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Brick by Brick
The quintessential first book on peace.
A little mouse innocently plucks a flower from an old wall when a brick comes loose, and he can see through it for the first time. He and the other animals gradually and resolutely remove more and more bricks, until at last they can see another group of animals. Together they use the bricks that once divided them to construct a bridge to join their islands. This clever and touching wordless board book shows that walls can become bridges when everyone works together. It’s a hopeful message that all children should see now.
A little mouse innocently plucks a flower from an old wall when a brick comes loose, and he can see through it for the first time. He and the other animals gradually and resolutely remove more and more bricks, until at last they can see another group of animals. Together they use the bricks that once divided them to construct a bridge to join their islands. This clever and touching wordless board book shows that walls can become bridges when everyone works together. It’s a hopeful message that all children should see now.
22 pages, Board Book
First published January 1, 2016
97 people want to read
About the author
Giuliano Ferri
128 books19 followersGiuliano Ferri (born 1965) is an Italian illustrator and author of children's books, including Peekaboo, Brick by Brick, The Snowball, and many others, published by minedition.
He graduated of the Urbino Institute of Art, where he specialized in animation.
He graduated of the Urbino Institute of Art, where he specialized in animation.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 28, 2017
It was a wonderful coincidence that this book arrived at the library today. This wordless board book tells the story of some animals who tear down a wall to build a bridge between their community and a community filled with very different animals. Today is the presidential inauguration of a man who thinks there should be more walls in the world, a man who thinks that people who are different from him don't deserve a good life. Look at this book with your child and remind them (and you!) that instead of hiding behind our walls of ignorance and complacency, we need to find the common things that bring all people together.
August 18, 2016
I love this even more because it's wordless! Includes a wonderful message for children both young and old.
April 30, 2018
Awards received?
n/a
Appropriate Grade level?
Pre-K to K
Original Summary:
A little mouse finds beautiful flowers blooming within a huge, white brick wall. When picking the flower from the wall, one of the bricks falls leading mouse to think of a marvelous idea- he is going to take down the wall and eventually uses the bricks to build a bridge uniting the animals. With a little help from his friends, the removal of the wall and creation of the bridge was made possible.
Original Review:
This wordless picture books leaves its readers questioning right from the start. A wonderful message is portrayed within the pages, anything is possible with the support of friends. To the mouse, the brick wall was once a barrier but with great dedication and determination, the barrier was now an open door. For a book with no words, it has an extremely powerful message.
1-2 possible in-class uses:
This book would be wonderful to discuss teamwork and the wonderful things that come along with it. Activities, such as problem solving in teams would add to the meaning of the book. Students will have fun figuring out what happens in the book and will be eager to participate in similar activities.
n/a
Appropriate Grade level?
Pre-K to K
Original Summary:
A little mouse finds beautiful flowers blooming within a huge, white brick wall. When picking the flower from the wall, one of the bricks falls leading mouse to think of a marvelous idea- he is going to take down the wall and eventually uses the bricks to build a bridge uniting the animals. With a little help from his friends, the removal of the wall and creation of the bridge was made possible.
Original Review:
This wordless picture books leaves its readers questioning right from the start. A wonderful message is portrayed within the pages, anything is possible with the support of friends. To the mouse, the brick wall was once a barrier but with great dedication and determination, the barrier was now an open door. For a book with no words, it has an extremely powerful message.
1-2 possible in-class uses:
This book would be wonderful to discuss teamwork and the wonderful things that come along with it. Activities, such as problem solving in teams would add to the meaning of the book. Students will have fun figuring out what happens in the book and will be eager to participate in similar activities.
October 10, 2018
Brick by Giuliano Ferri
1. Awards: N/A
2. Grade Level: Pre-K & Kindergarten
3. Summary: A few animal friends work together to remove a brick wall, to their surprise some new friends are on the other side. The new friends work together to use the bricks to build a new bridge.
4. Review: Despite there being no words, there are messages of teamwork, inclusion, and acceptance. This was a super cute, simple story that I loved!
5. In Class Uses:
A. Have students draw a page or two to create an epilogue to the story. What are the friends doing now after they built a bridge?
B. Photocopy each page of the book and add a line to the bottom of the page. Then have students write out simple sentences to tell their own story.
1. Awards: N/A
2. Grade Level: Pre-K & Kindergarten
3. Summary: A few animal friends work together to remove a brick wall, to their surprise some new friends are on the other side. The new friends work together to use the bricks to build a new bridge.
4. Review: Despite there being no words, there are messages of teamwork, inclusion, and acceptance. This was a super cute, simple story that I loved!
