Block Building for Children: Making Buildings of the World with the Ultimate Construction Toy [Hardcover]

Lester R. Walker (Author), Witold Rybczynski (Preface)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Anything but plain, the wooden block is the basis for everything from geometric patterns to a cathedral in Block Building for Children by Lester Walker, preface by Witold Rybczynski. Illustrated with 67 black-and-white photographs and 125 line drawings, this guide helps would-be architects construct everything from a Greek temple to the Emerald City of Oz (Overlook, $22.95, 167p, ages 9-up ISBN 0-87951-609-7 Nov.).
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-6?Detailed instructions for 18 block-building projects, including a boat dock, a farm, a mosque, a city of the future, and the Emerald City of Oz. The constructions require 11 specific sizes and shapes of wooden blocks (these can be ordered from the publisher, but a short list of catalog and toy-store sources is offered in the appendix). A few of the projects require extra pieces (accessory wood turnings, dowels, etc.) not on the main list. A clear table shows drawings and dimensions of the blocks, and each is numbered. When assembling the scenes, builders must refer to the numbers on the diagrams in order to use the correct blocks; it's all fairly easy to follow. Instructions begin with basic building techniques (towers, beams, etc.), and then move on to the main projects. Tips and more specific instructions clarify some of the steps. Fairly dull black-and-white photos show children (mostly boys) in the process of assembling. In his description of how to build each scene, the author weaves in historical background and simple engineering details, injecting some welcome imaginative spirit. If youngsters have the right blocks (and enough of them) and a bit of patience, they should be able to manage most of the projects. They are simpler than those in Sam Bingham's The Ultimate Wood Block Book (Sterling, 1988; o.p.), which includes a greater number of more varied constructions.?Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library, OR
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Overlook Juvenile; First American Edition edition (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879516097
• ISBN-13: 978-0879516093
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #379,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kdg. teachers buy this book!, November 28, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Block Building for Children: Making Buildings of the World with the Ultimate Construction Toy (Hardcover)

This is the best book on the topic of block building that I have ever seen. Black and white photographs of the beginnings and completions of interesting structures are shown, as well as carefully drawn plans for building each structure. While recommended for older children on this site, I highly recommend that it be included near every block corner in kindergarten classes. The children are able to visualize, then extend the ideas contained in the book, and have become much better block builders as a result. One very positive thing is that the book tends to attract girls to the block building area, where they carefully study the plans and cooperate to try to reproduce the structure. Since block building is known to nurture spatial sense, an important math skill, anything that encourages girls to participate in block building is highly recommended. (By the way, boys love it too!)

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ultimate Block Construction Book, October 22, 2005

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Learning All The Time "It's Never Too Late to... (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Block Building for Children: Making Buildings of the World with the Ultimate Construction Toy (Hardcover)

Genuine hardwood unit blocks are THE best toy for children. I have a fairly large set of them and my children, who range in age from 2-8, all sit down together (and separately) and play with them. The blocks become horse stables, airports, buildings, hotels, doll houses, highways, you name it!! And when other children come to our home, the blocks are invariably the first thing pulled out and played with.

In general, I've held that open-ended toys like blocks should be open ended, that kids should be encouraged to make their own creations, not carefully recreate someone else's construction.

I make an exception for Lester Walker's exceptional book. Some of his buildings are so realistic - his cathedral, roman temple, and skyscraper, for example. It is so interesting to see how he takes the basic block shapes to make such complex looking structures.

Other projects in the book invite hours of play, such as his shopping mall, airport, and boat dock.

I highly, highly recommend this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't know what to do with your blocks?, December 5, 2011

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This review is from: Block Building for Children: Making Buildings of the World with the Ultimate Construction Toy (Hardcover)

This book is lovely. A true treasure. I will be keeping this one after my kids are gone. It has "plans" for building everything from a car wash for toy cars to an airport complete with hangers for the planes. The illustrations are very well done and easy to see which block goes where. One important note- you need a FULL set of unit blocks to build most of what is in here. A little kit of 50 blocks just isn't gonna cut it. Unfortunately it's not so easy to find a good set of block for your kids. In my opinion, however, it's worth it. A quick internet search should lead you to a source. Keep in mind, they aren't cheap. You have to look at them as an investment. Blocks are something that will easily provide 10 years or more of play. And don't forget the future generations. So do your kids a favor and get them a big ol set of unit blocks and a copy of this book and watch the fun begin!