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quippeThe Blurb On The Back:
Little Experts is an unmissable non-fiction series that will empower and inspire a new generation of experts.
Get designing and building with architect and TV presenter George Clarke. From marvellous materials to future technology - discover the stories behind our homes.
George Clarke is an architect, writer and TV presenter. This book for readers aged 6+ (part of the LITTLE EXPERTS series and strongly illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng) is intended to inspire young readers to become architects, builders and designers of the future but despite Clarke’s enthusiasm for the subject, the book lacks focus, darting between different subjects like materials, sustainability and 3D printing.
I liked Clarke’s introduction to this book, which explains how he first became interested in architecture as a 12-year-old after his grandfather bought him a book on the subject and how he’d work on floorpans for his bedroom.
The book starts strongly as he goes on to talk about different types of houses around the world and how houses can be shaped by their environment (all of which is very well illustrated by Sae-Hung, who has a nice touch of whimsy in his picture of a tree house). The section on high rise buildings is a neat piece of book design, spreading over two pages and packed with facts. However when Clarke moves on to looking at the teamwork involved in constructing houses, I think his language gets a bit too advanced for the target readership (e.g. I think he should have explained what sustainability and ventilation means). There is a glossary at the back of the book but it is quite limited and doesn’t include all of the technical words, which in my view is a mistake.
Clarke then goes into looking at materials used for construction and although there is some interesting stuff there, I think it shifted too much attention from the building itself. If there had been something in there about how materials influence house design and what you can do with it, it might have been a bit more interesting for young readers. To be fair, he does talk a little about the sustainability issues of using concrete and I wish there had been that consistency across all of the materials and if there was a possibility of recycling etc. It just all feels quite stiff when you read it on its own.
Similarly, it isn’t until late in the book that Clarke suggests an activity for readers to do (specifically redesigning their room using a scale picture) and again, I wished there had been more of it throughout the book. For example (and to return to materials) he could have suggested doing things with plasticine and construction or thinking about issues with using glass to make houses. It all just feels like a bit of a missed opportunity, especially as there’s nothing at the end of the book with suggestions of what readers can read or do next if they are interested in the topic - and that seems bizarre if the intention is to try and inspire a new generation of architects and builders.
That said, Clarke’s enthusiasm for architecture does come through and I really did enjoy Sae-Heng’s illustrations, which have a lot of detail and tie in neatly with the text.
The Verdict:
George Clarke is an architect, writer and TV presenter. This book for readers aged 6+ (part of the LITTLE EXPERTS series and strongly illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng) is intended to inspire young readers to become architects, builders and designers of the future but despite Clarke’s enthusiasm for the subject, the book lacks focus, darting between different subjects like materials, sustainability and 3D printing.
LITTLE EXPERTS - HOW TO BUILD A HOME was released in the United Kingdom on 1st February 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.
Get designing and building with architect and TV presenter George Clarke. From marvellous materials to future technology - discover the stories behind our homes.
George Clarke is an architect, writer and TV presenter. This book for readers aged 6+ (part of the LITTLE EXPERTS series and strongly illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng) is intended to inspire young readers to become architects, builders and designers of the future but despite Clarke’s enthusiasm for the subject, the book lacks focus, darting between different subjects like materials, sustainability and 3D printing.
I liked Clarke’s introduction to this book, which explains how he first became interested in architecture as a 12-year-old after his grandfather bought him a book on the subject and how he’d work on floorpans for his bedroom.
The book starts strongly as he goes on to talk about different types of houses around the world and how houses can be shaped by their environment (all of which is very well illustrated by Sae-Hung, who has a nice touch of whimsy in his picture of a tree house). The section on high rise buildings is a neat piece of book design, spreading over two pages and packed with facts. However when Clarke moves on to looking at the teamwork involved in constructing houses, I think his language gets a bit too advanced for the target readership (e.g. I think he should have explained what sustainability and ventilation means). There is a glossary at the back of the book but it is quite limited and doesn’t include all of the technical words, which in my view is a mistake.
Clarke then goes into looking at materials used for construction and although there is some interesting stuff there, I think it shifted too much attention from the building itself. If there had been something in there about how materials influence house design and what you can do with it, it might have been a bit more interesting for young readers. To be fair, he does talk a little about the sustainability issues of using concrete and I wish there had been that consistency across all of the materials and if there was a possibility of recycling etc. It just all feels quite stiff when you read it on its own.
Similarly, it isn’t until late in the book that Clarke suggests an activity for readers to do (specifically redesigning their room using a scale picture) and again, I wished there had been more of it throughout the book. For example (and to return to materials) he could have suggested doing things with plasticine and construction or thinking about issues with using glass to make houses. It all just feels like a bit of a missed opportunity, especially as there’s nothing at the end of the book with suggestions of what readers can read or do next if they are interested in the topic - and that seems bizarre if the intention is to try and inspire a new generation of architects and builders.
That said, Clarke’s enthusiasm for architecture does come through and I really did enjoy Sae-Heng’s illustrations, which have a lot of detail and tie in neatly with the text.
The Verdict:
George Clarke is an architect, writer and TV presenter. This book for readers aged 6+ (part of the LITTLE EXPERTS series and strongly illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng) is intended to inspire young readers to become architects, builders and designers of the future but despite Clarke’s enthusiasm for the subject, the book lacks focus, darting between different subjects like materials, sustainability and 3D printing.
LITTLE EXPERTS - HOW TO BUILD A HOME was released in the United Kingdom on 1st February 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.
