From an Idea to LEGO – Book Review

Photo courtesy of T accidentally spilling two bins of LEGO bricks.

Book Review
From an Idea to LEGO: The Building Bricks Behind the World's Largest Toy Company
Written by Lowey Bundy Sichol
Illustrated by C. S. Jennings
Published July 9, 2019

Why I chose this book:
You may recall that I reviewed the books about Disney and Nike in this series. I found them interesting and informative. If you know us personally, then you know how present LEGO is in our daily lives. So, a book in a good series about a personally relevant topic? Yes, please! Harcourt Houghton Mifflin provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mom's Review
First, a word about Legos.

There is no such thing.

LEGO is a Danish company that grew from a carpenter's attempt to make quality toys for his children during the Great Depression. This book traces the history from carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen to today's globally-known building system. The history is fascinating! I cannot use enough exclamation marks to communicate how interesting the story of LEGO is and how well Sichol weaves together a compelling narrative with entrepreneurship and general business facts. Quotes from the Christiansen family and trivia are also sprinkled throughout the book. Trivia like the fact that the plural of LEGO is LEGO. Not Legos. (Even so, we still play Legos in this house!) Readers also learn the mission of LEGO, which is to promote creative play and develop imagination.  Well, this mom feels better about the over-abundance of LEGO pieces underfoot.

I liked From an Idea to LEGO inordinately. The topic appeals and relates to me. The information presented is legitimately interesting. The presentation is polished, drawing the reader into a rich history of which he or she is a part. (Assuming he or she has played with Legos, that is.) Similarly to the other books in the series, business terminology is explained in the margins throughout, and back matter presents a timeline of the company's history.

Any LEGO fans, middle graders interested in business, or readers looking to learn a bit about the biggest toy company in the world will find satisfaction in From an Idea to LEGO.

A piece of personal LEGO trivia: My childhood was during LEGO's Golden Age. At that time, one of the three themes was "Castle." You can see one of my castle horses in the photo above!

Son's Review
(Age: 4)
"Legos! Is it for me? Can you read it to me? Can you save that for me to read when I am older?"