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From an Idea to Lego: The Building Bricks Behind the World's Largest Toy Company
For fans of the successful Who Was series, From an Idea to Lego is a behind-the-bricks look into the world's famous toy company, with humorous black & white illustrations throughout.
Today, LEGO is one of the biggest toy companies in the world, but a long time ago, a Danish carpenter, Ole Kirk Christiansen, started with just an idea. Find out more about LEGO’s origins, those famous bricks, and their other inventive toys and movie ventures in this illustrated nonfiction book!
Find out the origin the name “LEGO.” (Hint: it combines two Danish words)
See how LEGO grew from a carpentry shop to a multi-platform toy company.
Discover how LEGO bricks are made and how they came up with their design.
Today, LEGO is one of the biggest toy companies in the world, but a long time ago, a Danish carpenter, Ole Kirk Christiansen, started with just an idea. Find out more about LEGO’s origins, those famous bricks, and their other inventive toys and movie ventures in this illustrated nonfiction book!
Find out the origin the name “LEGO.” (Hint: it combines two Danish words)
See how LEGO grew from a carpentry shop to a multi-platform toy company.
Discover how LEGO bricks are made and how they came up with their design.
128 pages, Hardcover
Published July 9, 2019
23 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Lowey Bundy Sichol
9 books17 followersLowey Bundy Sichol (her last name rhymes with pickle) is an author, speaker, MBA, and leading expert in teaching business and entrepreneurship to kids. Her nonfiction series, FROM AN IDEA TO..., takes young readers (age 8-12) into the world of entrepreneurship through the true stories of how our favorite companies came to be. (New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019)
Lowey is also the creator and host of IDEA Tank for Kids, a “Shark Tank” inspired competition for kids that received national media attention in 2019 and will expand to new markets in 2020. www.IdeaTankForKids.com)
Lowey received an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and a BA from Hamilton College where she played varsity softball and women’s rugby. An avid athlete, Lowey’s spends her free time playing sports, coaching youth basketball and softball, and along the shores of Lake Michigan with husband, three children, and two big dogs.
Lowey is also the creator and host of IDEA Tank for Kids, a “Shark Tank” inspired competition for kids that received national media attention in 2019 and will expand to new markets in 2020. www.IdeaTankForKids.com)
Lowey received an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and a BA from Hamilton College where she played varsity softball and women’s rugby. An avid athlete, Lowey’s spends her free time playing sports, coaching youth basketball and softball, and along the shores of Lake Michigan with husband, three children, and two big dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 23, 2025
این کتاب یه روایت غیرداستانی از برند لگو بود.
زیادی روایت خشک و فنیای داشت برای کتاب نوجوان بودن، ولی اگه یه نوجوونی (در بازهٔ 10تا13 سال) باشه که سرش برای اینجور کارها میجنبه، احتمالا کیف کنه باهاش.
کتاب رو نشر نردبان با عنوان "لگو از ایده تا برند" منتشر کرده. که ترجمه روون و خوبی داشت.
زیادی روایت خشک و فنیای داشت برای کتاب نوجوان بودن، ولی اگه یه نوجوونی (در بازهٔ 10تا13 سال) باشه که سرش برای اینجور کارها میجنبه، احتمالا کیف کنه باهاش.
کتاب رو نشر نردبان با عنوان "لگو از ایده تا برند" منتشر کرده. که ترجمه روون و خوبی داشت.
June 14, 2019
First sentence from chapter one: Ole (pronounced OH-lay) Kirk Christiansen was born on April 7, 1891, in the small village of Filskov, Denmark.
Premise/plot: This nonfiction book provides young readers with a behind-the-scenes look at LEGO. The LEGO story begins as a very human story--the story of a carpenter and his sons. He didn't set out to make and sell toys--especially not plastic toys, after all he was a carpenter. As for one day being the world's largest toy company--I imagine he'd laugh and cry. The story is packed with details.
My thoughts: Nonfiction can be so fascinating. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to just about anyone and everyone. I was familiar with much of the story told within the book. Having watched the LEGO Story movie a couple dozen of times when it first came out. But this book goes beyond that simple story of how it came to be. It also includes plenty of informational text that focuses on business and economics.
Premise/plot: This nonfiction book provides young readers with a behind-the-scenes look at LEGO. The LEGO story begins as a very human story--the story of a carpenter and his sons. He didn't set out to make and sell toys--especially not plastic toys, after all he was a carpenter. As for one day being the world's largest toy company--I imagine he'd laugh and cry. The story is packed with details.
