Big Book of Animals: A LEGO Adventure in the Real World

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School, Brunswick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 8, 2017

Review

Part of a nonfiction series that uses LEGO minifigures to draw kids in and engage them with facts. Divided into sections (Arctic, Woodlands, Rain Forest, Mountain, Desert, Grassland, and Water), each page covers one animal from that biome with a double-page spread that includes a large, beautiful photograph, a box showing "Minifacts" about the animal, and LEGO illustrations that offer other tidbits, additional facts, jokes, building suggestions, etc. Each section covers 5-8 specific animals and then one page with multiple examples of animals living within that habitat. The book would have benefited from a map showing where in the world the animal(s) could be found or the "Minifact" box could have included location and perhaps status like endangered or numbers in the wild. The book is over-sized and bright and has appeal, especially for animal lovers, but the coverage is shallow and in the case of some animals, severely limited. It is fine to have a page about "giraffes" and show a photo, but to have a page titled "shark" with only a photo of one type of shark, it can feel frustrating to the reader who wants more. The beauty of a book like this is that it can be a jumping-off point for further research. As it is: a nice browsing book that will circulate often and, with its low price-point, an easy purchase for any general elementary-aged collection.

Overall Book Score: good