LEGO Adventure Book Volume 2

Lego Adventure Book Volume 2
By Megan H. Rothrock
Published at no starch press

About the book

Join Megs and Brickbot on another exciting tour of LEGO® building in this second volume of The LEGO Adventure Book series. As they track the Destructor and rebuild the models he destroys, you’ll follow along and meet some of the world’s best builders. Learn to create sleek spaceships, exotic pirate hideaways, re-breathing dragons, fast cars, and much more. With nearly 40 step-by-step breakdowns and 100 example models, The LEGO Adventure Book is sure to spark your imagination and keep you building!

About the author

Megan Rothrock is a former set designer for the LEGO Group whose models have been displayed at ComicCon and at LEGO events across Europe. Rothrock enjoys meeting builders at LEGO fan events and hopes that her book will inspire the LEGO builders of tomorrow. Originally from California, she currently lives in Denmark where she works as a freelance toy designer.

My Thoughts

I had the opportunity to review the first book titled The Lego Adventure Book and my kids really enjoyed it.  So when I saw the the 2nd volume has been published I knew that it would be a treasured book that my kids would enjoy looking and discover.    Knowing how they love Lego bricks, I expect them to build some of the ideas find in this book.

This book is very similar than to previous volume but it will concentrate on building spaceships, pirates, dragons & more.   In all you will find 100 models, and nearly 40 brick-by-brick breakdowns that will provide guidance for your kids to build some of the models in it.  Personally, I would like to have more Tbrick-by-brick breakdowns in the book but not having them can challenge my kids to be ingenious and try to recreate some of the other models found in the book.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Back to the Idea Lab
Chapter 2: Victorious Vipers
Chapter 3: Service with a Smile
Chapter 4: A Ferry Nice Build
Chapter 5: Castaway's Cove
Chapter 6: The Tudors
Chapter 7: On Set: STAR CLUTCH
Chapter 8: Destruction Zone
Chapter 9: A Veritable Fortress
Chapter 10: Brick Friends
Chapter 11: A LEGO Legend Calls

As you can see from the table of content, the book is packed with fun things to build and see.   Throughout the book, the child can also read the little comic strips made out of Lego and learn from expert builders from around the world.

See some of the models you can find in the book below.

I personally love the medieval town as well as the treasure island that can be found in the page of this book.  But the building doesn’t stop to the big models.   It also includes little details like how to build tulips, a movie camera, flowers pots, and a classic kitchen.   Let me tell you that kitchens in the world of Lego have come a long way because I remember having the kitchen kit when I was younger…  And yes I still have the bricks of that set and the instructions as well!

But right after the instructions on how to build the kitchen in the book, you can see the classroom and cooking lessons which were made following the same instructions in a way.  Packed with Lego Friends characters, I think my girl will really love to see this made up by her brothers…

The book is definitively a great item to consider as a Christmas gift if you have Lego fans in your home.   The book will provide a lot of imagination and challenge for your brick builders.  

The Lego Adventure Book Volume 2 is available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Kindle

  

 

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to no starch press for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

God’s Double Agent

God’s Double Agent
By Bob Fu
Published at Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group

About the book

God's people are hiding in plain sight.

Tens of millions of Christians live in China today, leading double lives to hide from a government that relentlessly persecutes them.

By day, Bob Fu was a teacher in a communist school; by night, he was a preacher in an underground house church network. This edge-of-your-seat book tells the true story of Fu's conversion to Christianity, his arrest and imprisonment for starting an illegal house church, his harrowing escape, and his subsequent rise to prominence in the United States as an advocate for his oppressed brethren.

God's Double Agent will inspire you to boldly proclaim and live out your faith in a world that is at times indifferent, and at other times murderously hostile, to those who spread the gospel.

My Thoughts

I love autobiography but this one is particularly special as it is also the testimony of a man born and raised in China that was able to leave the country eventually as a Christian.   From a poor upbringing, he was able to be accepted in university in order to study.   He wanted to make money but eventually God met him and he lead a double life for many years.

Have you ever wondered how you can be bolder with your faith?  This book will open your eyes toward how Chinese believers are willing to do everything in order to be able to live as Christians in a Communist country.   I really enjoyed the way the book is written as it makes it more personal as though you are reading a personal journal of the author.   Well in a way it is because he is presenting his life from birth until now.    But the style of writing allow you to be part of his story as you read and discover the events in his life.  The book also contains photographs of the life of Bob Fu from the younger years to now.   I find it interesting to look at pictures of the life of someone when I read their testimony.  

Watch this video to discover more about the book.

If you know someone who loves reading testimonies and biographies, I suggest that you consider this book as a potential gift this Christmas.  Also, if you want to be touched in ways you cannot imagine, I think this book would be a great read in the new year.    Reading this book has encouraged me to be bolder in my faith whether with people around me or on social media.   

God’s Double Agent is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

Paperback

  

Hardcover

  

Kindle

  

AUDIO CD Unabridged

  

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for review purposes from Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

20 Express

20 Express
By Blue Orange Games

About the game

Looking for the best game for a large group? Hop aboard the 20 Express!
Each player has a train of 20 cars to fill with numbers. The goal is to create the longest ascending series possible. Twenty numbered tiles are randomly drawn. With every draw, the number must board a car and stay there. Break a series and you miss out on points. Like in Bingo, you need luck on your side, but number sense and sharp guesswork pays off. 20 Express can be played with an unlimited amount of players; simply download and print more game sheets. With clear-cut game play and lots of suspense, it’s full steam ahead for a large crowd!

My Thoughts

The game looks interesting.  So one afternoon I decided to sat down and explore it by myself in order to understand it.   Since the game can be played with one to one hundred players, I seriously thought that it would be fun to play by myself.    Before I share my thoughts on playing alone, let me specify that the game is perfect for kids ages 8 to adults.    The play time last about 15 minutes and you will develop skills of number recognition, probability and strategy.

The goal of the game is to score the most points by creating the longest series.   How does a series is made?   Well when you are alone, it will depends on the tiles you pick from the bag.  When you are playing with others, each player will draw a random tile  from the bag.   Every time, you need to announce it out loud and place the tile face up on the table.   The players have to write the number in any empty train car on their own game sheet.  You have to use your judgment in order to determine where the number should go in order to create the longest series in ascending order.   Once everyone has written down the number, it’s time to draw another number.   When the 20th tile has been selected, each player’s train is full.    Calculate you score and discover who is the winner.  

Simple, easy and challenging as well.   That are the three words that come to my mind when I think of the game.   Yes I did play alone and it’s not as fun as playing with others.   I mean seriously you alone has to pick the tiles.   It’s feasible but I didn’t like it much.   I much prefer playing with family and friends when it comes to board games…  However, what I particularly like about this game is that I can challenge my own kids in thinking strategically and placing the numbers in a way to try to win the game.    Not only is number recognition is essential but you need to think fast to determine where you will write the number on your train in order to make the longest train possible.  The longest the train the more points you cash in.

I find this game to be perfect to take a break in your homeschool in the middle of the day or just to relax after doing hard work.    

The game 20 Express is available at your favourite game store or on amazon.ca and amazon.com.  You can download additional game sheets at http://www.blueorangegames.com/images/20ExpressScoringSheet_Website.jpg.

   

Disclaimer: Thanks to Blue Orange Games for sending the product mentioned above for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.