5. In Class Uses:
A. Have students draw a page or two to create an epilogue to the story. What are the friends doing now after they built a bridge?
B. Photocopy each page of the book and add a line to the bottom of the page. Then have students write out simple sentences to tell their own story.
December 3, 2018
Awards: N/A
Appropriate Age Level: 3-5 years
Original Summary: This book shows an innocent mouse removing a flower from the brick wall, exposing whats on the other side. As the other animals remove the bricks one by one they see another island with animals on it. They build a bridge to connect them, which once divided them.
Original Review: This simple wordless books shares a touching message about working together and "building bridges instead of walls."
In-Class Uses: This book can be used as a read aloud when you see your students struggling to work together. It can also be used during a construction or building unit before having children build their own bridges in the block center.
Appropriate Age Level: 3-5 years
Original Summary: This book shows an innocent mouse removing a flower from the brick wall, exposing whats on the other side. As the other animals remove the bricks one by one they see another island with animals on it. They build a bridge to connect them, which once divided them.
Original Review: This simple wordless books shares a touching message about working together and "building bridges instead of walls."
In-Class Uses: This book can be used as a read aloud when you see your students struggling to work together. It can also be used during a construction or building unit before having children build their own bridges in the block center.
Want to Read
October 2, 20181. No awards recieved
2. pre-k through kindergarten (relatable to all ages)
3. A mouse finds a wall with flowers growing out of it. He discovers something beautiful behind the wall, so his friends help him disassemble the wall. The mouse and his friends use the bricks from the wall to build a bridge between them and their new friends.
4. The story was very cute, straightforward, and great for young children.
5. This book could be used to show how to reuse materials and how to rethink a situation to make it more inclusive. Like any other wordless picture book, it is good for children's imagination by allowing them to create their own spin on the story.
2. pre-k through kindergarten (relatable to all ages)
3. A mouse finds a wall with flowers growing out of it. He discovers something beautiful behind the wall, so his friends help him disassemble the wall. The mouse and his friends use the bricks from the wall to build a bridge between them and their new friends.
4. The story was very cute, straightforward, and great for young children.
5. This book could be used to show how to reuse materials and how to rethink a situation to make it more inclusive. Like any other wordless picture book, it is good for children's imagination by allowing them to create their own spin on the story.
December 7, 2018
Awards the book has received (if any): n/a
Appropriate grade level(s): k-2nd
Original summary: In this wordless picture book, a mouse discovers some flowers poking out of a brick wall. With the help of others, a beautiful landscape is revealed as they unstack the wall of bricks. Something else even more surprising is revealed soon after.
Original review: Giuliano manages to surprise the reader with each turn of the page in this short, but sweet wordless picture book. I was shocked when he reveals the other people. This makes the book so engaging.
1-2 possible in-class uses:
1) Students can add words to each page.
2) Show the meaning of pictures and illustrations.
Appropriate grade level(s): k-2nd
Original summary: In this wordless picture book, a mouse discovers some flowers poking out of a brick wall. With the help of others, a beautiful landscape is revealed as they unstack the wall of bricks. Something else even more surprising is revealed soon after.
Original review: Giuliano manages to surprise the reader with each turn of the page in this short, but sweet wordless picture book. I was shocked when he reveals the other people. This makes the book so engaging.
1-2 possible in-class uses:
1) Students can add words to each page.
2) Show the meaning of pictures and illustrations.
February 25, 2022
Vredevolle boodschap. Extreem melig uitgewerkt. Volledig op niveau van kleuters, dat wel. Maar als volwassene had ik na 2x absoluut geen zin om dit boek nog een keer voor te lezen. En onze kleuter is nieuwsgierig genoeg om andere werelden te gaan verkennen en samen te spelen met onbekenden; toch hoop ik dat ze eerder zal proberen om rond muren heen te lopen of erover te kijken in plaats van ze zonder nadenken te slopen.
Totaal niet de essentie van het verhaal, maar details waar ik me aan erger:
- Waarom stond er zo'n hoge muur als daar toch een waterloop is?
- Waar komen de identieke stenen op het andere eiland vandaan?
Totaal niet de essentie van het verhaal, maar details waar ik me aan erger:
- Waarom stond er zo'n hoge muur als daar toch een waterloop is?
- Waar komen de identieke stenen op het andere eiland vandaan?
October 2, 2017
Awards: n/a
Appropriate grade level(s): Pre-school
Summary: A mouse starts to take bricks off of a wall. His friends help him and they notice others animals on a different island. All the animals, together, build a bridge so they can connect.
