Owning a huge bin of Lego building blocks seems to be a prerequisite for most homeschool families. The plans for various models that come with Lego sets are the initial challenge for most kids, but many dream about building their own creations, especially if they've seen some of the intricate Lego creations on display at large toy stores. The Unofficial Lego Builder's Guide will give any student of Lego the insight into the techniques of building imaginative, yet sturdy, Lego constructions. The book begins with a complete look at the basics from descriptions and pictures of the basic Lego components available to the best way to connect bricks. You'll learn how to make walls and bracing structures.

This is not a plan book, so there are not many plans for creating specific Lego structures, although there is information on building a train station, a Sphinx and a space shuttle. The book focuses on teaching you the how-tos of construction so you can create on your own. This includes chapters on building to minifig scale (to fit the miniature figures that come in Lego sets), miniland scale (a larger scale that requires you to make your own miniland figures), and microscale (where large objects are modeled on a much smaller scale). The different scales are explained as well as which Lego bricks work best for each and the techniques for making your constructions more realistic.

Additional chapters cover the creation of sculptures and mosaics and the use of gears, axles, and bricks that lock together with pins that come in Technic sets. You'll also learn the steps for designing Lego projects from idea to completed construction. I particularly liked how the chapter on design emphasized thinking like a model designer. It showed clearly that design is a series of decisions that may include redesigning when something doesn't work as you intended. Moms will love the organization and storage suggestions. You'll also find instructions for making your own Lego construction tools such as a ruler, presser tool, pin stand tool, and brick separator from, what else, Lego parts.

The appendices include the Brickopedia and information on design grids. The Brickopedia contains descriptions of many of the Lego building elements. Each Lego piece is categorized as a brick, plate, slope, specialized element, Technic element, arch, tile and panel, cylinder and cone, baseplate, or decorative element. Categories are further subdivided. Each element or piece includes an image of the piece, a description, part number, and notes for how the piece is best used. The Brickopedia allows Lego designers to make choices about the pieces they will use in their constructions. It does not give information on sets that contain the pieces, so you can't use it to decide which sets you want to buy. It will help you categorize the Lego elements you already own.

If you have Lego enthusiasts who are ready to take their Lego building to the next level, this is a must-have book. At $24.95, it's equal to the price of a Lego set, but its value is far greater than another set of Lego bricks. Although once your kids have devoured this book, they will be clamoring for more Lego bricks. Future engineers, architects, artists, and designers will have a field day with the possibilities this book presents.