My thoughts: Nonfiction can be so fascinating. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to just about anyone and everyone. I was familiar with much of the story told within the book. Having watched the LEGO Story movie a couple dozen of times when it first came out. But this book goes beyond that simple story of how it came to be. It also includes plenty of informational text that focuses on business and economics.
January 22, 2020
I stumbled upon this series via Twitter and avid reader and reviewer Shari Sawyers @SawyersShari and happy I did. There are currently four in the series and I read two - From an Idea to Lego and From an Idea to Google. The other two in the series are about Disney and Nike.
This is an easy to read series exploring and explaining the biographies of individuals credited and in charge of major companies. The books include factual information, illustrations, timelines, quizzes and fun facts interspersed throughout the book. It also has a glossary defining terms right on the page and special sections on information related to the text. For example in the Google book, it talks about and explains what it means when a company goes public and how stocks work in kid friendly language. The text is suitable and the books are not overly long at just over a hundred pages. This series will compliment the Who is and What is series nicely and cover topics that are of interest to students and can/could be used to talk about text features. There are Source notes and a Bibliography at the back as well, so students are able to do further reading if interested. A definite addition to your nonfiction section.
This is an easy to read series exploring and explaining the biographies of individuals credited and in charge of major companies. The books include factual information, illustrations, timelines, quizzes and fun facts interspersed throughout the book. It also has a glossary defining terms right on the page and special sections on information related to the text. For example in the Google book, it talks about and explains what it means when a company goes public and how stocks work in kid friendly language. The text is suitable and the books are not overly long at just over a hundred pages. This series will compliment the Who is and What is series nicely and cover topics that are of interest to students and can/could be used to talk about text features. There are Source notes and a Bibliography at the back as well, so students are able to do further reading if interested. A definite addition to your nonfiction section.
November 7, 2020
I came across this series during #MGBooktober on Twitter based on a recommendation from Shari Sawyers and absolutely loved the series. I look forward to reading the other books in the series (Disney, Google and Nike). The book was easy to read and quite informative about the history of Lego including the many ups and downs of the company.
The book also included great illustrations, fun facts, and a business/entrepreneurial glossary interspersed right in the pages of the book. I think this was particularly helpful because it provided context for the terms. The book provides an opportunity to explore a variety of text features and pairs well with the Who Was? series.
The book also included great illustrations, fun facts, and a business/entrepreneurial glossary interspersed right in the pages of the book. I think this was particularly helpful because it provided context for the terms. The book provides an opportunity to explore a variety of text features and pairs well with the Who Was? series.
July 3, 2024
Follow the creation of the company Lego from Denmark to a global phenomenon. Ole Kirk Christiansen was born in Denmark. He was a trained carpenter and built many things. His company survived The Great Depression, but not without setbacks, including fire that burned down his factory and home. Ole rebuilt and changed the direction of his company after the death of his wife. His company focus was on toys for children. After a second fire, he begins to consider other material for his Lego toys and taks a risk on a plastic molding machine. His son takes over the company and then creats a brick with clutch power that allows for creations to be transported without them falling apart. With a focus on business terminology explained in fact boxes and the main text, students will learn about the 3 generations of Ole Kirk Chistiansen's family that guided and grew a famous name brand.
I have to teach my students about careers and this book offers a product background that allows me to showcase many different business careers! I like the simple chapters and the timeline and other back matter. I suspect this will be the favorite of the From and Idea to series by Lowey Bundy Sichol in my schools.
I have to teach my students about careers and this book offers a product background that allows me to showcase many different business careers! I like the simple chapters and the timeline and other back matter. I suspect this will be the favorite of the From and Idea to series by Lowey Bundy Sichol in my schools.
July 18, 2019
Thanks to hmhkids for the free review copy of From an Idea to LEGO, a new book in a series by Lowey Bundy Sichol. This book tells the history of LEGO from its inception in the 1950s, through its golden age then near bankruptcy, to the last 15 years of resurgence. The purpose of the book is not just to tell about LEGO, but to use the model of LEGO as a business to teach kids about basic business principles.
My 10-year-old says: It has a lot of fun facts about LEGOs, interesting illustrations, and fundamentals on building a business. I think other kids would like it because lots of kids like LEGOs and this book has a lot of history behind the different LEGO sets we build today.
Mom's take: This book was really fun, and I loved understanding more about why I have always loved LEGO so much. The company put a lot of purpose and thought into the design of LEGO bricks, and this book did a great job exploring business techniques in a kid friendly way without watering down the information.
