Buildablock (An Abrams Block Book)

by Christopher Franceschelli, Peski Studio (Illustrator)

Overview

In this companion to Alphablock, Countablock, Dinoblock, and Cityblock, readers are introduced to more than 24 construction machines. As in the previous books, Buildablock features die-cut shapes on every other spread and the charming art of British design team Peskimo. Alphablock was chosen one of Parents magazine’s 10 Best Children’s Books of 2013 and one of ALSC’s Notable Children’s Books of 2014.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419725692
Publisher:	ABRAMS
Publication date:	09/19/2017
Series:	Alphablock Series
Pages:	90
Sales rank:	147,255
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 6.20(h) x 1.80(d)
Age Range:	1 - 3 Years

About the Author

Christopher Franceschelli is a seasoned publisher, editor, and creator of children’s books. He currently runs Chronicle’s Handprint imprint and the SmartInk packaging company. A born and raised New Yorker, Franceschelli lives with his family in Brooklyn. David Partington is an illustrator based in Bristol, UK. His influences range from mid-century design to Saturday morning cartoons. As part of Peski Studio (formerly Peskimo) he enjoys screen printing, a process which often informs his approach to illustration. David’s work can be seen in kids’ books, food packaging, and jumbo floor puzzles around the world. He especially enjoys creating characters, drawing friendly robots, and sending them on incredible adventures.

Editorial Reviews

"Construction fans will happily add these rarities to their vocabularies as well as pick up strong action words like "burrow" and "span." Hand this upbeat treat to your budding builder."

Shelf Awareness

★ 2017-10-10
A chunky board book with ingenious gatefolds, flaps, die-cuts, and construction trucks galore.Like its series predecessors, this title has ample toddler appeal. Not only is its construction-site theme a passion for many children, its bold colors and thoughtful design will engage little hands and eyes as they pore over the pages. After the first two spreads show a wrecking ball smashing and crashing to open the book, two children peer out, asking, "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" and "CAN I LOOK, TOO?" Their pages open up as side-by-side gatefolds to reveal a vast scene with "SO MANY TRUCKS! SO MANY WORKERS!" Subsequent spreads home in on individual vehicles plied by racially diverse workers and their respective roles in building up a city block. Layout includes gatefolds that open vertically up and down as well as horizontally left and right, and many pages are shaped to visually echo the vehicles and objects depicted. While such familiar fare as a bulldozer, dump truck, and a crane appear, less-common vehicles and equipment emerge as well, with some of the more dramatic gatefolds and die-cuts revealing a tunnel borer, a massive bridge builder that spans valleys, and sky cranes hovering above like superpowered helicopters. The book culminates as workers take a lunch break and then throw themselves back into work to "BUILD, BUILD, BUILD ALL OVER TOWN!"Sure to inspire calls of "READ IT AGAIN!" (Board book. 1-3)

Kirkus Reviews