That pile of LEGO in the middle of your living room isn’t going anywhere just yet (summer’s only half over!), so why not embrace the madness and give your master builders an opportunity to use their bricks in a whole new way? The following books will take your kids from stackers to master architects, and one will even teach them how to make their own stop-motion movies. From dragons to feature films to entire landscapes, keep reading to find the best LEGO books for your builders.
The LEGO® Castle Book: Build Your Own Medieval World
This brand-new LEGO building book takes master builders into medieval times, with plans for miniature castles and villages. There are basic builds and six impressive castles: Sleeping Dragon, Land's End, River Gate, Winter Palace, Eight Arches and the Winter Kingdom.
Available at Target.com, $17.09.
LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary
For LEGO buffs who are also Star Wars fans, this book is the ultimate guide to everything LEGO Star Wars. Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Yoda, Luke Skywalker, Rey and all of your fave characters are included in the book along with dozens of little-known facts and hundreds of photos of accessories, vehicles, weapons and even the Death Star! Learn about the history, manufacturing and construction of the minifigures of the Star Wars galaxy and come away a true LEGO Jedi Master.
Available on Amazon.com, $14.71.
The LEGO BOOST Idea Book: 95 Simple Robots and Hints for Making More!
This LEGO book is designed to go with the LEGO BOOST robotics system and offers 95 different builds. Kids can construct suspended vehicles and rocket-launchers with easy-to-follow instructions and full-color images.
Available on Amazon.com, $16.96.
The LEGO Animation Book
For fans of the LEGO movie who want to take their epic creations to the next level, The LEGO Animation Book will show how to bring their mini-world to life using stop-motion animation. Follow the step-by-step instructions to make your first flick and learn about the filming process, including storyboards and post-production. Tips and tricks to make your minifigures look like they are flying, how to create explosions, lighting tips, LEGO-made camera dollies and rigs and so much more. This is the ultimate book for your LEGO-maniac.
Buy now at Amazon.com, $13.56.
Awesome LEGO Creations with Bricks You Already Have
The original LEGO book by Sarah Dees, the creative brain behind Frugal Fun 4 Boys (and Girls) this book is designed to help kids use their existing collection to make everything from animals, a robot lab, a skate park, a dragon and even a crossbow. The step-by-step instructions make it easy to follow, but more advanced builders can try the no-instruction projects where you are left to puzzle it out.
Available at Amazon.com, $12.37.
LEGO Tips, Tricks and Building Techniques: The Big Unofficial LEGO Builders Book
Whether you’ve got a beginning builder or a skilled builder who wants to improve her building techniques and create lifelike designs, this new volume of the popular LEGO builders’ books series gives step-by-step instructions as well as detailed pictures to help builders come up with their own LEGO creations. Builders can also learn how to create seamless LEGO masterpieces as well as buildings consisting of skeleton framing elements.
Available at Amazon.com, $15.95.
LEGO Awesome Ideas
Journey through five incredible worlds—Outer Space, Modern Metropolis, The Wild West, Fantasyland and the Real World—in this all-new LEGO book. Bursting with hundreds of new LEGO approved ideas and building tips, this book unlocks the secrets of LEGO building and shows builders how to create a world with their imagination. Learn how to make a wild west train, outer space aliens or a realistic-looking cell phone, plus amazing models with the step-by-step guides and visual breakdowns.
Available at Amazon.com, $17.99.
The LEGO Ideas Book: Unlock Your Imagination
If your LEGO lover is looking for new ways to use his old bricks, this 200-page book is filled with photos of LEGO creations that use the most common of bricks. The book is broken up into six themed chapters—transportation, buildings, space, kingdoms, adventure and useful makes—each with basic templates of key models and pictures to inspire builders to create their own. Even though you won’t find step-by-step instructions in this book, you will get hints and tips from Master Builders who can help you turn your classic car into a race car or add a bridge to your castle!
Available on Amazon.com, $14.07.
LEGO Chain Reactions: Design and Build Amazing Moving Machines
Jam-packed full of ideas, instructions and inspiration for 10 LEGO machines that spin, swing, pivot, roll, lift and drop, LEGO Chain Reactions is the next step in brick building. The 80-page book, recommended for ages 8 & up, comes with detailed instructions for 10 modules as well as 33 LEGO pieces, six plastic balls, string, paper, ramps and other components to make LEGO machines. Each machine can also be combined with the others, so you can create your own chain reactions. The best part? There’s no need to worry about not having the right bricks because each machine is designed with only the most common bricks, and there are plenty of substitutes.
Available on Amazon.com, $13.99.
The LEGO Power Functions Idea Book: Machines and Mechanisms
If your LEGO lover is transitioning from simple sets to more complex robotic sets, this is the perfect guide to help her get started. The book showcases projects to build with LEGO Technic gears, motors, gadgets and other moving elements. Plus, you'll find hundreds of clever, buildable mechanisms, each one demonstrating a key building technique or mechanical principle. Each model also includes a list of required parts and colorful photographs to guide kids through the build without the need for step-by-step instructions. Before you know it, your future engineer will be building sliding doors, grasping claws and designing rack-and-pinion mechanisms.
Available on Amazon.com, $16.96.
The LEGO Book
For those who want to discover all there is to know about LEGOs and the story behind the popular toy company, this book reveals, explores and celebrates the fascinating story of LEGO bricks and the history behind them. Included in the book is a timeline that highlights key moments in LEGO history and special features spotlighting numerous groundbreaking and momentous achievements in the LEGO world. Fans of all ages can also explore the LEGOLAND theme parks and their amazing animated models and the LEGO Group's expansion into films, video games and the visual arts in this fascinating tell-all book.
Available on Amazon.com, $14.59.
The LEGO Adventure Book, Vol. 3: Robots, Planes, Cities & More!
If your brick builder is ready to kick his LEGO building skills up a notch, this volume of the LEGO Adventure Book series will give him plenty of reasons to keep building. The 192-page book, designed for ages 9 and up, includes 40 step-by-step breakdowns and nearly 150 example models. Learn to create a Renaissance house, a classic movie theater, sushi, Miniland-scale marvels, an ice cream truck and even a chicken coop!
Available on Amazon.com, $16.96.
LEGO Play Book: Ideas to Bring Your Bricks to Life
Building on the success of the popular The LEGO Ideas Book, this book is designed for LEGO builders looking to think, build and play creatively. The fun guide features more than 200 different builds and includes a mixture of simple, medium and complex models. Plus, the book includes a section on "ten-minute builds" for quick play sessions, "a cool brick" section with ideas for using key LEGO bricks and a section on "a handful of bricks," so you can explore what can be done with a limited collection of LEGO bricks.
Available on Amazon.com, $14.69.
—Kristina Moy & Amber Guetebier
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All images courtesy retailers.