Review: This is a great book about teamwork. I love how the author gave the simple message of how something amazing can be done whenever works together. I also the message that bridges are better than walls.
Possible in-class uses:
1)Can be used to teach about community
2)Can be used to teach about teamwork.
Appropriate grade level(s): Pre-school
Summary: A mouse starts to take bricks off of a wall. His friends help him and they notice others animals on a different island. All the animals, together, build a bridge so they can connect.
Review: This is a great book about teamwork. I love how the author gave the simple message of how something amazing can be done whenever works together. I also the message that bridges are better than walls.
Possible in-class uses:
1)Can be used to teach about community
2)Can be used to teach about teamwork.
December 6, 2018
I'm usually not a fan of wordless stories. I just love words too much. But this boardbook is brilliantly executed! A mouse takes one brick out of the wall, sees there is something interesting on the other side. He and his animal friends break down the wall, only to discover that there are animals on the other side, animals that they can't reach because of the water that separates them. The last spread shows all the animals building a bridge. What a wonderful message for our world today. Breaking down walls and building bridges--this is exactly what we all need to do.
March 24, 2018
I picked this book up at a library used book sale for my son. I didn’t read the inside, as I just loved the way the cover was illustrated. Little did I know how powerful of a message this little book held inside, ironically made with no words at all. In this day and age, I will be sure to “read” this book to my son daily. It’s a beautiful message of acceptance, kindness, and unity.
“Let’s build bridges instead of walls...”
“Let’s build bridges instead of walls...”
May 1, 2018
For Ages: 2-6
Summary: A book that shows how a group of animals work together to be brought together through the use of pictures.
Review: An adorable book that shows how team work can get things accomplished and be beautiful. I love the simplicity in the illustrations and how they make you wonder what the next page is going to bring.
Classroom Use: Can be used to have children make up their own story and use their creativity and imaginations. Learning to write text that matches images.
Summary: A book that shows how a group of animals work together to be brought together through the use of pictures.
Review: An adorable book that shows how team work can get things accomplished and be beautiful. I love the simplicity in the illustrations and how they make you wonder what the next page is going to bring.
Classroom Use: Can be used to have children make up their own story and use their creativity and imaginations. Learning to write text that matches images.
September 19, 2017
Perfect message without preaching! When the animals on both sides of a wall begin removing bricks they finally see who is on the other side. Together they build a bridge using the old bricks and really get to know each other.
September 19, 2019
Wordless picture book that encourages kids to build bridges, not walls. I would love a special edition of this where each brick removed is a cut out to see the next page. The cover is, but that's the only die-cut in the book.
December 3, 2017
A beautiful message expressively and touchingly told without words.
December 4, 2017
Lovely, wordless, charming.
January 5, 2019
Een boekje zonder woorden, maar het vertelt zoveel! Een boekje dat aan iedere politicus cadeau zou moeten gegeven worden :-) : breek muren af en bouw er bruggen mee!
February 19, 2021
community
March 18, 2021
A simple board book about making connections as friends take apart a wall and build a bridge.
June 29, 2021
Cute wordless book about teamwork and inclusion, turning walls into bridges, "let's all get along" message. Great illustrations, very simple.
January 12, 2022
Such a beautiful message...take down a wall brick by brick and build a bridge to help one another.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2023
Such a fun book with a deeper meaning: Work with your friends to tear down walls that separate us, and build bridges!
September 29, 2025
Mooi tekstloos prentenboek voor 2 jarigen t/m de kleuterklas.
December 11, 2016
A sweet little wordless story of taking down walls and building bridges.
August 18, 2021
Nice graphic display of the improvement in our lives made by bridges, not walls!
April 7, 2016
Muren scheiden groepen van elkaar maar door ze weg te halen en samen een brug te bouwen kom je naar elkaar toe en leer je elkaar kennen. Dankzij dit tekstloze boekje blijkt dat ook zonder woorden deze mooie boodschap overgebracht kan worden.
De afbeeldingen zijn eenvoudig maar juist daardoor erg aansprekend. Het is bijzonder om langzamerhand het landschap achter de muur te zien verschijnen, dat achteraf anders blijkt te zijn dan je verwacht had.
Opnieuw een mooi tot in de puntjes verzorgd boekje, zoals we inmiddels van deze uitgeverij gewend zijn.
De afbeeldingen zijn eenvoudig maar juist daardoor erg aansprekend. Het is bijzonder om langzamerhand het landschap achter de muur te zien verschijnen, dat achteraf anders blijkt te zijn dan je verwacht had.
