DREAMING UP: A Celebration of Building by Christy Hale (Lee and Low, 2012)
Buildings from around the world, designed by men and women of diverse backgrounds, find their way into Hale’s newest book, DREAMING UP – a collection of concrete poems, recognizable structures from around the world, and the interesting constructions that spring from children’s imaginative play.
Inspired by a Modern Architecture art history course she’d taken and a visit to Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia, it wasn’t long before Hale began noticing the similarities between a child’s playful experimentation with sand, blocks, blankets and more and the buildings of architects from around the world. She writes, “…it became a fun challenge to think of the many ways kids build, and then buildings that corresponded to their building play.”
Relevant sources for those interested in researching further, as well as summary information about the architects and each of the buildings represented are included in the final pages.
For more, read an interview with Hale about DREAMING UP.
Enjoy downloadable classroom activities to accompany DREAMING UP, including directions for a “3-D Home” and an “Instant Neighborhood.”
I love the idea for this book. I have to get it to see all the connections between children’s building materials / creations and buildings around the world. Thanks for the post!
I found the concept of the book and the spark that made it a reality quite fascinating. I think my favorite discovery was the “Paper Tube School” in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Who knew such a thing was possible? Thanks for stopping by ReaderKidZ, Lori!