Our toddler has an obsession with cars, particularly construction vehicles. So books about how buildings are built became a logical extension of the theme when it comes to reading. Here are 6 books he enjoyed time and time again. At age 1+\/2 we were more looking at and talking about the pictures when younger. He is still enjoying them at 3+ and likely will continue to do so for quite a while yet. There\u2019s 4 for English readers and 4 for Chinese readers. English and Chinese book names are bolded in the bulleted list below. <\/p>\n
- \n
- Super Structures<\/strong> by Chris Baker <\/li>\n
- Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper \u300a\u6469\u5929\u5927\u697c\uff0c \u8d77\uff01\u8d77\uff01\u8d77\uff01\u300b<\/strong> by Anastasia Suen <\/li>\n
- How is the MRT System built?<\/strong> by LTA Singapore<\/li>\n
- Construction \u300a \u54d0\u5f53\u54d0\u5f53\uff0c\u53bb\u76d6\u697c \u300b <\/strong>by Sally Sutton<\/li>\n
- \u300a \u5feb\u6765\uff01\u4e00\u8d77\u76d6\u623f\u5b50 \u300b<\/strong>(Let\u2019s build a house together ) by Takeshita, Fumiko <\/li>\n
- \u300a \u7535\u68af\u6765\u4e86 \u300b<\/strong>(Here comes the lift) by Kowase, Moriyasu <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Final Thoughts section at the end of this post reviews the books based on Montessori concepts when selecting books for young children. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
1. How super structures are built<\/h2>\n
Super Structures by Chris Baker<\/h4>\n
Super Structures is a Level 4 Read it yourself with Ladybird book. 3.5 year old Little P has not even started learning his ABCs yet so please don\u2019t misunderstand and think he can read it by himself already. Haha. <\/p>\n
That said, Little P is greatly interested in the world and often pretends that he has visited many countries of the world already. So this book matched his interest in construction and imaginary travel rather well.<\/p>\n
I like that the book links not just buildings but also iconic structures to the geographical locations. It also succintly explains a little bit about everything \u2013 heritage structures, skyscrapers, bridges, statues, etc. That makes it a great starting book before we branch off to deepdive into individual topics ourselves. <\/p>\n
And if you have an MP3 player that kiddo can self operate, you can even load in the audio file of the book so kiddo can listen to it while looking at the book when you are preoccupied. <\/p>\n
Find this book at<\/strong>\u2013<\/p>\n
- \n
- You can check out this book at quite a couple of NLB Libraries<\/a> if you reside in Singapore. <\/li>\n
- For a copy to keep in your home library, you can also get it from Amazon here<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Bonus supplementary materials \u2013 You can download the UK audio file of the book and activity sheet at the Ladybird Education website<\/a>. (Login needed)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2. How skyscrapers are built<\/h2>\n
Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper \u300a \u6469\u5929\u5927\u697c\uff0c \u8d77\uff01\u8d77\uff01\u8d77\uff01\u300b by Anastasia Suen<\/h4>\n
From Anastasia Suen\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0(anna-STAY-zhuh SOON) mini comic downloadable here on her website<\/a>, it appeared a visit to the top of the Empire State Building led her to learn about how tall buildings were built. That resulted in her 2017 book Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper<\/strong>. This book explains step-by-step how skyscrapers are built. <\/p>\n
I particularly like this book for its use of thumbnails in one corner of each spread to illustrate the progress of the building being built. They helped provide context to the main illustrations. They also make it so much easier to explain things to my 3.5 year old toddler. <\/p>\n
The book takes you through the process \u2013 how they first have to put in concrete retaining walls before they can dig down before they can pound concrete piles into the bedrock to hold the building steady, etc, etc. <\/p>\n
Find this book at:<\/strong> <\/p>\n
- \n
- You can check out Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper<\/strong> at quite a few English<\/a> and Chinese<\/a> copies at the NLB Libraries if you reside in Singapore. <\/li>\n
- For a copy to keep in your home library, the ebook or audiobook versions, you can also get it from Amazon here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
3. How the MRT stations & tunnels are built<\/h2>\n
How is the MRT System built? by LTA Singapore<\/h4>\n
This 2019 book by the Land Transport Authority of Singapore is more appropriate for older children. But Little P loved looking at the pictures even at age 2. He enjoyed looking at the construction vehicles in the illustrations and was forever asking for their names. <\/p>\n
\n\n- \n
- \n
![\"Tunnel](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/weliveinaflat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/how-is-the-mrt-system-built-tunnel-boring-machine.jpg?resize=629%2C391\")
