Brick: Who Found Herself in Architecture

Both playful and sophisticated, this picture book from the creators of Can I Eat That? and What’s Cooking? combines an architectural tour with an existential quest in a story with an unusual protagonist: a small red brick. Growing up in the city, Brick marvels at the tall structures and wonders “where she fit in to all of this. What great things might she become?” Her mother offers some profound reassurance: “Great things begin with small bricks.” But Brick needs to find her own meaning, and she sets off on a journey, visiting famous brick structures around the world in search of belonging. Eventually, an all-roads-lead-to-home sentiment sets Brick happily back where she started, helping to pave the way for future adventurers. Combining ink lines with deeply saturated blocks of color, the uncluttered illustrations provide a stylish showcase of architectural structures, which are further explained in an appendix. Though the themes of finding a path and purpose in life are overt, this unusual, creative title may strike a chord with a wide audience, from young kids discovering their talents to new graduates. Ages 3–5. [em](June) [/em]