test. 9780593643600 Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night? <\/i> by Brianna Caplan Sayres, illustrated by Christian Slade <\/p>\n You can\u2019t go wrong with this modern classic about the bedtime routines of construction machinery, from diggers to dump trucks. This adorable book is a nighttime favorite for little builders everywhere. 9781536217391 A House in The Woods <\/i> by Inga Moore <\/p>\n When small and simple structures prove inadequate to house them, two pigs, a bear, and a moose envision a house grand enough for them to all live together. With the help of an industrious beaver team, they turn their dream into reality. This story is perfect for encouraging children to design structures to accommodate all their favorite figurines or stuffed animals. 9780375869105 Dig, Scoop, Ka-book!<\/i> by Joan Holub, illustrated by David Gordon <\/p>\n Read about the machinery and noises found at a construction site with this rhythmic book from beloved children\u2019s author Joan Holub (Goddess Girls series). Simple vocabulary and plenty of onomatopoeia make this a fun leveled reader book for young children. 9780375865411 Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building<\/i> by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by James E. Ransome <\/p>\n In 1930s New York City, a young boy watches mesmerized as a team of workers construct a towering building. When the last brick is in place, the boy travels to the tip-top of the skyscraper \u2014 named the Empire State Building \u2014 and we get to experience the wonder through his eyes. 9780593463741 A Girl Can Build Anything <\/i> by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo and Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Keisha Morris <\/p>\n This beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates imagination, self-expression, and creativity. The sparse text reminds children they can build anything they imagine, from birdhouses to buildings. It\u2019s a must-have for STEM-loving girls! 9781984814333 Someone Builds the Dream <\/i> by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Loren Long <\/p>\n Buildings, bridges, farms, and parks fill our world \u2014 but who builds them? This eye-opening book introduces young readers to the people who imagine, design, and create incredible things we see and use every day. 9781465414120 LEGO Play Book<\/i> by Daniel Lipkowitz <\/p>\n Even the most inventive of us can get stuck in a LEGO-building rut. Reinvigorate your child\u2019s imagination with this colorful idea book brimming with awesome models for their favorite building staples. Ranging from simple, medium, and complex constructions \u2014 and always encouraging their own twist \u2014 your young builders will be occupied for ages. 9781524719371 The Cardboard Kingdom <\/i> by Chad Sell <\/p>\n Tweens will love this graphic novel about a group of neighborhood children who create an entire kingdom out of cardboard. From buildings to costumes, these kids build a world where their imaginations take flight and adventures await. Editor’s note:\u00a0This article was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2023.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Books about building, construction, and architecture can spark fresh ideas and encourage kids to imagine and build again and again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":12232,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[59,89,685],"coauthors":[1053],"class_list":["post-12208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-picture-books","tag-science","tag-lego","ages_stages-baby-toddler","ages_stages-pre-k","ages_stages-growing-reader","ages_stages-tween"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n(Ages 2 \u2013 5)<\/i><\/p>\n
\n(Ages 2 \u2013 5)<\/i><\/p>\n
\n(Ages 3 \u2013 7)<\/i><\/p>\n
\n(Ages 3 \u2013 7)<\/i><\/p>\n
\n(Ages 3 \u2013 8)<\/i><\/p>\n
\n(Ages 4 \u2013 6)<\/i><\/p>\n
\n(Ages 4 \u2013 8)<\/i><\/p>\n
\n(Ages 4 \u2013 8)<\/i><\/p>\n
\n(Ages 5 \u2013 8)<\/i><\/p>\n
\n(Ages 7 \u2013 10)<\/i><\/p>\n
\n(Ages 8 \u2013 12)<\/i><\/p>\n