Opnieuw een mooi tot in de puntjes verzorgd boekje, zoals we inmiddels van deze uitgeverij gewend zijn.
November 27, 2019
This is another one of those cute little kid's books that I crossed paths with at the library where I work and I just had to read it. And you know what ... it was wonderful.
And it's something that certain racist Presidents (he who should not be named) should read.
And it's something that certain racist Presidents (he who should not be named) should read.
March 28, 2017
Wordless, amazing book. Take down the wall & build a bridge!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2017
A sweet wordless book about building bridges not walls.
November 7, 2017
SUMMARY
In this wordless picture book, the story begins when a mouse picks a flower growing out of a brick wall that covers both pages. In doing so, one brick falls to reveal what appears to be a landscape on the other side of the wall. The mouse is joined by other animals one at a time as they continue to remove the bricks. Finally, a brick-free scene reveals two land masses separated by water—where, on the other side, five more animals stand facing the mouse and friends. Using the bricks that once composed the wall, the animals build a bridge to meet one another and become friends.
ACTIVITY
Materials:
-Blank drawing paper (half of a 8.5 x 11 in sheet) for each student (8.5 x 5.5in)
-Drawing materials
-Wall/bulletin board/other large space to display drawings side-by-side (like bricks)
1) Before reading: (a) Pass out blank drawing paper; ask students to draw a self portrait. (b) Introduce the title and author. Based on the title and cover illustration (a brick wall covers the page, a mouse is holding one brick, and the rectangular hole where it sat reveals the flowers on the next page), ask students to make predictions for the story. Record ideas if desired.
2) While reading: Guide students through the story with minimal but meaningful observations and/or thought-provoking questions (i.e.: What is the mouse thinking? What are the animals thinking/feeling- before and after the bridge is built? How do you know? Why do you think that?), and invite students to share their own thoughts and predictions.
3) After reading (discussion): What was this story about? How do we know all that if the book didn’t have any words? What did you learn from the story? (Or, what is the moral of the story?). If the characters named their bridge, what do you think they would name it? Ask any other questions to spark discussion and allow time for students to think and share ideas.
4) After reading (activity): Pair students; ask them to learn and then share one thing they learned about their partner. Ask students to write what makes them a good friend on their self-portrait “bricks.” As a class, create a “bridge” with your self-portrait bricks. Name the bridge. Ask other classes to join! This would also be a great opportunity to learn about and involve families at the start of the school year or to display for conferences.
CITATION
Ferri, G. (2016). Brick by brick. Hong Kong, China: Michael Neugebauer Publishing Limited.
In this wordless picture book, the story begins when a mouse picks a flower growing out of a brick wall that covers both pages. In doing so, one brick falls to reveal what appears to be a landscape on the other side of the wall. The mouse is joined by other animals one at a time as they continue to remove the bricks. Finally, a brick-free scene reveals two land masses separated by water—where, on the other side, five more animals stand facing the mouse and friends. Using the bricks that once composed the wall, the animals build a bridge to meet one another and become friends.
ACTIVITY
Materials:
-Blank drawing paper (half of a 8.5 x 11 in sheet) for each student (8.5 x 5.5in)
-Drawing materials
-Wall/bulletin board/other large space to display drawings side-by-side (like bricks)
1) Before reading: (a) Pass out blank drawing paper; ask students to draw a self portrait. (b) Introduce the title and author. Based on the title and cover illustration (a brick wall covers the page, a mouse is holding one brick, and the rectangular hole where it sat reveals the flowers on the next page), ask students to make predictions for the story. Record ideas if desired.
2) While reading: Guide students through the story with minimal but meaningful observations and/or thought-provoking questions (i.e.: What is the mouse thinking? What are the animals thinking/feeling- before and after the bridge is built? How do you know? Why do you think that?), and invite students to share their own thoughts and predictions.
3) After reading (discussion): What was this story about? How do we know all that if the book didn’t have any words? What did you learn from the story? (Or, what is the moral of the story?). If the characters named their bridge, what do you think they would name it? Ask any other questions to spark discussion and allow time for students to think and share ideas.
4) After reading (activity): Pair students; ask them to learn and then share one thing they learned about their partner. Ask students to write what makes them a good friend on their self-portrait “bricks.” As a class, create a “bridge” with your self-portrait bricks. Name the bridge. Ask other classes to join! This would also be a great opportunity to learn about and involve families at the start of the school year or to display for conferences.
CITATION
Ferri, G. (2016). Brick by brick. Hong Kong, China: Michael Neugebauer Publishing Limited.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews