Friday 18 September 2015

The LEGO Awesome Ideas Book Review

The LEGO Awesome Ideas Book by Daniel Lipkowitz was released by Dorling Kindersley at the beginning of this month, and it's my favourite LEGO ideas book yet. Like other books released by LEGO it doesn't just give instructions about how to build exact models, it is full of techniques, hints and tips and should really spark your LEGO creativity.


With a 3D cover packed with some of the amazing things you can create using plans found in the book. it impresses before you even open it (although it does make it hard to photograph!). Inside the book is split into 5 distinct sections - Outer Space, Modern Metropolis, The Wild West, Fantasy Land and The Real World.
Within each section are subsections (Outer Space has Spaceships,Workspaces, Equipment, Robots etc) and you are shown ideas and builds, and then the section ends with a diorama containing all that was made together. It really will help young builders understand that even a tiny robot or a simple tree will add to the overall effect and build up a great scene and an imaginative storyline when put together.


There really are tips everywhere, and creativity is key. I don't have all the parts necessary to make the models in this book exactly as they are shown, but that's okay, this is an ideas book.

LEGO Awesome Ideas 2015 book inside pages

I used to love making 'real' things from LEGO when I was a child, so I had a go at making some of the  items from the 'Real World' section, the 'Human Tools' stationery looked awesome. My crayons and pencil aren't too bad I think...

Crayons and pencil made from LEGO stationery

But when I saw the subsection 'Human Treats'....I couldn't resist....

Licorice Allsorts made from LEGO awesome ideas book review

And a whole box full of chocolates....obviously I didn't have the exact bricks as shown in the examples, but that's what it's all about - imagination, creativity and fun. And actually I'm quite proud of my chocolates!

Box of LEGO chocolates sweets candies  made from

Here's a short video of 3 young boys seeing the book for the first time. I like the fact that what they started making is not always what they decided to end up with....


The LEGO Awesome Ideas Book is published in hardback by Dorling Kindersley and is available in just about any good book shop online or in store. With a recommended retail price of £16.99, 200 full colour pages and suitable for builders aged around 7+, it will definitely be a big hit this Christmas.

We were sent the LEGO Awesome Ideas Book for review. 
©2015 The LEGO Group. Produced by Dorling Kindersley under licence from the LEGO Group

12 comments:

  1. Love the idea of this - pinned for future reference

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    1. Cheers Mary.It is a lovely book full of inpspiration. Apparently I have to make the chocolates again for those who missed them! :D

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  2. I love this idea and I know Monkey would too!

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    1. It's a fantastic ideas book - you generally don't have the exact bits, so you have to use your brain! :D

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  3. This book looks excellent. I'm sure this would keep my Son busy for ages!

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  4. This is a great idea, the kits are so expensive, so it's great if the pieces can be used to create other designs

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    1. Definitely. LEGO is for taking apart and rebuilding! There really are 'awesome ideas' to get you started :)

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  5. My nephew loves lego (as do I) - he actually prefers building stuff from his imagination rather than building kits, so this would be great for him to give him ideas and inspiration. The LEGO pick and mix in the Lego store is great for that too

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    1. I love the pick n mix - we bought half a pot of 'sea' the other week and had some amazing fun with it! :)

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  6. this is such a good idea; lego is the must have toy forever

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    1. It feels like it, doesn't it! They nearly went bust in the 80's though :)

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