My 10-year-old says: It has a lot of fun facts about LEGOs, interesting illustrations, and fundamentals on building a business. I think other kids would like it because lots of kids like LEGOs and this book has a lot of history behind the different LEGO sets we build today.
Mom's take: This book was really fun, and I loved understanding more about why I have always loved LEGO so much. The company put a lot of purpose and thought into the design of LEGO bricks, and this book did a great job exploring business techniques in a kid friendly way without watering down the information.
May 9, 2022
From an Idea to Lego: The Building Bricks Behind the World’s Largest Toy Company by Lowey Bundy Sichol illustrated by C. S, Jennings part of the From an Idea to series, this lower grade book will draw young readers in with the story of Lego and teach them business and finance basics along the way. Chapters cover the history of Lego from its founder’s (Ole Kirk Christiansen) birth through current day, each full of interesting facts, supporting black & white illustrations and definitions of key business & finance terms. Lego enthusiasts will love to read about multiple factory fires, the development of new ideas and how Lego grew into the world wide phenomenon it is today. Included are a timeline, bibliography, source notes and section titled “How Lego Bricks are Made”. Kids will love the topic while adults will love the business basics taught. Grades 3-6
January 24, 2023
Reading to prep for our AFOL programs at the library. Filled with interesting details and the big picture, too. I do love that all of LEGO intentionally works with every other piece of LEGO.
This series has a unique perspective - It's written for elementary age students with a business case studies slant. There are definitions of business terms that kids may have heard and I bet many grown ups also don't know! I would read another in this series and I would recommend to any kids who are curious about how this cultural staple got started.
The series currently includes Google, Disney, and Nike.
This series has a unique perspective - It's written for elementary age students with a business case studies slant. There are definitions of business terms that kids may have heard and I bet many grown ups also don't know! I would read another in this series and I would recommend to any kids who are curious about how this cultural staple got started.
The series currently includes Google, Disney, and Nike.
June 8, 2020
This book tells the very interesting story of how Lego became the popular toy company that it is today. Information about economics is shared in short side-bars that are easy for a young child to digest. There are also lots of illustrations and fun facts sprinkled throughout. I really enjoyed reading about the struggles the company went through to get to where they are today - their factory burned down 3 times! Overall I found this book pretty fascinating and will check out the others in the series.
April 22, 2023
I have been looking for good business books that are engaging and offering informative case studies for students and myself, and just bumped into this one via SCBWI.
This is over my expectations and I cannot recommend this enough.
From each case study, the readers can learn the background story of an influential and even popular company. Of course the success does not come with nothing— there are always opportunities to reiterate and improve.
I love how these were brought up and how we can learn from their mindset and make things better.
This is over my expectations and I cannot recommend this enough.
From each case study, the readers can learn the background story of an influential and even popular company. Of course the success does not come with nothing— there are always opportunities to reiterate and improve.
I love how these were brought up and how we can learn from their mindset and make things better.
August 13, 2019
Why I chose this book:
You may recall that I reviewed the books about Disney and Nike in this series. I found them interesting and informative. If you know us personally, then you know how present LEGO is in our daily lives. So, a book in a good series about a personally relevant topic? Yes, please! Harcourt Houghton Mifflin provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mom's Review (V)
First, a word about Legos.
There is no such thing.
LEGO is a Danish company that grew from a carpenter's attempt to make quality toys for his children during the Great Depression. This book traces the history from carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen to today's globally-known building system. The history is fascinating! I cannot use enough exclamation marks to communicate how interesting the story of LEGO is and how well Sichol weaves together a compelling narrative with entrepreneurship and general business facts. Quotes from the Christiansen family and trivia are also sprinkled throughout the book. Trivia like the fact that the plural of LEGO is LEGO. Not Legos. (Even so, we still play Legos in this house!) Readers also learn the mission of LEGO, which is to promote creative play and develop imagination. Well, this mom feels better about the over-abundance of LEGO pieces underfoot.
I liked From an Idea to LEGO inordinately. The topic appeals and relates to me. The information presented is legitimately interesting. The presentation is polished, drawing the reader into a rich history of which he or she is a part. (Assuming he or she has played with Legos, that is.) Similarly to the other books in the series, business terminology is explained in the margins throughout, and back matter presents a timeline of the company's history.
Any LEGO fans, middle graders interested in business, or readers looking to learn a bit about the biggest toy company in the world will find satisfaction in From an Idea to LEGO.
A piece of personal LEGO trivia: My childhood was during LEGO's Golden Age. At that time, one of the three themes was "Castle." You can see one of my castle horses in the photo above!
Son's Review
(Age: 4)
"Legos! Is it for me? Can you read it to me? Can you save that for me to read when I am older?"
