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Blocks
A stylishly illustrated, ingeniously simple picture-book debut perfect for teaching young children about colors and sharing.
Ruby has red blocks and Benji has blue blocks. They both build with their blocks, until Benji takes one of Ruby’s red blocks and, in the tussle that follows, all the blocks CRASH to the floor. But now Benji has blue and red blocks, and Ruby has red and blue blocks, and together they build and build . . . until Guy comes with his green blocks!
Ruby has red blocks and Benji has blue blocks. They both build with their blocks, until Benji takes one of Ruby’s red blocks and, in the tussle that follows, all the blocks CRASH to the floor. But now Benji has blue and red blocks, and Ruby has red and blue blocks, and together they build and build . . . until Guy comes with his green blocks!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2016
2 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Irene Dickson
3 books7 followersIrene Dickson has been designing all sorts of things—from corporate identity, marketing, and websites to interior graphics and stained glass—as well as creating her own range of bespoke wedding stationery. She is now enjoying a new path creating picture books. She lives in a beautiful rural county in England with her family and her very old cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
May 25, 2017
This is a super simple story about sharing, perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Ruby and Benji each build with red and blue blocks, respectively. When Benji takes one of Ruby's red blocks, hijinks ensue! My daughter was definitely RIGHT THERE with the kids and loves shouting "Mine!" when they are arguing, then says "Uh-oh! Mess!" when the predictable mess happens. The die-cut cover is a nice touch and lends some visual interest.
Notes on representation: Ruby has dark skin and hair, Benji appears to be white, and Guy (a third child) appears to be black.
Notes on representation: Ruby has dark skin and hair, Benji appears to be white, and Guy (a third child) appears to be black.
January 20, 2017
Read this book w the 18 mo old I babysit, and she's obsessed.
I want to delve into the illustrations more when I have a spare moment.
I want to delve into the illustrations more when I have a spare moment.
February 9, 2023
Such a simple concept, executed beautifully.
No question, the two main characters do learn something about how to share. Yes, in a way, there's sort of a surprise ending, which I'd call clever-ish.
I can see how this book could appeal to a parent. Does it also appeal to children?
It might, with the simplicity of story, and drawing, and especially with that adorable cutout cover. Diversity points are earned too, which counts for much.
However, this story never grabbed at my heart, nor did it appeal to imagination. To me, this entire project seemed more like a high-concept picture book that aimed to fulfill its niche. Which it did fine.
Personally, though, I, found this book disappointing. Personally, I'd say, where was the soul?
No question, the two main characters do learn something about how to share. Yes, in a way, there's sort of a surprise ending, which I'd call clever-ish.
I can see how this book could appeal to a parent. Does it also appeal to children?
It might, with the simplicity of story, and drawing, and especially with that adorable cutout cover. Diversity points are earned too, which counts for much.
However, this story never grabbed at my heart, nor did it appeal to imagination. To me, this entire project seemed more like a high-concept picture book that aimed to fulfill its niche. Which it did fine.
Personally, though, I, found this book disappointing. Personally, I'd say, where was the soul?
December 5, 2018
Really sweet. Would work for baby or family storytime. Good representation.
December 16, 2019
The size limits this for more one on one use. However, it will meet all those sharing requests.
Ruby has red blocks, and Benji has blue. What happens when Benji takes a red block?
Ruby has red blocks, and Benji has blue. What happens when Benji takes a red block?
November 9, 2016
Very brief text, but it is the large uncluttered illustrations that carry the message of sharing to the toddler are group. The basic colors of red and blue imposed on a white background easily illustrate the concept of sharing.
April 28, 2016
Great, simple toddler book about colors and sharing.
July 15, 2016
There's a nice symmetry to the layouts, with one kid on each side of a two page spread throughout the story.
August 25, 2016
Benji really should have asked.
March 9, 2019
This book is about a girl named Ruby and a boy name Benji. Ruby has red blocks and Benji has blue bocks. They both build with their own colored blocks, until Ruby notices Benji with her block! Wanting it back, she tussles with him, and as a result, all of their blocks are knocked to the floor. Once the colors are mixed, they begin to share the blocks and create one big building of blocks! Then, on the last page, we see a boy named guy arriving with his green blocks.
This is a very simplistic yet good book to read aloud to children before Kindergarten. The book comes across as teaching about colors and sharing but is a bit limited. It only goes over two colors, if you don’t count the exposure of the green blocks. The tussle the children had was short lived and they had instantaneously began sharing their blocks together. The end product of positivity and to share is there, but it would have been cool to see some verbal or physical notion of the transition of working it out. But that must be why this is primarily for toddlers.
