{"id":17718,"date":"2020-05-02T15:31:10","date_gmt":"2020-05-02T19:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/?p=17718"},"modified":"2021-05-11T15:06:45","modified_gmt":"2021-05-11T19:06:45","slug":"architecture-building-and-blocks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/architecture-building-and-blocks\/","title":{"rendered":"Architecture, Building, and Blocks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e98ef57f587\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e98ef57f587\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/architecture-building-and-blocks\/#All_About_Architecture\" >All About Architecture<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/architecture-building-and-blocks\/2\/#Building_Small_and_Large\" >Building Small and Large<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/architecture-building-and-blocks\/3\/#Skyscrapers\" >Skyscrapers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/architecture-building-and-blocks\/3\/#Bridges\" >Bridges<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/architecture-building-and-blocks\/4\/#Treehouses_and_Relatives\" >Treehouses and Relatives<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/architecture-building-and-blocks\/4\/#Igloos_and_Sandcastles\" >Igloos and Sandcastles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/architecture-building-and-blocks\/5\/#Hands-On_Projects\" >Hands-On Projects<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/architecture-building-and-blocks\/6\/#Famous_Architects\" >Famous Architects<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/architecture-building-and-blocks\/6\/#Animal_Architects\" >Animal Architects<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/architecture-building-and-blocks\/7\/#The_Benefits_of_Blocks\" >The Benefits of Blocks<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"All_About_Architecture\"><\/span>All About Architecture<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 4753px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 20px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 20px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/christopher-wren-229x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"229\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/christopher-wren-229x300.jpg 229w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/christopher-wren-780x1024.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/christopher-wren-768x1008.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/christopher-wren.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 229px) 100vw, 229px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 20px;\">\n<p>In Tina Skinner\u2019s <em>Christopher Wren: The Avian Architect<\/em> (Schiffer, 2008), kids learn about a wide range of architectural styles as a creative wren (named Christopher) tries to build the ultimate birdhouse. For ages 5-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17767\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/iggy-peck-247x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"247\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/iggy-peck-247x300.jpg 247w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/iggy-peck.jpg 518w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 247px) 100vw, 247px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<p>Andrea Beaty\u2019s <em>Iggy Peck, Architect<\/em> (Abrams, 2007) is the rhyming story of the talented and irrepressible Iggy, who has been an architect since the age of two (when he built a tower of diapers and glue). For ages 5-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17766\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/iggy-peck-projects-242x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"242\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/iggy-peck-projects-242x300.jpg 242w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/iggy-peck-projects.jpg 352w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<p>Also see the accompanying <em>Iggy Peck\u2019s Big Project Book for Amazing Architects<\/em> (Abrams, 2017), a collection of 40 cool projects and activities, among them designing a dwelling on Mars, drawing a gargoyle, and building a spaghetti-and-marshmallow bridge. For ages 7 or so and up \u2013 there\u2019s a lot of drawing.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17728\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/architecture-according-to-pigeons-234x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"234\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/architecture-according-to-pigeons-234x300.jpg 234w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/architecture-according-to-pigeons.jpg 260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 234px) 100vw, 234px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<p>Stella Gurney\u2019s <em>Architecture According to Pigeons<\/em> (Phaidon, 2013) stars Pigeon Elder Speck Lee Tailfeather, who takes readers on a tour of world architecture from Canterbury Cathedral to the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Great Wall of China, and more. For ages 7 and up.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17722\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-buildings-248x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"248\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-buildings-248x300.jpg 248w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-buildings.jpg 318w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 248px) 100vw, 248px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<p>Annette Roeder\u2019s <em>13 Buildings Children Should Know<\/em> (Prestel, 2009) has background information and great color photos of such famous architectural sites as the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Parthenon, the Tower of London, and Neuschwanstein Castle. For ages 8-12.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17801\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cool-architecture-300x230.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cool-architecture-300x230.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cool-architecture-1024x786.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cool-architecture-768x590.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cool-architecture-1536x1180.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cool-architecture.jpg 1823w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<p>Simon Armstrong\u2019s <em>Cool Architecture<\/em> (Portico, 2015) is packed with fun facts about architecture through history and worldwide. Readers find out how bridges work, how to tell a Doric from a Corinthian column, why there\u2019s only one way to build a medieval castle, and how to draw like an architect. For ages 9 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 416px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 416px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17812\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cathedral-226x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"226\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cathedral-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cathedral.jpg 377w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 416px;\">\n<p>David Macaulay\u2019s wonderful building books, illustrated with exquisitely detailed black-and-white drawings, trace the building of a (fictional) historical structure step by step, from planning stage to completion, with a reader-friendly text and enough illustrative detail to satisfy even the most demanding young architect or engineer. Titles include <em>Cathedral<\/em> (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1981), <em>Pyramid<\/em> (1982), <em>Castle <\/em>(1982) <em>City: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction<\/em> (1983), <em>Mil<\/em>l (1989), <em>Mosque<\/em> (2008), and more. For ages 9 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17748\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/built-to-last-235x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"235\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/built-to-last-235x300.jpg 235w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/built-to-last.jpg 260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 235px) 100vw, 235px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<p>In Macaulay\u2019s <em>Built to Last<\/em> (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010), the author combines and updates his earlier works <em>Castle<\/em>, <em>Cathedral<\/em>, and <em>Mosque<\/em>. Illustrations in the new version are in color. For ages 9 and up.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/james-hancock-all-the-buildings-233x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/james-hancock-all-the-buildings-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/james-hancock-all-the-buildings.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<p>James Gulliver Hancock\u2019s All the Buildings I\u2019ve Drawn So Far series (Rizzoli Universe) is a delightfully illustrated and labeled building-by-building tour of world cities, among them New York, London, and Paris. A great architectural and geographical resource for all ages.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 370px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 370px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17787\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-story-of-buildings-257x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"257\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-story-of-buildings-257x300.jpg 257w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-story-of-buildings-878x1024.jpg 878w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-story-of-buildings-768x896.