Makerspaces: How To Build an Epic LEGO Wall!

This LEGO  wall designed and built by Diana Rendina. She gives step-by-step instructions and helpful hints on her webpage Renovated Learning: Building a Culture of Creativity & Discovery in Education!

Consider building one for your library, classroom, or kid's room. Teen spaces will be more fun with a LEGO wall. This is the next thing on my To Do list!

Picture Book Pick: Mighty Dads

Mighty Dads
by Joan Holub
Illustrations by James Dean
Scholastic Press
2014
40 pages
ISBN: 9780545609685

Clever, cute, friendly and fun, Mighty Dads is a great addition to any  child's book collection and the perfect read for Father's Day. What dad wouldn't love this fun book and tribute to everything he does to instruct,  encourage, and lead his child?

A construction site comes to life with big Daddy trucks and machinery and the smaller counterparts (children trucks). Kids will love hearing this story aloud. The text encourages the reader and listeners to hear and say and shout the words out loud. "Bulldozer Strong shows Dozy right from wrong/They go roar, roar, roar!" and my favorites, "Boom Truck Tall helps Boomer crash a wall./ They go crash, bang, boom!/Cement Mixer Busy gives a hug if Mixie's dizzy./They go spin, spin, pour."

The smaller trucks are not necessarily boys--both boys and girls will love the fun illustrations of the Daddy vehicles showing his  child how to do a job. All kinds of vehicles are shown: a crane, a dump truck, a grader, a steam roller, a forklift and others. The action is powerful and whimsical with the mini version of Dad mimicking the father trucks' actions of grading, digging and lifting. Even the back cover shows an active construction scene depicting seven pairs of the vehicles.

Colorful illustrations by Dean will captivate young readers. Machines come alive and take on personalities. Each truck is drawn with human features (eyes), and some trucks seem to be wearing a smile (bumper).

Any child who loves trucks and loves the sound of "...crash, bang, boom!" will love Mighty Dads, and will likely beg to have the reader read it again...and again....and again. This is one book that is sure to become a favorite at bedtime or anytime!

Highly, highly recommended for a fun read aloud. This book would be a great addition to any English class studying action verbs and grammar.

Readers 3-5 and for use in teaching verbs and figurative language and the poetic device of onomatopoeia.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)