You may recall that I reviewed the books about Disney and Nike in this series. I found them interesting and informative. If you know us personally, then you know how present LEGO is in our daily lives. So, a book in a good series about a personally relevant topic? Yes, please! Harcourt Houghton Mifflin provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mom's Review (V)
First, a word about Legos.
There is no such thing.
LEGO is a Danish company that grew from a carpenter's attempt to make quality toys for his children during the Great Depression. This book traces the history from carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen to today's globally-known building system. The history is fascinating! I cannot use enough exclamation marks to communicate how interesting the story of LEGO is and how well Sichol weaves together a compelling narrative with entrepreneurship and general business facts. Quotes from the Christiansen family and trivia are also sprinkled throughout the book. Trivia like the fact that the plural of LEGO is LEGO. Not Legos. (Even so, we still play Legos in this house!) Readers also learn the mission of LEGO, which is to promote creative play and develop imagination. Well, this mom feels better about the over-abundance of LEGO pieces underfoot.
I liked From an Idea to LEGO inordinately. The topic appeals and relates to me. The information presented is legitimately interesting. The presentation is polished, drawing the reader into a rich history of which he or she is a part. (Assuming he or she has played with Legos, that is.) Similarly to the other books in the series, business terminology is explained in the margins throughout, and back matter presents a timeline of the company's history.
Any LEGO fans, middle graders interested in business, or readers looking to learn a bit about the biggest toy company in the world will find satisfaction in From an Idea to LEGO.
A piece of personal LEGO trivia: My childhood was during LEGO's Golden Age. At that time, one of the three themes was "Castle." You can see one of my castle horses in the photo above!
Son's Review
(Age: 4)
"Legos! Is it for me? Can you read it to me? Can you save that for me to read when I am older?"
November 10, 2019
This is part of a series of early chapter books aimed at elementary readers. The series introduces business concepts by telling the journey of a business or a business man/woman and how an "idea" shaped an entire industry. I like how simple the authors have made this, also how appealing it is for kids of that age.
I wished the books were done in a better format, the small almost pocket book sized slim chapter book almost feels lost on the shelf.
Targeted towards 3rd graders and upwards.
I wished the books were done in a better format, the small almost pocket book sized slim chapter book almost feels lost on the shelf.
Targeted towards 3rd graders and upwards.
February 7, 2020
My boys and I read this together and we all found it very interesting! Great history written in an captivating fashion, also explaining complicating business jargon. Would recommend for all Lego fans!
February 25, 2020
I stumbled across this book when I was doing a library search for kids' books about Denmark. The book is all about the history of the Lego company. It was extremely fascinating to me. If I find a copy of it, I will be buying it for my classroom library.
March 13, 2023
I reluctantly read this book for our 3rd grade book club. I was pleasantly surprised (both by the facts I learned and the way author broke down business terms for the younger audience).
I will definitely pick up some of the other books in the series.
I will definitely pick up some of the other books in the series.
March 29, 2023
A great series for young readers! Packed full of interesting background information, business facts for young entrepreneurs, and fun illustrations to keep kids interested. Would love to see more titles in the future!
July 21, 2019
A very “readable”, engaging and informative telling of the history of the LEGO company! Chapter book nonfiction!
August 31, 2019
Interesting book. I am eager to try the other in this series.
September 1, 2019
3 stars- really interesting
November 17, 2019
It was very informational
March 24, 2020
Accessible and informative. Sure to reach the right fans.
April 6, 2020
This behind-the-bricks look is a must-read for any and all LEGO fans.
April 16, 2020
For sure my favorite in the series... so, so fascinating and a story of resilience and the benefits of loyalty to an original concept or idea. Fabulous story!
June 17, 2020
This book is the history of Lego and how they became world famous. Along the way the company experienced fires and poor management but still became one of the most popular toys around the world.
January 21, 2021
The book was really good, the author explain's the story really well.
I would say about 7 and up for the book.
Great book, I highly recommend it!!!
I would say about 7 and up for the book.
Great book, I highly recommend it!!!
January 26, 2021
This was a great book to introduce kids to business, and what it takes to succeed despite setbacks. Plus...LEGO. 😁
April 20, 2021
Informative
It was a fun & quick read and in the process learned a lot. It is very good for children to learn about business
It was a fun & quick read and in the process learned a lot. It is very good for children to learn about business
February 2, 2022
Lowey Bundy Sichol tells the story of how LEGO became the world's largest toy company.
December 22, 2023
Super interesting to read about the history of one of my favorite toys!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews