This author of this book has been so creative and inventive. This is the story of young Brick who sets off on an adventure. In our daily lives we see bricks everywhere but in this book we hear from one special brick as she describes what she sees around her as she tries to find her place in the world. Along the way she explores architectural landmarks from around the world.
"When Brick was just a baby, tall buildings amazed her. She wondered how anything could grow so big."
At the back of the book there are notes about all the places she visits: Malbork Castle, Poland; Malwya Minaret, Iraq; The Great Wall of China; and many others.
If you are reading this post and it is May or June in 2023 you might be able to purchase this hardcover book for a really good price - it has been greatly reduced by this online seller. Brick is a very different book but it is one you could use with younger children talking about finding your place in the world, with children who are interested in architecture or children who are about to travel overseas, or with older children who might be researching less well known buildings and temples such as The Ark in Uzbekistan and the Mahabodhi Temple in India. In an art lesson your students could photograph or paint or draw all the different types of, and uses of, bricks in their environment. Our hero Brick ends up as a paving stone. At my previous school we had a walk way of pavers like this to celebrate a school anniversary - exploring something like this could also be an interesting writing stimulus. There is also the social justice issue of brick kilns and child labour. Read more about this important issue here which links with any study of the Rights of the Child. And finally of course there are STEM links you could explore using this book.
Read more about this book in a blog post from Celebrate Picture Books: Brick, Who Found Herself in Architecture is an original and lyrical look at individuality, growing up, and finding one’s place in the world.
"When she could go no further, she sat down and thought some more. 'Great things begin with small bricks,' she repeated. Then she let go of the words and just felt the feeling. ... And then suddenly, it dawned on her. Maybe Brick could just stay right where she was. After all, her journey had led her exactly here. Perhaps here was the perfect place to be."
Julia Rothman is the illustrator of this new (and very crazy/appealing) book:
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