Stack, Wreck, and Rebuild:
Exciting Books To Get Kids Building
by Lindsay Barrett
Besides books, building toys are my top choice to give as gifts and to enjoy with my kids at home. Their appeal is wide-ranging. Babies studiously manipulate and mouth them, then steadfastly move them from one container to another. To toddlers, nothing is more hilarious than knocking down a teetering tower — over and over and over! Older kids love to create, whether with interlocking bricks, magnetic blocks, traditional wooden unit blocks, or materials salvaged from the recycling bin.
The benefits of construction play for children are numerous, from encouraging creativity and motor development to providing opportunities for flexing math and problem-solving skills. Building play can even influence a child’s career choice; Frank Lloyd Wright credits a set of wooden blocks, a gift from his mother, with inspiring his architectural designs. While simply sitting down on the floor together with a pile of blocks will usually get your little one interested in construction play, books about building can spark fresh ideas and interests. These books will encourage children to imagine, stack, wreck, and rebuild again and again:
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Little Excavator
Available from:If you enjoy the rhyming text and expressive illustrations in the Llama Llama series, you’ll love this book by the same author. Little Excavator works with a team of machinery to create a neighborhood park. This delightful story shows readers that even small people can make a big difference.
(Ages 2 – 5)Also available from: -
Bigger! Bigger!
Available from:Leslie Patricelli knows that girls love to wear construction hats and transform piles of blocks into imaginative masterpieces just as much as boys do. She’s also spot-on with her portrayal of a Godzilla-like baby sibling approaching one such masterpiece. The story ends sweetly with the older sister initiating her younger sibling into the fun of building together.
(Ages 2 – 5)Also available from: -
Construction
Available from:Sally Sutton’s entire series of construction-themed rhyming romps is destined for classic read-aloud status, but this installment is particularly inspiring for young builders. From cutting planks to building a frame to adding a roof, windows, plumbing, and electrical wires, this step-by-step look at how a library is built models the sequential nature of construction and suggests new elements for children to include in their own building endeavors.
(Ages 2 – 5)Also available from: -
Built to Last
Preorder from:In this heartwarming story, two friends spend their time building and creating their own imaginary worlds using just cardboard and their boundless imaginations. Whenever something falls apart, they don't get discouraged. Instead, they pick themselves up and try again. But when they finally build their greatest masterpiece, and it crumbles in a way they never expected, their friendship is put to the test.
(Ages 3 – 7)Preorder from: -
Fort-Building Time
Available from:Calling all fort builders! The changing seasons mean new fort-making materials — snow, mud, sand, the artful floral trellis. Young readers will love following along with this creative troupe of friends as they experiment with the countless ways a fort can be made. (Spoiler alert: there’s no wrong way to do it!)
(Ages 3 – 7)Also available from: -
Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?
Available from:You can’t go wrong with this modern classic about the bedtime routines of construction machinery, from diggers to dump trucks. This adorable book is a nighttime favorite for little builders everywhere.
(Ages 3 – 7)Also available from: -
A House in The Woods
Available from:When small and simple structures prove inadequate to house them, two pigs, a bear, and a moose envision a house grand enough for them to all live together. With the help of an industrious beaver team, they turn their dream into reality. This story is perfect for encouraging children to design structures to accommodate all their favorite figurines or stuffed animals.
(Ages 3 – 8)Also available from: -
Dig, Scoop, Ka-book!
Available from:Read about the machinery and noises found at a construction site with this rhythmic book from beloved children’s author Joan Holub (Goddess Girls series). Simple vocabulary and plenty of onomatopoeia make this a fun leveled reader book for young children.
(Ages 4 – 6)Also available from: -
Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building
Available from:In 1930s New York City, a young boy watches mesmerized as a team of workers construct a towering building. When the last brick is in place, the boy travels to the tip-top of the skyscraper — named the Empire State Building — and we get to experience the wonder through his eyes.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
This Is My Dollhouse
Available from:Building something extraordinary doesn’t always require large machinery. The little girl in this story builds a dollhouse from a cardboard box and other items. Her imagination allows her to create a unique dollhouse filled with personality and life. And if you peek inside the dust jacket, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for your child to build their own dollhouse.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
A Girl Can Build Anything
Available from:This beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates imagination, self-expression, and creativity. The sparse text reminds children they can build anything they imagine, from birdhouses to buildings. It’s a must-have for STEM-loving girls!
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
Someone Builds the Dream
Available from:Buildings, bridges, farms, and parks fill our world — but who builds them? This eye-opening book introduces young readers to the people who imagine, design, and create incredible things we see and use every day.
(Ages 5 – 8)Also available from: -
LEGO Play Book
Available from:Even the most inventive of us can get stuck in a LEGO-building rut. Reinvigorate your child’s imagination with this colorful idea book brimming with awesome models for their favorite building staples. Ranging from simple, medium, and complex constructions — and always encouraging their own twist — your young builders will be occupied for ages.
(Ages 7 – 10)Also available from: -
The Cardboard Kingdom
Available from:Tweens will love this graphic novel about a group of neighborhood children who create an entire kingdom out of cardboard. From buildings to costumes, these kids build a world where their imaginations take flight and adventures await.
(Ages 8 – 12)Also available from:
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2023.