Tunnel boring machine. How is the MRT system built? book by LTA Singapore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n - \n
![\"Book](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/weliveinaflat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/how-is-the-mrt-system-built-book-cover.jpg?resize=629%2C481\")
Book cover. How is the MRT system built? book by LTA Singapore \u2013 Books about how buildings are built.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n - \n
![\"I](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/weliveinaflat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/how-is-the-mrt-system-built-construction-machines.jpg?resize=629%2C376\")
I had no idea what that machine on the left is called. How is the MRT system built? book by LTA Singapore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n - \n
![\"Soil](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/weliveinaflat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/how-is-the-mrt-system-built-soil-testing.jpg?resize=629%2C392\")
Soil testing pages. How is the MRT system built? book by LTA Singapore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
He bugged me for their names so much, I eventually hunted down a Chinese book called \u2013 \u5de5\u7a0b\u8f66\u5927\u578b\u673a\u68b0\u5c0f\u767e\u79d1<\/a> \u2013 which had photos and Chinese names for the machines that I struggled with (Little P and I speak Chinese predominantly at home as part of OPOL). <\/p>\n
Unlike Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper<\/strong> which shows step-by-step how a skyscraper is built, How is the MRT System built?<\/strong> highlights specific points of the building process for the MRT station and the tunnels. So you will read about for example,<\/p>\n
- \n
- impact assessment of the area where the MRT station will be built, <\/li>\n
- machines used in soil testing, <\/li>\n
- building the concrete retaining walls, <\/li>\n
- the machine used to bore the tunnel, <\/li>\n
- the drones used to inspect the tunnel, etc<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
I have to say some of it was rather abstract so reading Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper<\/strong> actually helped us to understand How is the MRT System built better<\/strong>. So in that sense, Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper<\/strong> was the more relatable book than How is the MRT System built<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
That said, I do recommend checking out this book if you reside in Singapore and wanted more local reads in your collection.<\/p>\n
Find this book at:<\/strong> <\/p>\n
4. How a library is built<\/h2>\n
Construction by Sally Sutton\u300a \u54d0\u5f53\u54d0\u5f53\uff0c\u53bb\u76d6\u697c \u300b <\/h4>\n
\n\n- \n
- \n
![\"Fixing](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/weliveinaflat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sally-sutton-construction-translated-electric-work.jpg?resize=629%2C376\")
Fixing the electric cabling for the new building. Construction by Sully Sutton. Chinese translated version.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n - \n
![\"Book](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/weliveinaflat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sally-sutton-construction-translated-book-cover.jpg?resize=629%2C479\")
Book cover. Construction by Sully Sutton. Chinese translated version. \u2013 Books about how buildings are built.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n - \n
![\"And](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/weliveinaflat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sally-sutton-construction-translated-built-library.jpg?resize=629%2C382\")
And that is how a library is built. Construction by Sully Sutton. Chinese translated version.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n - \n
![\"Construction](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/weliveinaflat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sally-sutton-construction-translated-construction-vehicles.jpg?resize=629%2C383\")
Construction vehicles used to build the library in this book. Construction by Sully Sutton. Chinese translated version.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
New Zealand children\u2019s author Sully Sutton wrote a series of books around the construction theme. Construction is one of the books in the Roadworks series. In this book, construction workers build a library step-by-step. <\/p>\n
The book is originally written in English but I usually get the Chinese version if there is one for the Chinese vocabulary. That said, while the Chinese translation tries to stay to the style, books dependent on English rhythm and rhyme like this (and also Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper) are best read in their original language. <\/p>\n
\n
Printed in large, clear letters, the rhythmic text uses basic vocabulary, strong verbs, and onomatopoeia, making it wonderful to read aloud.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Mary Jean Smith<\/em>. Construction review<\/em>. School Library Journal<\/a>.
<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe Roadworks series of books is also great for their inclusion of women and people of colour in the construction work. You can see the books in the series on Sally Sutton\u2019s website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Find this book at<\/strong>:<\/p>\n
- \n
- You can check out this book in English at quite a few NLB Libraries<\/a> if you reside in Singapore. <\/li>\n
- For an English copy to keep in your home library, you can also get it from Amazon here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
5. How a house is built<\/h2>\n
Let\u2019s build a house together<\/strong> \u300a \u5feb\u6765\uff01\u4e00\u8d77\u76d6\u623f\u5b50 \u300bby Takeshita, Fumiko <\/h4>\n
\n\n- \n
- \n
![\"Building](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/weliveinaflat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/lets-build-a-house-book-inside-1.jpg?resize=629%2C342\")
How a building is built. Building foundation. \u5feb\u6765\uff01\u4e00\u8d77\u76d6\u623f\u5b50<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n - \n
![\"Book](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/weliveinaflat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/lets-build-a-house-book-cover.jpg?resize=629%2C460\")
Book cover. \u5feb\u6765\uff01\u4e00\u8d77\u76d6\u623f\u5b50 \u2013 Books about how buildings are built.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n - \n
![\"Building](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/weliveinaflat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/lets-build-a-house-book-inside-2.jpg?resize=629%2C329\")
How a house is built. Building structure of the house.. \u5feb\u6765\uff01\u4e00\u8d77\u76d6\u623f\u5b50<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n - \n
![\"Building](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/weliveinaflat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/lets-build-a-house-book-inside-3.jpg?resize=629%2C342\")
How a house is built. Building walls of the house. \u5feb\u6765\uff01\u4e00\u8d77\u76d6\u623f\u5b50<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Japanese author Takeshita Fumiko write this originally Japanese picture book \u2013 \u307f\u3093\u306a\u3067\uff01\u3044\u3048\u3092\u305f\u3066\u308b <\/strong>(Minna de ie o tateru). The book has since been translated into Chinese with the titles\u300a\u5feb\u6765\uff01\u4e00\u8d77\u76d6\u623f\u5b50\u300band\u300a\u5927\u5bb6\u4f86\u84cb\u623f\u5b50!\u300b. Roughly it translates to Let\u2019s build a house together<\/strong>. And it takes you through the process step by step.<\/p>\n
Since this book is of Japanese origin, you can see Japanese accents in the book like the use of tatami as part of the installation process. Also expect it to be more representative of Japanese culture rather than being more inclusive like the English books listed above in this post. <\/p>\n
This book is again part of a series of books\u300a \u6c7d\u8f66\u561f\u561f\u561f\u7cfb\u5217 \u300bfeaturing construction and other vehicles. This series is one of the first Chinese-language books I read to Little P at an early age. Little P loved spotting all the colourful construction vehicles in the series. If you have a Luka reading robot at home, it will be able to read this series of books too. <\/p>\n
Find this book at:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- You can check out this book in Chinese at quite a few NLB Libraries<\/a> if you reside in Singapore. <\/li>\n
- For a Chinese copy to keep in your home library, you can also get it from Amazon here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
6. How lifts and escalators are built<\/h2>\n
Here comes the lift\u300a \u7535\u68af\u6765\u4e86 \u300bby Kowase, Moriyasu <\/h4>\n
Now this book unlike the books above does not take you through step-by-step how the lift or the escalator are built into the building. However it helps you explain to your little one how lifts and escalators are built (as in their structure) and how they work in a building. The illustrations are rather helpful in that respect. <\/p>\n
Here comes the lift<\/strong>\u300a \u7535\u68af\u6765\u4e86 \u300bis originally written in Japanese by Kowase Moriyasu. It follows a little boy and his mother who visit a mall in order to buy a birthday present. In the mall, they needed to ride on the lift and the escalator to get to different places, which give us the opportunity to explore how these conveyances work. <\/p>\n
We live in a flat on a high floor so it is definitely helpful for helping Little P understand the environment we live in. <\/p>\n
If you have a Luka reading robot at home, it will be able to read this book. <\/p>\n
Find this book at:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Final thoughts: Books About How Buildings Are Built <\/h2>\n
Books based in reality<\/h4>\n
The six books listed above are based on reality and fulfil little children\u2019s need to understand the world around them to a greater or lesser extent. <\/p>\n
Books like Here comes the lift<\/strong>\u300a \u7535\u68af\u6765\u4e86 \u300bare also about known experiences like going shopping with their parents. It can perhaps help young children further process their own experiences as well as familiarise themselves with the relevant vocabulary associated with these experiences. <\/p>\n
Books with rich language<\/h4>\n
In our particular case, we also live in an area where there is a lot of construction going on in the last few years. So we definitely see Little P developing very specialised vocabulary to enable him point out the construction vehicles we see along the road that another child living elsewhere may not. This however would not happen if we did not have the many building and construction-related books to furnish us with the specialised vehicle and building-related nomenclature.<\/p>\n
That is not to say that it is imperative for a child to know complex machinery names. It really depends on the child\u2019s interests and then have the relevant books with the rich language so that they learn to be familiar, be comfortable and then be confident to use the language.<\/p>\n
Books with beautiful illustrations and interesting details<\/h4>\n
Each of the books above are drawn using specific illustration styles distinct from one another. They are each beautiful in their own way. This exposes young children to different styles of art, and ideally help to develop an appreciation for art and perspective in art.<\/p>\n
Details are particularly important. When he was very young, Little P loved to point and name all the vehicles in the book \u2013 Let\u2019s build a house together<\/strong> \u300a \u5feb\u6765\uff01\u4e00\u8d77\u76d6\u623f\u5b50 \u300b. The illustrator had cleverly incorporated not just construction vehicles but also other vehicles that are spotlighted in the other books in the series so that they consistent appear on the roads in every book. This made it a fun spot-the-car-game for the child whenever we flip through any of the books in the series.<\/p>\n
In one of the books, Little P was especially enthusiatic about tracking a carton of apples that is making its way from delivery truck to delivery truck as part of its logistics journey from farm to table. <\/p>\n
Number of words per page<\/h4>\n
Some of the books had more words, e.g. How is the MRT system built. A young child rarely has the patience to read the book with you until the end if there are too many words. Hence, the general Montessori-aligned guidance on selecting books that are age-appropriate with regards the volume of text. <\/p>\n
\n
Number of words per page \u2013 start with few words and build up the narrative as your child grows. A single word is fine for a baby; that single word will become a sentence and then a few sentences, and finally a complex story. <\/p>\n
Nruiz. (2019, March 1). Choosing montessori style books for your child<\/a><\/em>. Silverline Montessori.<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
But sometimes Little P wanted to read a book with too many words because of the illustrations inside. So as parents, we have learnt to summarise the story verbally as we read the book with our little boy and explore and talk about the pictures more or less depending on how energetic or how tired he is already. <\/p>\n
Type of book<\/h4>\n
Now that Little P is 3.5, he can handle paperback books without tearing them. But when he was younger than three (I don\u2019t remember what age exactly), he did tear page in Construction<\/strong> by Sally Sutton\u300a \u54d0\u5f53\u54d0\u5f53\uff0c\u53bb\u76d6\u697c \u300b in half while unsupervised. Oops! Sally Sutton\u2019s Roadworks series is available in board book form.<\/p>\n
\n![\"books](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/weliveinaflat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/books-about-how-buildings-are-built-banner.jpg?fit=629%2C949\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThanks for reading 6 picture books about how buildings are built<\/strong> to the end! <\/p>\n
\nCome \ud83d\ude42 Follow weliveinaflat.com on<\/strong>
Instagram\u00a0@weliveinaflat<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0 Facebook\u00a0donna.weliveinaflat<\/a>\u00a0| \u00a0Youtube\u00a0Mutt Vlog<\/a><\/p>\n\nLike this:<\/h3>\n
- For a Chinese copy to keep in your home library, you can also get it from Amazon here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- For an English copy to keep in your home library, you can also get it from Amazon here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- For a copy to keep in your home library, the ebook or audiobook versions, you can also get it from Amazon here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- For a copy to keep in your home library, you can also get it from Amazon here<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper \u300a\u6469\u5929\u5927\u697c\uff0c \u8d77\uff01\u8d77\uff01\u8d77\uff01\u300b<\/strong> by Anastasia Suen <\/li>\n