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-story-of-buildings-1317x1536.jpg 1317w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-story-of-buildings.jpg 1417w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 257px) 100vw, 257px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 370px;\">\n<p>Patrick Dillon\u2019s <em>The Story of Buildings<\/em> (Candlewick, 2014), with spectacular illustrations by Stephen Biesty, is a history of architecture from the pyramids through Greeks, Romans, and Renaissance to the Sydney Opera House and beyond. Features include London\u2019s 19<sup>th<\/sup>-century Crystal Palace, Beijing\u2019s Forbidden City, and the Taj Mahal. For ages 10 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 281px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 281px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17758\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/future-architects-handbook-300x267.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/future-architects-handbook-300x267.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/future-architects-handbook.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 281px;\">\n<p>Barbara Beck\u2019s <em>The Future Architect\u2019s Handbook<\/em> (Schiffer, 2014) takes kids through the process of designing a house. Learn how to do site plans, floor plans, sections, and elevations. For ages 9 and up.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 342px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 342px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17794\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/under-every-roof-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"238\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/under-every-roof-238x300.jpg 238w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/under-every-roof.jpg 397w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 342px;\">\n<p>Patricia Brown Glenn\u2019s <em>Under Every Roof<\/em> (Wiley, 2009) is an excellent guide to why houses look the way they do, along with info on architectural styles, and terms for the various architectural elements that make up our homes (what\u2019s a gable?). Great watercolor illustrations feature 60+ different houses from all across the United States. For ages 10 and up.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 109px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 109px;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 109px;\">\n<p>Pair Glenn\u2019s book with an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uen.org\/lessonplan\/view\/9043\">Architecture Scavenger Hunt<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17820\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/totally-strange-buildings-250x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/totally-strange-buildings-250x300.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/totally-strange-buildings.jpg 452w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<p>By Lisa Herrington, <em>Totally Strange Buildings<\/em> (Childrens Press, 2017), illustrated with color photos, features a selection of bizarre buildings from across the United States. Lots of questions make for an interactive read. (Check out the building shaped like a giant picnic basket!) For ages 5-9.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17821\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/buildings-in-disguise-large-300x232.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/buildings-in-disguise-large-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/buildings-in-disguise-large.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Joan Marie Arbogast\u2019s <em>Buildings in Disguise<\/em> (Boyds Mills Press, 2010) is a great collection strange buildings that look like everything from elephants to binoculars. A fun look at some truly odd architecture for ages 7-11.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 239px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 239px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17819\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/19-33-Worlds-Top-Strangest-Buildings-Conch-Shell-House-Isla-Mujeres1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/19-33-Worlds-Top-Strangest-Buildings-Conch-Shell-House-Isla-Mujeres1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/19-33-Worlds-Top-Strangest-Buildings-Conch-Shell-House-Isla-Mujeres1.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 239px;\">\n<p>See pictures of some of the world&#8217;s strangest buildings <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/top-33-worlds-strangest-buildings\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 160px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 160px;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 160px;\">\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/archkidecture.org\/\">ArchKIDecture<\/a> has a large collection of architecture-related lessons and projects for all ages, plus annotated book and resource lists.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 288px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 300px; height: 288px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17770\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/lego-architecture-300x205.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"205\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/lego-architecture-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/lego-architecture-1024x699.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/lego-architecture-768x524.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/lego-architecture.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 288px;\">\n<p>With the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/LEGO-Architecture\/s?k=LEGO+Architecture\">LEGO Architecture<\/a> series, kids can build the skylines of such famous cities as Chicago, Paris, Tokyo, London, and Sydney, as well as famous individual structures such as the Empire State Building, the Guggenheim Museum, the Capitol Building, and the Eiffel Tower. Generally recommended for builders ages 12 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4>Building Small and Large<\/h4>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17742\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-a-house-barton-300x242.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-a-house-barton-300x242.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-a-house-barton.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Byron Barton\u2019s <em>Building a House<\/em> (HarperTrophy, 1990), with bright pictures and a brief text, traces the building process from digging a hole to finished house. For ages 3-6.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17747\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-our-house-bean-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"227\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-our-house-bean-227x300.jpg 227w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-our-house-bean.jpg 476w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 227px) 100vw, 227px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>In Jonathan Bean\u2019s <em>Building Our House<\/em> (Farrar, Straus &amp; Giroux, 2013), a family is moving from the city to the country \u2013 and they\u2019re building their new house themselves, from the ground up. For ages 3-7.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-a-house-is-built-gibbons-300x255.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-a-house-is-built-gibbons-300x255.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-a-house-is-built-gibbons.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Gail Gibbons\u2019s <em>How a House Is Built<\/em> (Holiday House, 1996) moves from architect to foundation diggers, carpenters, plumbers, masons, electricians, painters, and landscapers, all with appealing and carefully labeled illustrations. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17759\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/henry-builds-a-cabin-300x251.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/henry-builds-a-cabin-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/henry-builds-a-cabin.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>D.B. Johnson\u2019s <em>Henry Builds a Cabin<\/em> (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019) is one of a series of delightful picture books about Henry, a bear, who is Johnson\u2019s version of writer\/philosopher Henry David Thoreau. In this book, Henry cuts down twelve trees and makes himself a very small cabin, explaining to critical friends why his tiny house is really much \u201cbigger than it looks.\u201d For ages 4-7.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>See many more resources on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/henry-david-thoreau\/\">Henry David Thoreau<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17761\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-cities-work-hancock-300x279.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-cities-work-hancock-300x279.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-cities-work-hancock.