I loved the simplicity of introduced racial diversity. Of course, the character’s cultural background isn’t shown or explained in anyway, but may be assumed that the children most likely have different backgrounds because of their various skin tones. I also enjoyed the bold and bright illustrations. Kept focus on the characters and blocks, I think may also be much easier for the young audience to focus on and study.
This book may be a good introduction, as a discussion with your child, about sharing and reflection of what the child may do.
This is a very simplistic yet good book to read aloud to children before Kindergarten. The book comes across as teaching about colors and sharing but is a bit limited. It only goes over two colors, if you don’t count the exposure of the green blocks. The tussle the children had was short lived and they had instantaneously began sharing their blocks together. The end product of positivity and to share is there, but it would have been cool to see some verbal or physical notion of the transition of working it out. But that must be why this is primarily for toddlers.
I loved the simplicity of introduced racial diversity. Of course, the character’s cultural background isn’t shown or explained in anyway, but may be assumed that the children most likely have different backgrounds because of their various skin tones. I also enjoyed the bold and bright illustrations. Kept focus on the characters and blocks, I think may also be much easier for the young audience to focus on and study.
This book may be a good introduction, as a discussion with your child, about sharing and reflection of what the child may do.
September 26, 2019
This is a super cute board book on sharing. There are very few words so it's perfect for infants and young preschoolers. A little girl is playing with her red blocks and a boy playing with his blue ones. Then the boy decides he likes the look of the red blocks so takes one. They fight and knock their blocks all over the place. Once the blocks are all mixed, they both build something together.
It's very simple and I'm not sure how much of the moral a very young child gets from it but it's a really good conversation starter. Especially when a third character is introduced at the end! My daughter has always loved the part when there's a big crash. She is fascinated by the fact that the girl's shoe comes off. Toddler minds, I will never understand them!
The illustrations are on a white background and the child is dressed in the same colour as their blocks so it looks simple and effective. It's also nice that all 3 kids are a different skin colour so your child is more likely to see someone who looks a little more like them. I also love that it's a big sturdy board book!
From an Islamic viewpoint, there are so issues at all I can see with the content. A really nice book on sharing for under 3's. A child older may like it but I think there'll be more effective books when their comprehension is that good.
It's very simple and I'm not sure how much of the moral a very young child gets from it but it's a really good conversation starter. Especially when a third character is introduced at the end! My daughter has always loved the part when there's a big crash. She is fascinated by the fact that the girl's shoe comes off. Toddler minds, I will never understand them!
The illustrations are on a white background and the child is dressed in the same colour as their blocks so it looks simple and effective. It's also nice that all 3 kids are a different skin colour so your child is more likely to see someone who looks a little more like them. I also love that it's a big sturdy board book!
From an Islamic viewpoint, there are so issues at all I can see with the content. A really nice book on sharing for under 3's. A child older may like it but I think there'll be more effective books when their comprehension is that good.
December 4, 2016
Two kids with separate color blocks are building next to each other. One child takes another child's block and there is a bog fight until they realize they can build together. And then a third child comes along. What will they do?
The end papers are nice on this book because the first page shows creations building with one color of block ( red creations and separate blue creations - one from each child). At the end of book, the end papers show creations build with 3 different colors of blocks (red, blue, and green from the third child). It was a good place for the kids to make an inference as to what happened when that third child came along.
I had a child say after story time that he didn't like the book because the kids in the story didn't share. But ten minutes later, this was the same child who was fighting over blocks and not sharing with the other kids in story time. Oh, how funny.
The end papers are nice on this book because the first page shows creations building with one color of block ( red creations and separate blue creations - one from each child). At the end of book, the end papers show creations build with 3 different colors of blocks (red, blue, and green from the third child). It was a good place for the kids to make an inference as to what happened when that third child came along.
I had a child say after story time that he didn't like the book because the kids in the story didn't share. But ten minutes later, this was the same child who was fighting over blocks and not sharing with the other kids in story time. Oh, how funny.
November 21, 2017
Very, VERY didactic--the description blatantly says "to teach children about colors and sharing." Nice goal, but you'll generally do better with the colors than the "sharing" thing with young kids. This is, of course, "diverse," with a little girl who is probably Latina, a little white boy, and then, for the punch line, a little African American boy, and the art is attractive in a Helen Oxenbury sort of style, with bright colors and a simple,bold style.
My one caveat emptor is that the book has two cut outs on the cover, the blocks that each child holds. This is cute, and the material used sturdy, but cut outs do create wear and tear on books handled by young children. Just be aware of that.
My one caveat emptor is that the book has two cut outs on the cover, the blocks that each child holds. This is cute, and the material used sturdy, but cut outs do create wear and tear on books handled by young children. Just be aware of that.
February 6, 2018
Blocks by Irene Dickson is a great book that introduces sharing and diversity for toddlers and pre-K children. The story starts with two children, a little girl who has darker skin and a little boy with light skin. The children are both playing with blocks the little girl, Ruby, with red blocks and the little boy, Benji, with blue blocks. When Benji takes a red block, the children have to learn to share. The book ends in a cute way that can be a great discussion topic for your pre-K kiddos about what they would do. I think this book is also great for toddlers as it is simple and has eye-catching colors.
January 2, 2018
My three-year-old is fascinated by this story of two kids fighting over then sharing blocks. As a parent, I appreciate that the kids worked things out themselves.
The illustrations are just perfect. They're very simple, so there are no distractions from what's happening in the story. The blocks are shaped like standard unit blocks, so they look familiar to my son, which he loves. The use of color is so clever and really helps my son understand what's going on in the story. And of course he is crazy about the cut-outs on the cover.
All the stars from both me and my three-year-old.
The illustrations are just perfect. They're very simple, so there are no distractions from what's happening in the story. The blocks are shaped like standard unit blocks, so they look familiar to my son, which he loves. The use of color is so clever and really helps my son understand what's going on in the story. And of course he is crazy about the cut-outs on the cover.
All the stars from both me and my three-year-old.
December 13, 2017
diverse picture book (colors, sharing, emotions; for toddlers ages 18 months and up?)
*Prominently features diverse characters: Ruby has dark skin and dark brown, straight hair; Benji has light skin and light hair. A third child, Guy, introduced at the very end, is Black.
* Would work for toddler storytime (or a short book for preschool storytime). Dynamic pictures and very short, simple sentences, plus a "sharing" theme that parents of both groups will appreciate.
see also http://www.everydaydiversity.com/2016/09/august-round-up-two.html
*Prominently features diverse characters: Ruby has dark skin and dark brown, straight hair; Benji has light skin and light hair. A third child, Guy, introduced at the very end, is Black.
* Would work for toddler storytime (or a short book for preschool storytime). Dynamic pictures and very short, simple sentences, plus a "sharing" theme that parents of both groups will appreciate.
see also http://www.everydaydiversity.com/2016/09/august-round-up-two.html
April 20, 2018
The pictures are cute and bright and the words are simple and could be repeated by a young child. My son chose this at the library as his vote for the firefly award (he's almost three). The cover drew him over instantly with the colorful red and blue and eye catching "block" cut-outs. Great book for teaching colors and sharing.
December 9, 2021
A simple and effective story about blocks, colors, and sharing. Ruby (Brown skin with straight brown hair) and Benji (White) are both playing with blocks and eventually find it's better to share and build their structure together. Also a good way to talk about consent—Benji takes one of the blocks Ruby is playing without asking!
Themes: Sharing, Building, Colors, Consent
Age range: Toddler-PreK
Themes: Sharing, Building, Colors, Consent
Age range: Toddler-PreK
June 23, 2017
I love the simplicity of the story and the message in this book! I see so much potential as a read aloud for teacher, counselors, and parents in conversation and extension activities. Can't wait to share it!
August 21, 2018
Short, simple text and absolutely fantastic illustrations teach kids about colors and sharing. This is a great read aloud to toddlers and preschoolers to start a discussion or get them to predict what could/should/will happen.
November 27, 2018
Pictures are large and not too intricate which would be good for story time. Pictures depict diversity. Story shows children sharing and working together but not until after they are greedy and knock down their buildings.
December 4, 2018
I like this book because they tumble, but tumbling isn't okay, and one of them loses their shoe in the tumble. And I'll tell you their names: one was named Ruby and one was named Benji. And there's this guy who's green who's called Guy.
March 6, 2019
A good book for kids who are just learning how to sit still for a story. However, it was so short and simple that the narrative almost didn't hold the attention of my playtime group. Recommend for ages 0-2, but it likely won't impress children much older than that.
November 6, 2020
This simple story about sharing, colors, and collaboration stands out because the pictures are so dynamic and charming. Something about the style really captures the movement and range of expression in a small child. Loved by parents and kid in our household.
September 10, 2017
A great book about sharing for any parent of a "MINE, MINE, MINE" kind of toddler. Also it helps them learn their colors, which is amazing!
December 18, 2017
Great building book for toddlers
January 5, 2018
Toddlers learning to share with simple, graphic and colorful illustrations.
January 23, 2018
Ruby and Benji learn to share when their red and blue blocks get mixed up. What will happen when Guy brings his green blocks?
Good for preschool or toddler storytimes.
Good for preschool or toddler storytimes.
February 9, 2018
I think this a great simple book about sharing.
February 22, 2018
A simple story about kids playing with different color blocks. The ending asks a question that has the reader make an inference. Could be good for introducing the skill.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews