Cool City [Hardcover]

Sean Kenney (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: September 13, 2011 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years

Sean Kenney is back with original city creations of all sizes, colors, and features. Build a skyscraper, a brownstone, or how about a mini metropolis! Complete with select model instructions for more than six creations, insider tips, and landscape designs for new LEGO fans as well as diehard enthusiasts. And as a bonus—a sticker sheet to decorate your new city models.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Students will likely be fascinated with the details…” --School Library Journal

About the Author

Sean Kenney, author of Cool Robots and Cool Cars and Trucks, likes to prove you can build anything with LEGO bricks. He makes sculptures and models out of LEGO at his studio in New York City, and his work has inspired kids to create great things themselves. He is recognized as one of the premier LEGO brick builders in the world.

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (September 13, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805087621
• ISBN-13: 978-0805087628
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 10.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sean Kenney likes to prove you can make anything with LEGO bricks! He builds everything you can imagine at his New York City studio, inspiring millions to create great things themselves.

He and his work have been seen in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, PBS, BBC, ABC World News, Elle, New York Magazine, and more. His work has been displayed at art galleries, airports, shopping centers, at FAO Schwarz, The Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center.

In 2005, Sean was named a "LEGO Certified Professional", the first of only a handful across the globe.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great book from Sean Kenney September 21, 2011

By Christopher Meyer

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been a fan of this author since stumbling upon his Cool Cars and Trucks a few years ago, so I was very excited when I heard that his third book was coming out. Once again, we are presented with many wonderful creations in LEGO to awe and inspire young and old builders alike.

I think it's important to understand what this book is and what it isn't. First off, you can see that the book is 32 pages. For those who have LEGO City sets, the average instruction manual probably has at least that many pages - so this isn't an instruction manual. This book doesn't have many words either - most of the pages have about one sentence at most.

What you will find in this book are many wonderful photos - in this case scenes out of a City made of LEGO bricks. Most of the creations are in minifig scale, but the author also includes some micro-scale creations as well to show you what is possible. The book includes a few simple instructions, in this case how to build a food cart, statue, some micro-scale buildings, a stop light, a soda machine, a food stand, and a couple of minfig scale buildings (one with a working elevator). The book also includes a bonus sticker sheet, which includes stickers for the soda machine, food cart, and street signs (among others).

The wonderful thing about Sean's books is that they appeal to a wide age range. My children (age 3 & 6) love these books for the photos which recreate scenes out of every day life in LEGO - and since the books are light on text they make great bedtime books for the kids. As your kids get older, they can use the instructions to build the models, or as inspiration to build their own creations. Even the adult fan of LEGO will enjoy paging through this book again and again, there are lots of techniques that you can pick up out of the photos. One interesting technique, for example, is the use of forced perspective to make buildings appear larger.

I rated this book four stars because I didn't like it quite as much as Sean's first book Cool Cars and Trucks, but if I hadn't read that book first I probably would have given this five stars.

In summary - if you are looking for a book that LEGO fans of all ages will enjoy paging through again and again - this is the book for you. If you are looking for more detailed instructions, check out something like LEGO City Brickmaster. Better yet, pick up both!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book For the Young Brickmaster July 23, 2012

By M. Curtiss

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I purchased this book for my 9 year old son. It's full of great ideas on building small scale towns with your own bricks. Contains labels/signage to complete the builds.
A good inspirational book for kids who learn visually and can use hints in how to apply bricks in new ways.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars neat March 31, 2012

By Melissa Sack VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Do you love LEGOs? Well, this book is for you! This book takes you on a trip around a LEGO city, and gives you instructions on how to make the buildings, the food carts, various vehicles and much more. I would recommend this book to LEGO fans, both young and old.