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>James Gulliver Hancock\u2019s <em>How Cities Work<\/em> (Lonely Planet Kids, 2016) is a wonderful introduction to skyscrapers, subways, sewers, apartment buildings, and construction sites, with lots of interactive flaps and fold-outs. For ages 5 and up.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17782\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/skyscrapers-schmermund-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/skyscrapers-schmermund-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/skyscrapers-schmermund.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>From Nomad Press, the Explore Engineering series includes the creatively designed <em>Bridges!<\/em> (Jennifer Swanson), <em>Canals and Dams!<\/em> (Anita Yasuda), <em>Tunnels!<\/em> and <em>Skyscrapers!<\/em> (Elizabeth Schmermund), each with kid-friendly info, fact boxes, diagrams, and 25 related science projects. For ages 7-10.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17737\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bridges-and-tunnels-latham-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bridges-and-tunnels-latham-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bridges-and-tunnels-latham.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Nomad Press\u2019s Investigate Feats of Engineering series includes Donna Latham\u2019s <em>Bridges and Tunnels<\/em>, <em>Skyscrapers<\/em>, and <em>Canals and Dams<\/em>, each with a timeline, Words to Know boxes, notable quotes, historical and scientific background information, and 25 hands-on projects. For ages 9-12.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17745\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-big-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-big-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-big-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-big.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>David Macaulay\u2019s <em>Building Big<\/em> (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2004) is a fascinating account of the planning, design, and science behind bridges, tunnels, skyscrapers, domes, and dams, all explained with Macaulay\u2019s wonderful detailed illustrations. For ages 10 and up.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>A five-part PBS series based on the book is available on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Building-Big-Bridges-Skyscrapers-Tunnels\/dp\/B0002XVS92\/\">DVD<\/a>. The accompanying <a href=\"http:\/\/www.pbs.org\/wgbh\/buildingbig\/\">Building Big website<\/a> includes basic info, a databank of Wonders of the World images, interviews with builders and architects, and activities, experiments, and challenges for kids.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4>Skyscrapers<\/h4>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17796\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/up-up-up-skyscraper-231x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/up-up-up-skyscraper-231x300.jpg 231w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/up-up-up-skyscraper.jpg 313w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Anastasia Suen\u2019s <em>Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper<\/em> (Charlesbridge, 2017) is an appealing picture-book explanation of how a skyscraper is built. Find out what goes on behind the construction fence. For ages 3-7.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17795\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/up-goes-the-skyscraper-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/up-goes-the-skyscraper-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/up-goes-the-skyscraper.jpg 305w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Gail Gibbons\u2019s brightly illustrated <em>Up Goes the Skyscraper!<\/em> (Aladdin, 2017) is a matter-of-fact account of skyscraper building from clearing the site to completion. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17780\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/sky-boys-hopkinson-209x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/sky-boys-hopkinson-209x300.jpg 209w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/sky-boys-hopkinson.jpg 418w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 209px) 100vw, 209px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Deborah Hopkinson\u2019s <em>Sky Boys<\/em> (Dragonfly Books, 2012) is the story of how the Empire State Building was built, as seen through the eyes of a young boy in 1930s New York City. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17723\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-skyscrapers-257x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"257\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-skyscrapers-257x300.jpg 257w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-skyscrapers-877x1024.jpg 877w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-skyscrapers-768x896.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-skyscrapers.jpg 1012w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 257px) 100vw, 257px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Brad Finger\u2019s photo-illustrated <em>13 Skyscrapers Children Should Know<\/em> (Prestel, 2016) covers famous skyscrapers worldwide, with a timeline, glossary, and background information. For example, readers find out how skyscraper technology has changed over time and what keeps very tall buildings from toppling. For ages 8-12.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17782\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/skyscrapers-schmermund-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/skyscrapers-schmermund-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/skyscrapers-schmermund.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Elizabeth Schmermund\u2019s <em>Skyscrapers!<\/em> (Nomad Press, 2018) has background information, Words to Know boxes, discussion questions, labeled diagrams, and 25 related science projects. For ages 7-10.<\/p>\n<p>Also from Nomad Press, see Donna Latham\u2019s <em>Skyscrapers<\/em> for ages 9-12.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17781\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/sky-high-zullo-143x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"143\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/sky-high-zullo-143x300.jpg 143w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/sky-high-zullo.jpg 237w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 143px) 100vw, 143px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Germano Zullo\u2019s very tall <em>Sky High<\/em> (Chronicle Books, 2012) is the witty and cleverly illustrated tale of neighbors caught up in a race to build the tallest, most elaborate and fantastical building ever, replete with gold doors, diamond pillars, and live tigers. Fun for all ages.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17793\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/unbuilding-macaulay-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/unbuilding-macaulay-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/unbuilding-macaulay.jpg 318w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>What if we decided to take the Empire State Building down? David Macaulay\u2019s <em>Unbuilding<\/em> (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1987) is a fascinating fictional account of how to demolish a skyscraper, with Macaulay\u2019s signature detailed illustrations. For ages 10 and up.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17762\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-build-a-skyscraper-hill-152x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-build-a-skyscraper-hill-152x300.jpg 152w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-build-a-skyscraper-hill-518x1024.jpg 518w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-build-a-skyscraper-hill.jpg 607w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 152px) 100vw, 152px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>John Hill\u2019s <em>How to Build a Skyscraper<\/em> (Firefly Books, 2017) is an overview of 46 famous skyscrapers, each with photos, structural diagrams, and historical and scientific information. An interesting read for skyscraper-loving teens and adults.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<h4>Bridges<\/h4>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 2469px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17774\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/pops-bridge-bunting-236x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/pops-bridge-bunting-236x300.jpg 236w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/pops-bridge-bunting.jpg 394w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">\n<p>By Eve Bunting, <em>Pop\u2019s Bridge<\/em> (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006) is the story of the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, completed in 1937, as told by Robert, whose father is a skywalker at the construction site \u2013 that is, a high-climbing ironworker. For ages 5-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 247px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 247px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17789\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/this-bridge-will-not-be-gray-300x241.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/this-bridge-will-not-be-gray-300x241.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/this-bridge-will-not-be-gray.jpg 506w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 247px;\">\n<p>By Dave Eggers, <em>This Bridge Will Not Be Gray<\/em> (Chronicle Books, 2018) is a non-fiction account of the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, with clever cut-paper illustrations by Tucker Nichols. For ages 5-8.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 342px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 342px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17778\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/secret-engineer-300x263.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/secret-engineer-300x263.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/secret-engineer.jpg 463w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 342px;\">\n<p>Rachel Dougherty\u2019s <em>Secret Engineer<\/em> (Roaring Brook Press, 2019) is the story of Emily Roebling, wife of Washington Roebling, chief engineer in charge of building the Brooklyn Bridge. When her husband fell ill of caisson disease in mid-construction, Emily took over and finished the job. For ages 5-8.<\/p>\n<p>Also see Frieda Wishinsky\u2019s <em>How Emily Saved the Bridge<\/em> (Groundwood Books, 2019) for ages 7-10.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17792\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/twenty-one-elephants-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"230\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/twenty-one-elephants-230x300.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/twenty-one-elephants.jpg 382w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">\n<p>April Jones Prince\u2019s <em>Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing<\/em> (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2005) is the story of the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1884, when P.T. Barnum &#8211; who never missed a trick &#8211; paraded twenty-one elephants across it to demonstrate how strong it was. For ages 5-9.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17721\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-bridges-258x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"258\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-bridges-258x300.jpg 258w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-bridges.jpg 349w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 258px) 100vw, 258px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">\n<p>By Brad Finger, <em>13 Bridges Children Should Know<\/em> (Prestel, 2015) has kid-friendly information and wonderful color photos of the most famous bridges in the world, among them the Millau Viaduct, London\u2019s Tower Bridge, Venice\u2019s Bridge of Sighs, and California\u2019s Golden Gate. For ages 8-12.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 300px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 300px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17738\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bridges-by-johmann-300x297.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bridges-by-johmann-300x297.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bridges-by-johmann-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bridges-by-johmann.jpg 318w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 300px;\">\n<p>Carol A. Johmann\u2019s <em>Bridges: Amazing Strutures to Design, Build, &amp; Test<\/em> (Williamson, 1999) includes information about bridges worldwide, catchy facts and figures, and projects centered around structural engineering, architecture, and construction. For ages 8-12.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17736\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bridge-by-tomasi-208x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"208\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bridge-by-tomasi-208x300.jpg 208w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bridge-by-tomasi-709x1024.jpg 709w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bridge-by-tomasi-768x1110.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bridge-by-tomasi.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 208px) 100vw, 208px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">\n<p>Peter J. Tomasi\u2019s <em>The Bridge: How the Roeblings Connected Brooklyn to New York<\/em> (Harry N. Abrams, 2019) is a terrific graphic-novel account of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge for ages 12 and up.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17785\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-great-bridge-mccullough-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-great-bridge-mccullough-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-great-bridge-mccullough.jpg 332w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">\n<p><em>The Great Bridge<\/em> (Simon &amp; Schuster, 1983) by master historian David McCullough is the enthralling story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4>Treehouses and Relatives<\/h4>\n<p>Our kids \u2013 rejecting any help from us \u2013 built a treehouse. It had a worrisomely unstable ladder and a booby trap for unwanted visitors that involved a cement block on a rope. In my homeschool notebook, I variously listed this under Architecture, Life Skills, and Physics.<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 3478px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17756\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/fort-building-time-241x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"241\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/fort-building-time-241x300.jpg 241w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/fort-building-time.jpg 326w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 241px) 100vw, 241px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">\n<p>Megan Wagner Lloyd\u2019s <em>Fort Building Time<\/em> (Knopf, 2017) is a picture-book tour of the seasons, with a kid-made fort for each. Winter\u2019s snowball igloo makes way for a spring blanket fort under the trees, then a summer driftwood-and-towel fort at the beach. For ages 3-7.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17731\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/audreys-treehouse-244x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"244\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/audreys-treehouse-244x300.jpg 244w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/audreys-treehouse-832x1024.jpg 832w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/audreys-treehouse-768x945.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/audreys-treehouse.jpg 975w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">\n<p>By Jenny Hughes, in <em>Audrey\u2019s Treehouse<\/em> (Scholastic, 2015), Audrey has decided that she\u2019s too big for the house and so needs one of her own \u2013 in a tree, with a spiral staircase, a bannister for sliding, a bathtub for snorkeling, and a place to drink tea. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 342px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 342px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17754\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/everything-you-need-for-treehouse-220x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"220\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/everything-you-need-for-treehouse-220x300.jpg 220w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/everything-you-need-for-treehouse.jpg 366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 342px;\">\n<p>By Carter Higgins, <em>Everything You Need for a Treehouse<\/em> (Chronicle Books, 2018) is a lovely picture book about the wonder, magic, creativity, and imagination that surround treehouses. (\u201cEverything you need for a\/treehouse\/starts with time\/and looking up\/and imagining a home\/of timber and rafters\/in wrangled, gnarled bark.\u201d) For ages 5-8.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17771\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/magic-faraway-tree-232x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/magic-faraway-tree-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/magic-faraway-tree.jpg 386w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">In Enid Blyton\u2019s <em>The Magic Faraway Tree<\/em> (Egmont Books, 2014), three children discover an immense tree in the woods inhabited by pixies, fairies, and other magical people \u2013 and reaching into the clouds. From the top of the tree, via ladder, the children can reach any number of strange lands, a different one on each visit. One of a series for ages 5 and up\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17725\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/andrew-henrys-meadow-237x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"237\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/andrew-henrys-meadow-237x300.jpg 237w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/andrew-henrys-meadow.jpg 395w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 237px) 100vw, 237px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">\n<p>In Doris Burn\u2019s <em>Andrew Henry\u2019s Meadow<\/em> (Philomel, 2012), Andrew Henry, a middle child, is an inventor whose family doesn\u2019t appreciate his contraptions (such as the unfortunate kitchen helicopter) \u2013 so he runs away to a meadow where he builds each of his friends an eccentric house suited to their own special interests. For ages 6-9.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17786\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-minpins-dahl-231x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-minpins-dahl-231x300.jpg 231w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-minpins-dahl.jpg 318w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">\n<p>In Roald Dahl\u2019s <em>The Minpins<\/em> (Puffin, 2009), Billy \u2013 despite his mother\u2019s warning to stay out of the Forest of Sin, with its scary population of monsters \u2013 goes there anyway and meets the tiny Minpins who live in the trees and are menaced by a fire-breathing creature called the Gruncher. For ages 6-10.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17784\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-13-story-treehouse-198x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-13-story-treehouse-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-13-story-treehouse-676x1024.jpg 676w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-13-story-treehouse-768x1164.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-13-story-treehouse.jpg 825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">\n<p>By Andy Griffiths, <em>The 13-Story Treehouse<\/em> (Feiwel &amp; Friends, 2013) \u2013 which began with a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, shark tanks, a marshmallow machine, and swinging vines \u2013 now has several hilarious sequels and is up to well over 100 stories. For ages 6-11.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 288px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 288px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17783\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/swiss-family-robinson-treehouse-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/swiss-family-robinson-treehouse-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/swiss-family-robinson-treehouse-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/swiss-family-robinson-treehouse.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 288px;\">\n<p>By Johann David Wyss, <em>The Swiss Family Robinson<\/em> \u2013 originally published in 1812 \u2013 is available in many editions, including simplified kid-friendly versions (see the Great Illustrated Classics or Classic Starts Series). The shipwrecked family ends up living in a truly spectacular treehouse. Check it out in Disney\u2019s old-but-good <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0054357\/\">movie version<\/a> (1960). Rated G.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 294px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 294px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-17773\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/my-side-of-mountain.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"181\" height=\"278\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 294px;\">\n<p>In Jean Craighead George\u2019s perennial favorite <em>My Side of the Mountain<\/em> (Dutton, 1988), young Sam Gribley \u2013 miserable in New York City \u2013 runs away to the Catskill Mountains, where he makes his home in a hollow tree. A wonderful story of courage, independence, and survival for ages 9-12.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17790\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/toby-alone-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/toby-alone-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/toby-alone.jpg 326w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">In <em>Toby Alone<\/em> by Timothee de Fombelle (Walker Books, 2009), 13-year-old Toby is just over a millimeter tall \u2013 think the point of a pencil \u2013 and he and his entire civilization live in a tree. Now his scientist parents have been taken captive and Toby is on the run because the tree is in danger from an evil developer and empire builder. An ecological fantasy for ages 10 and up.\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 342px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 342px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17763\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-build-treehouses-stiles-232x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-build-treehouses-stiles-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-build-treehouses-stiles-791x1024.jpg 791w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-build-treehouses-stiles-768x994.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-build-treehouses-stiles.jpg 1051w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 342px;\">\n<p>Who doesn\u2019t want a treehouse? By David and Jeanie Stiles, <em>Treehouses &amp; Playhouses You Can Build<\/em> (Gibbs Smith, 2006) is a photo-illustrated do-it-yourself guide for families, with step-by-step illustrations. There\u2019s even a plan for a Treeless Treehouse for those who lack appropriate trees. The kids can help, but this is mostly for grown-ups.<\/p>\n<p>Also by Stiles, see <em>How to Build Treehouses, Huts and Forts<\/em> (Lyons Press, 2018).<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<h4>Igloos and Sandcastles<\/h4>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 1141px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 303px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 303px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17743\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-an-igloo-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-an-igloo-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-an-igloo-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-an-igloo.jpg 404w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 303px;\">\n<p>Ulli Steltzer\u2019s <em>Building an Igloo<\/em> (Square Fish, 1999), illustrated with snowy black-and-white photos, follows the process from start to finish. (This is a very professional igloo.) Recommended for ages 4-8, but fun for all.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17777\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/sandcastles-made-simple-263x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/sandcastles-made-simple-263x300.jpg 263w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/sandcastles-made-simple.jpg 438w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 263px) 100vw, 263px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">\n<p>Lucinda Wierenga\u2019s <em>Sandcastles Made Simple<\/em> (Stewart, Tabori, and Chang, 2009) is a 128-page guide to making some truly spectacular sandcastles.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 303px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 303px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17769\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/kinetic-sand-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/kinetic-sand-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/kinetic-sand-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/kinetic-sand.jpg 488w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 303px;\">\n<p>Build a sandcastle in the kitchen! Try <a href=\"https:\/\/kineticsand.com\/pages\/about-us\">kinetic sand<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 84px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 84px;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 84px;\">\n<p>Make your own kinetic sand! Try this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.growingajeweledrose.com\/2015\/01\/homemade-kinetic-sand.html\">recipe<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 135px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 135px;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 135px;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidescience.org\/news\/long-lasting-sand-castles-and-sturdy-buildings\">Long-Lasting Sand Castles and Sturdy Buildings<\/a> from Inside Science explains why sandcastles stand up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4>Hands-On Projects<\/h4>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17791\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/towers-and-bridges-simon-300x229.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/towers-and-bridges-simon-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/towers-and-bridges-simon.jpg 499w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>In Seymour Simon\u2019s <em>Let\u2019s Try It Out with Towers and Bridges<\/em> (Simon &amp; Schuster, 2003) young experimenters find out what makes skyscrapers stand up and what makes bridges strong. Activities and info for ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17741\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/build-it-elling-234x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"234\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/build-it-elling-234x300.jpg 234w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/build-it-elling.jpg 317w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 234px) 100vw, 234px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>From the Smithsonian, Brian Elling\u2019s <em>Build It!<\/em> (Penguin, 2017) is a great architectural activity book filled with puzzles and projects for ages 8-12. Chapters include \u201cPyramid Pointers,\u201d \u201cStorm the Castle,\u201d and \u201cWhich Way to the Winchester Mystery House?\u201d \u201cTips from the Experts\u201d feature famous architects. (Consumable.)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17730\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/art-of-construction-salvadori-211x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/art-of-construction-salvadori-211x300.jpg 211w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/art-of-construction-salvadori.jpg 281w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">Mario Salvadori\u2019s <em>The Art of Construction: Projects and Principles for Beginning Engineers and Architects<\/em> (Chicago Review Press, 1990) provides basic information and many projects for building models of houses, skyscrapers, bridges, and more. For ages 9-14.\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17765\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/iconic-home-architecture-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/iconic-home-architecture-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/iconic-home-architecture-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/iconic-home-architecture-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/iconic-home-architecture.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>From 3DUX Design, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/3DUX-DESIGN-Modern-Architecture-Education\/dp\/B07BGB82JM\/\">Iconic Home Architecture Set<\/a> has geometric cardboard shapes and connectors with which kids can build creative houses and other structures.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17752\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cubicfun-3d-puzzle-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cubicfun-3d-puzzle-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cubicfun-3d-puzzle-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cubicfun-3d-puzzle.jpg 355w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>With <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cubicfun.com\/\">CubicFun National Geographic 3-D puzzles<\/a>, kids and families can assemble their own versions of Notre Dame, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, London\u2019s Tower Bridge, and more. A nice mix of geography, architecture, and problem-solving.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>From the San Francisco Exploratorium, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.exploratorium.edu\/structures\/\">Structures Around the World<\/a> has complete instructions for building projects for elementary-level students using such readily available materials as straws, pins, bamboo garden stakes, clay, and paper.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cardboard-castle-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"230\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cardboard-castle-230x300.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cardboard-castle-786x1024.jpg 786w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cardboard-castle-768x1000.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cardboard-castle.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>See instructions for building a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.easy-crafts-for-kids.com\/build-a-cardboard-medieval-castle.html\">recycled cardboard castle<\/a> here. Start here \u2013 and go on to invent your own!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Architecture-based projects from <a href=\"https:\/\/kinderart.com\/category\/art-lessons\/architecture\/\">Kinderart<\/a> include city block painting, milk carton houses, architectural shapes collages, and a \u201cFour Orders of Architecture\u201d activity.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17753\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/draw-50-buildings-232x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/draw-50-buildings-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/draw-50-buildings.jpg 348w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>By Lee J. Ames, <em>Draw 50 Buildings and Other Structures<\/em> (Watson-Guptili, 2014) has detailed step-by-step instructions for drawing everything from an igloo to the Taj Mahal. For ages 9 and up.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17805\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/fantastic-structures-300x293.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/fantastic-structures-300x293.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/fantastic-structures.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>There are dozens of architecture-themed coloring books for a wide range of skill levels. See, for example, A.G. Smith\u2019s <em>The American House<\/em> (Dover, 2016), Abi Daker\u2019s <em>Landmarks of the World<\/em> (Lark Crafts, 2016), Dennis Casey\u2019s <em>Stained Glass Window Designs of Frank Lloyd Wright<\/em> (Dover, 1997). A.G. Smith\u2019s <em>Victorian Houses<\/em> (Dover, 2001), or \u2013 for a real challenge \u2013 Steve McDonald\u2019s <em>Fantastic Structures<\/em> (Chronicle Books, 2016), for which you\u2019ll need steady hands and very sharp colored pencils.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17719\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/3d-home-builder-kit-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/3d-home-builder-kit-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/3d-home-builder-kit-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/3d-home-builder-kit-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/3d-home-builder-kit.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Daniel Reif\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/3-D-Home-Kit-Construct-Addition\/dp\/1880301016\/\">3-D Home Builder Kit<\/a> (Dan Reif; Adventure Publications) includes poster-board building materials, grid paper, and complete instructions for building a \u00bc-inch scale model of a house of your own design. For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4>Famous Architects<\/h4>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 3317px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17746\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-on-nature-230x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"230\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-on-nature-230x300.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-on-nature.jpg 382w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>By Rachel Victoria Rodriguez, <em>Building on Nature<\/em> is a picture-book biography of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, famed for his unique architectural style based on images from nature. For ages 5-9.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/a-dragon-on-the-roof-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/a-dragon-on-the-roof-228x300.jpg 228w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/a-dragon-on-the-roof.jpg 309w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Cecile Alix\u2019s <em>A Dragon on the Roof<\/em> (Prestel, 2019) is an imaginative picture-book story about Paloma who lives in the Casa Batllo, one of architect Antoni Gaudi\u2019s most famous buildings. Its spectacular roof really does look like a dragon. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17816\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/casa-batllo-233x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/casa-batllo-233x300.png 233w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/casa-batllo.png 590w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>The Casa Batllo today is a museum in Barcelona, Spain. Visit it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.casabatllo.es\/en\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 304px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 304px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17788\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-world-is-not-a-rectangle-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-world-is-not-a-rectangle-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-world-is-not-a-rectangle-1020x1024.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-world-is-not-a-rectangle-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-world-is-not-a-rectangle-768x771.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/the-world-is-not-a-rectangle.jpg 1399w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 304px;\">\n<p>Jeanette Winter\u2019s <em>The World Is Not a Rectangle<\/em> (Beach Lane Books, 2017) is a picture-book biography of prize-winning Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. For ages 5-10.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 304px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 304px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17779\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/shape-of-the-world-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/shape-of-the-world-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/shape-of-the-world-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/shape-of-the-world.jpg 406w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 304px;\">\n<p>By K.L. Going, <em>The Shape of the World<\/em> (Beach Lane Books, 2017) is a picture-book biography of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, beginning when he was a little boy playing with blocks. For ages 5-9.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 262px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 262px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17775\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/prairie-boy-300x254.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"254\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/prairie-boy-300x254.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/prairie-boy.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 262px;\">\n<p>Barb Rosenstock\u2019s <em>Prairie Boy<\/em> (Calkins Creek, 2019) is a charmingly illustrated picture-book biography of Frank Lloyd Wright that describes his love of shapes and his invention of organic architecture. For ages 7-10.