Children's Literature

Andrew Henry's Meadow by Doris Burn

Andrew Henry has two younger brothers, who are always together, and two older sisters, who are always together. But Andrew Henry is in the middle–and he’s always with himself. He doesn’t mind this very much, because he’s an inventor. But when Andrew Henry’s family doesn’t appreciate him or his inventions, he decides it’s time to run away. Many children in the neighborhood feel the same way and follow him to his meadow, where he builds each of his friends a unique house of their very own. But in town the families miss their children and do everything they can to find them. And the kids realize that it feels a little lonely out in the meadow without their parents.

Just as relevant today as it was in 1967, this is a heart-warming story about children who want to feel special and appreciated for who they are. With a new jacket and expanded trim size, Andrew Henry is ready to enchant the next generation of kids.

Architects Make Zigzags: Looking at Architecture from A to Z by Diane Maddex and Roxie Munro

Drawings by Roxie Munro Architects make zigzags–and they also design brackets, columns, dormers, eaves, facades, gables, houses, ironwork, and all the other architectural delights to be found inside this book. Artist Roxie Munro has created a wonderful, whimsical tour through the architectural alphabet. Her drawings show 26 of the most common features of buildings and neighborhoods and give a tantalizing glimpse into 300 years of American architecture from coast to coast. Follow her eye up to locate unusual curlicues on a seaside balcony and gaze down to see the intricate plantings that welcomed George Washington to Mount Vernon. This look at architecture from A to Z explains some everyday terms and introduces some less familiar words–do you know what jigsaw work, newel posts, and quoins are? Munro makes architecture fun for building lovers of all ages and provides a starting point for endless architectural explorations close to home.

Brick: Who Found Herself in Architecture by Joshua David Stein

A young brick goes on a journey to find her place in the world by visiting ten celebrated brick structures around the globe.

Building Stories by Isabel Hill

Buildings are like books with stories that last

They tell us our present and also our past!

There’s a wonderful history and story to discover about every building in Building Stories – a rich collection of photographs and facts, all told in rhyming verse to delight young readers. Captivating and unusual images from musical instruments to a pencil, a phone, a big wheel with wings, and others that adorn the buildings will encourage children to look more closely at their own neighborhoods and want to learn more about the characters, plots, and settings of these amazing buildings and buildings all around them.

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty

Some kids sculpt sand castles. Some make mud pies. Some construct great block towers. But none are better at building than Iggy Peck, who once erected a life-size replica of the Great Sphinx on his front lawn! It’s too bad that few people appreciate Iggy’s talent—certainly not his second-grade teacher, Miss Lila Greer. It looks as if Iggy will have to trade in his T square for a box of crayons . . . until a fateful field trip proves just how useful a mast builder can be.

If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen

Imaginative Jack is building the house of his dreams, complete with a racetrack, flying room, and gigantic slide. Jack’s limitless creativity and infectious enthusiasm will inspire young inventors to imagine their own fantastical designs. 

If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen

If Jack built a school, there would be hover desks and pop-up textbooks, skydiving wind tunnels and a trampoline basketball court in the gym, a robo-chef to serve lunch in the cafeteria, field trips to Mars, and a whole lot more. The inventive who described his ideal house is dreaming even bigger this time.

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

Rosie Revere dreamed of becoming a great engineer. Where some people see rubbish, Rosie sees inspiration. Alone in her room at night, shy Rosie constructs great inventions from odds and ends. Hot dog dispensers, helium pants, python-repelling cheese hats: Rosie’s gizmos would astound—if she ever let anyone see them.

Afraid of failure, she hides them away under her bed. Until a fateful visit from her great-great-aunt Rose (AKA Rosie the Riveter!), who shows her that the first flop isn’t something to fear—it’s something to celebrate. And you can only truly fail, if you quit.

Watch Astronaut Kate Rubins read this book from space!