In the past, I've put architectural images on the wall near our block area. But as Otto is so young I want to leave the space a little more open. I don't want him to feel like blocks are only for creating buildings. He uses blocks in many creative ways. But we have a few children's books about blocks which are mainly about buildings that are fantastic, I want to share just three of them with you today!

The first is Dreaming Up: a celebration of building by Christy Hale. This book is so, so lovely. It contains images of fifteen different buildings from around the world and shows how children can build similar structures at home. I love it for a couple of reasons. The buildings are all very different and are all very interesting. It also shows children building with different mediums using toothpicks, planks, lego, sand, sticks and, different blocks. 

At the end of the book, there is a little about each building, what structural components  make it unique. It includes an image of the architect of each building and a little about about their thinking in designing each building. 

While this is our favourite book about blocks it is really a book about building and architecture. I also really like the architectural and building language used as well as the placement of text throughout the book.

Above is a geodesic dome, the Montreal Biosphere!

Above is Fallingwater in Pennsylvania designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. 

The second book is Block City by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Daniel Kirk. This is a simple story filled with creativity. The child plays with the blocks in the most imaginative way in creating their own little world or city out of blocks. 

The story is just really sweet and it rhymes, which is fantastic for reading out loud. 

The third books is Blocks: Let's Share by Irene Dickson. We have this in a board book and it's ideal for toddlers and young preschoolers. The block cut-outs on the front cover are cute.

The two children in the story learn that they are stronger together and they can build bigger buildings when they share blocks. It is a book all about sharing which is good for the block area where there can be conflict.

We don't keep any books in our block area but these are nice to have nearby or just to read stand-alone to inspire some block building creativity!

This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on products purchased through these links. Thank you for your support.