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 320px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 320px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17755\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/fallingwater-232x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/fallingwater-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/fallingwater.jpg 387w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 320px;\">\n<p><em>Fallingwater <\/em>by Marc Harshman and Anna Egan Smucker (Roaring Brook Press, 2017) is the story of the building of the house known as architect Frank Lloyd Wright\u2019s masterpiece. \u201cOnce upon a time,\u201d the book begins, \u201cFrank Lloyd Wright was the most famous architect in the world\u2026but it had been years since he had built anything newsworthy. A stream in Pennsylvania was about to change all that.\u201d For ages 7-10.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-architects-257x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"257\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-architects-257x300.jpg 257w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-architects-878x1024.jpg 878w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-architects-768x896.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/13-architects.jpg 1181w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 257px) 100vw, 257px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>Florian Heine\u2019s <em>13 Architects Children Should Know<\/em> (Prestel, 2014) covers Christopher Wren, Thomas Jefferson, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Zaha Hadid, and more, in chronological order, with background information and gorgeous color photos of their most famous buildings. For ages 8-12.<\/p>\n<p><em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 259px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 259px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17757\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/frank-lloyd-wright-for-kids-300x231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/frank-lloyd-wright-for-kids-300x231.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/frank-lloyd-wright-for-kids.jpg 496w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 259px;\">\n<p>Kathleen Thorne-Thomsen\u2019s <em>Frank Lloyd Wright for Kids<\/em> (Chicago Review Press, 2014) covers Wright\u2019s life and architectural ideas, with photos, diagrams, drawings, and 21 hands-on projects, among them designing a Wright-style stained-glass window and a maze, and experimenting with geometric shapes. For ages 9 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 283px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 283px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17764\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-think-like-frank-lloyd-wright-300x270.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-think-like-frank-lloyd-wright-300x270.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-think-like-frank-lloyd-wright-1024x922.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-think-like-frank-lloyd-wright-768x691.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/how-to-think-like-frank-lloyd-wright.jpg 1110w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 283px;\">\n<p>By Catherine Teegarden, <em>How to Think Like Frank Lloyd Wright<\/em> (Downtown Bookworks, 2020) is a collection of creative activities and practice exercises for young architects. Try designing a stained-glass window, sketching houses for different habitats, or designing roofs for different climates. Included are grids, worksheets, and geometric sticker shapes. For ages 10 and up.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 317px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 317px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17740\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/brunelleschis-dome-210x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/brunelleschis-dome-210x300.jpg 210w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/brunelleschis-dome.jpg 318w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 317px;\">\n<p>By Ross King, <em>Brunelleschi\u2019s Dome<\/em> (Bloomsbury, 2013) is the story of how Renaissance clockmaker Filippo Brunelleschi came up with a brilliant plan for the dome to top Florence\u2019s magnificent new cathedral, and by doing so revolutionized architecture. For teens and adults.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<h4>Animal Architects<\/h4>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17744\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-beavers-263x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-beavers-263x300.jpg 263w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/building-beavers.jpg 356w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 263px) 100vw, 263px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>By Kathleen Martin-James, <em>Building Beavers<\/em> (First Avenue Editions, 2000), illustrated with color photos, tells all about beavers and beaver dams and lodges for ages 4-7.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17797\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/we-build-our-homes-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/we-build-our-homes-215x300.jpg 215w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/we-build-our-homes-735x1024.jpg 735w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/we-build-our-homes-768x1070.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/we-build-our-homes-1103x1536.jpg 1103w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/we-build-our-homes.jpg 1285w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Laura Knowles\u2019s <em>We Build Our Homes<\/em> (words &amp; pictures, 2018) features 26 animal master builders from around the world, from ovenbirds to moles to polar bears. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17727\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/animal-architects-romero-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/animal-architects-romero-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/animal-architects-romero.jpg 419w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Libby Romero\u2019s <em>Animal Architects<\/em> (National Geographic, 2019), illustrated with gorgeous color photos, covers some amazing example of building in the animal world by birds, spiders, termites, wasps, busy beavers, and more. For ages 6-9.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/animal-architects-blasco-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/animal-architects-blasco-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/animal-architects-blasco-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/animal-architects-blasco.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Filled with amazing illustrations, Julio Antonio Blasco\u2019s <em>Animal Architects<\/em> (Laurence King, 2015) covers chimpanzee nests, beaver dams, termite mounds, stork nests, and many more in a series of beautiful double-page spreads. For each, there\u2019s general information about the animal, animal statistics, and an account of how and with what the animal builds a home. Recommended for ages 8-12, but fascinating for all.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17733\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bird-nest-300x229.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bird-nest-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bird-nest.jpg 522w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Can you build a bird\u2019s nest? Like the birds do, that is, using only natural materials and no tape or glue. See suggestions from Science Buddies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencebuddies.org\/stem-activities\/build-bird-nest#instructions\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>See many more resource on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/birds\/\">Birds<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4>The Benefits of Blocks<\/h4>\n<p>\u201cThrough block play,\u201d writes Sharon MacDonald in <em>Block Play: The Complete Guide to Learning and Playing with Blocks<\/em> (Gryphon House, 2001), \u201cchildren can learn to read, write, speak, and listen. Block play can teach them about math, science, and social studies. Block play often includes cooperative collaborative learning, which helps children grow emotionally and socially. Block play also enhances their physical growth and development.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How I translated this is that building all those little block castles in the living room encourages architectural imagination and motor coordination; knocking the castles down with homemade catapults is a lesson in physics; settling the ensuing fight enhances social growth; and picking up all six zillion blocks afterwards establishes a responsible work ethic.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The bottom line, however, is that almost everybody enjoys fooling around with blocks &#8211; and there are blocks out there to appeal to all ages and interests, from squashy cloth blocks for babies to some truly mind-boggling LEGO kits for older builders.