Over the past few years, we’ve been developing and expanding our reach into the world of making, by offering both programs and resources.
What exactly is making? Well, we actually helped craft a formal definition for it for library staff across the nation. But the short answer is pretty simple: it is the process of being willing to get your hands dirty and learn while you create whatever you want to make to accomplish a task or just have fun. Do you cook? Do you craft? Do you invent? Do you build? Do you fix things? You are a maker!
In fact, some are even talking about making as at the core of a new type of literacy: invention literacy (i,e, the ability to look around you and figure out how human-made things work). Like any type of literacy, you can never be too old or too young to start your making journey and nurturing the growth mindset on which all making depends. You also can never have enough tools in the forms of books to get your creative juices flowing.
So, this year we plan to highlight all of the various making resources we have–which range from needlework to Legos to more. July is all about Legos! Did you know we have a Lego Club that meets regularly on Wednesdays from 4 pm to 5 pm? Usually it meets twice a month, but this summer it was every week and it was a big hit every time! We also have some pretty cool resources devoted to Legos.
General Lego How-To Resources:
Courtney Sanchez’s Brick Building 101: 20 LEGO Activities to Teach Kids about STEAM (2018)
This general overview of projects provides simple directions that help kids build fun and educational projects. There’s a range of difficulty levels, so there should be something here for everyone, from beginners looking for an unintimidating first project to an enthusiast seeking a real challenge. Projects include DIY slime and a bird feeder.
Daniel Lipkowitz’s Lego Play Book: Ideas to Bring Your Bricks to Life (2013)
This book presents all sorts of creative projects to build from bricks. Options include a fairy tale cottage, a triceratops, and a skeleton.
Sean Kenney’s Cool Creations in 101 Pieces (2014)
This book is all about repurposing the same 101 pieces for a variety of projects. Categories covered include everything from vehicles to spaceships to animals to robots.
Adam Ward’s Brick x Brick: How to Build Amazing Things with 100-ish Bricks or Fewer (2020)
For a range of projects with fewer bricks than is used in Kenney’s book, this book is a wonderful resource. From a popular Lego Youtuber called the “Bob Ross of Legos,” it also has difficulty ratings for each project to make it easier to select projects based on skill level.
Specialized Lego Information:
Hannah Dolan’s Lego: How to Build Lego Dinosaurs (2022)
If the triceratops in the Lego Play Book left you wanting more, this book covers how to build 30 different dinosaurs, including the mighty T-rex.
Rona Skene’s Lego Animal Atlas: Discover the Animals of the World (2018)
If your interests are more focused on the animal kingdom than dinosaurs, this book is a great resource. It covers how-to instructions for building Lego penguins, giraffes, koalas, lions, squids, and more while also including trivia on the animals and their habitats.
Ekow Nimako’s Beasts from Bricks: Amazing Lego Designs for Animals from Around the World (2017)
This book includes a more limited and difficult repertoire of Lego animal projects. It covers 15 different animal builds, ranging from elephants to sheep to seals to pandas. A great challenge for experienced Lego enthusiasts.
Sarah Herman’s Brick Flicks: A Comprehensive Guide to Making Your Own Stop-Motion Lego Movies (2014)
For an eve more ambitious Lego challenge (and/or for budding young filmmakers), we also have this guide to stop-motion Lego animation. It covers everything from picking equipment and crafting stories to how to set up shots and edit. It also delves into the history of Lego films and profiles significant personalities in the field. Through early September, you can also get the feel for stop-motion animation in just a few minutes at a special exhibit in the library. Come try it out!
General Reading on Legos:
Lego: The Ultimate Lego Book (1999)
If you’re not much of a hands-on Lego fan but still want to learn more about them, try this book. It doesn’t feature instructions for building projects, but it’s a great, detailed profile of the history of the Lego Company and includes coverage on some interesting builds, complete with pictures.
Sarah Herman’s Extreme Bricks: Spectacular, Record-Breaking, and Astounding Lego Projects from Around the World (2013)
No details on how to do these complicated projects but lots of detailed information on awe-inspiring and ambitious Lego projects that recreate famous buildings, battleships, paintings, and more.
Other Resources
Brick Journal
If you want up-to-date information on all things Lego, this magazine that prints every other month highlights how-to tips, as well as events, new products, and personalities in the Lego community. We have years of past issues available to check out and read for free.
Love Legos? What do you like to build with bricks? What’s your favorite book about Legos? Tell us in the comments! As always, please follow this link to our online library catalog for more information on any of these items or to place them on hold.
Berryville Book Buzz 