<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 827px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 246px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 246px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17749\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/changes-changes-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/changes-changes-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/changes-changes.jpg 501w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 246px;\">\n<p>In Pat Hutchins\u2019s <em>Changes, Changes<\/em> (Aladdin, 1987), a charmer of a wordless picture book, a little wooden couple builds a colorful block house \u2013 then, as needed, transform it into a fire engine, a ship, and a train. For ages 2-6.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 316px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17735\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/block-city-231x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/block-city-231x300.jpg 231w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/block-city.jpg 313w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 316px;\">\n<p>Robert Louis Stevenson\u2019s <em>Block City<\/em> (Simon &amp; Schuster, 2005) is a picture-book version of the <a href=\"https:\/\/poets.org\/poem\/block-city\">poem<\/a>, with associated building and math activities. For ages 3-7.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 265px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 265px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17732\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/billions-of-bricks-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/billions-of-bricks-228x300.jpg 228w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/billions-of-bricks.jpg 309w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 265px;\">\n<p>Kurt Cyrus\u2019s <em>Billions of Bricks<\/em> (Henry Holt, 2016) is a clever counting book in which a diverse construction crew builds impressive structures with bricks, in groups of ten, twenty, thirty, and many more. (You\u2019ll also learn how to make bricks.) for ages 4-7.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Try making <a href=\"http:\/\/resourcesforearlylearning.org\/educators\/activity\/1091\/\">your own bricks<\/a>! (Warning: this is messy. It involves mud.)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17772\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mud-brick-building-300x206.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mud-brick-building-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mud-brick-building-768x528.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/mud-brick-building.jpg 810w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Check out these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.touropia.com\/amazing-mud-brick-buildings\/\">10 Amazing Mud Brick Buildings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17734\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/block-building-walker-269x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"269\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/block-building-walker-269x300.jpg 269w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/block-building-walker-919x1024.jpg 919w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/block-building-walker-768x856.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/block-building-walker.jpg 1077w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 269px) 100vw, 269px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Lester Walker\u2019s <em>Block Building for Children<\/em> (Overlook, 1995) has instructions for building everything from a boat dock to the Emerald City of Oz using 11 different sizes and shapes of wooden building blocks. For ages 7-11.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17806\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cardboard-blocks-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cardboard-blocks-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cardboard-blocks-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cardboard-blocks.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Build your own block playhouse! There are many sources for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=cardboard+blocks&amp;ref=nb_sb_noss_1\">giant heavy-duty cardboard blocks<\/a> \u2013 the biggest are about the size of shoeboxes. They come flat \u2013 you have to put them together \u2013 but once you do, you\u2019re ready to build big. For ages 3 and up.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17798\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/wise-elk-building-bricks-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/wise-elk-building-bricks-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/wise-elk-building-bricks.jpg 762w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Wise Elk\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=wise+elk+bricks&amp;ref=nb_sb_noss_2\">Building Bricks construction kits<\/a> use real plaster and ceramic bricks and tiles (tiny ones) and glue to construct castles, towers, the Great Wall of China, and \u2013 of course \u2013 your own inventions. Try making a mansion for the savviest of the Three Little Pigs. For ages 5 to adult.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17807\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/castle-blocks-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/castle-blocks-228x300.jpg 228w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/castle-blocks.jpg 425w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>Castle blocks \u2013 always a hit &#8211; are available in many permutations from many toy suppliers. Pair with a catapult.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">=<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/engino-architecture-297x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"297\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/engino-architecture-297x300.jpg 297w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/engino-architecture.jpg 386w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>With the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/stores\/page\/1045D075-88D0-4CFB-BCD4-4B2EF089715D\">Engino Deluxe Architecture set<\/a>, kids can build impressively enormous models of the Eiffel Tower and the Sydney Bridge. Recommended for ages 8-16+.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17809\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/lego-hogwarts-castle-71043-complete-build-300x290.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/lego-hogwarts-castle-71043-complete-build-300x290.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/lego-hogwarts-castle-71043-complete-build-1024x988.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/lego-hogwarts-castle-71043-complete-build-768x741.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/lego-hogwarts-castle-71043-complete-build-1536x1482.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/lego-hogwarts-castle-71043-complete-build.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lego.com\/en-us\">LEGOS<\/a>! From Duplo bricks for beginners to the spectacular 6000+-piece Hogwarts Castle.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17799\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/zolo1_1-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/zolo1_1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/zolo1_1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/zolo1_1.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>For young artists and sculptors, see <a href=\"https:\/\/zolo.com\/\">Zolo<\/a> for a collection of zany modern art building pieces. (Naming your creations is half the fun.) All ages.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-19536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/61MNQpDJgBL._AC_SL1000_-244x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"244\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/61MNQpDJgBL._AC_SL1000_-244x300.jpg 244w, https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/61MNQpDJgBL._AC_SL1000_.jpg 692w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>With <a href=\"https:\/\/mondrianblocks.com\/\">Mondrian Blocks<\/a>, kids are challenged to reproduce the Mondrian-style painting patterns on challenge cards with colorful blocks.Four difficulty levels; all ages.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-20147\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/download.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"252\" height=\"200\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p>From Learning Resources, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.learningresources.com\/mental-bloxr-critical-thinking-game\">Mental Blox<\/a> is a cool critical thinking game in which kids reproduce stacks, patterns, and multicolored shapes on activity cards using 3-D blocks. For ages 4-8.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All About Architecture In Tina Skinner\u2019s Christopher Wren: The Avian Architect (Schiffer, 2008), kids learn about a wide range of architectural styles as a creative&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[786,772],"tags":[951,953,956,952,954,958,959,955,957],"class_list":["post-17718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-science","tag-architecture","tag-blocks","tag-bridges","tag-building","tag-castles","tag-igloos","tag-sandcastles","tag-skyscrapers","tag-treehouses"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17718"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17718\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20891,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17718\/revisions\/20891"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rebeccaruppresources.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}