Micul Constructor

by Ross Montgomery

The boy's grandma was a famous architect. Her garden is still full of old building materials. Unwilling to accept she has gone, the boy builds a giant structure from the bricks and girders he finds. And then ... Grandma comes to life! The boy is whisked away on an epic adventure across fields, through oceans and atop roofs. But where is Grandma taking him?

Beautiful, thrilling and extremely moving: the extraordinary debut picture book from much-loved author, Ross Montgomery.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Death, Childrens, Grief

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2016

About the author

Ross Montgomery has worked as a pig farmer, a postman and a primary school teacher, so writing books was the next logical step. He spent his childhood reading everything he could get his hands on, from Jacqueline Wilson to Beano annuals, and it taught him pretty much everything that's worth knowing. If you looked through his pockets you'd find empty crisp packets, lists of things to do, and a bottle of that stuff you put on your nails to stop you biting them. He lives in London with his girlfriend, a cat called Fun Bobby, and a cactus on every available surface.

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I liked this book, I think that the message might be a little complex for kids in the target age range. It is a story of a boy losing his grandma, and finding a way of coping with his pain honoring his grandma and her legacy.Vivid illustrations.

I received this copy in an Early Reviewers Giveaway in LibraryThing.

[Ellie L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Montgomery's story reveals how strongly the feelings of belonging and homeliness are tied with who is inside the home and the memories that we share within it. When a little boy's grandmother dies his sense of home passes with her and his home becomes alien. A feeling that may be too familiar to children and should be discussed sensitively.
As a way of coping with this grief, the little boy tries to rebuild his grandmother, who take him on a journey of self acceptance, guiding him to realise that he should rely on himself to reestablish his sense of belonging. It is only him that can help himself feel at home.
There is a certain dream-like quality to this story, with the vital message that we can overcome loss through building things, but we ultimately cannot rebuild the people that have left us - we must start afresh.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is such a difficult and delicate challenge to write about loss and grieving in a book for very young children without either scaring or deeply upsetting them. Ross Montgomery balances it beautifully, though, in this gorgeous, dreamy, fantastical story about a boy who loves his grandma (a famous architect, now retired) very much – and who finds a way, through their shared love of building, to keep her memory with him forever. It’s lyrical and emotional and deeply uplifting, and my 4-year-old has asked for it again and again. We both love it.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sent to me as an early review book, I was excited to receive this one! As someone who had a wonderful relationship with my grandmother, this book automatically brought endearment.

A boy who loves his grandmother who reads books to him and who previously won many awards for her architectural abilities, she promises to built a special house for him. Alas, she passes away, leaving the boy heartbroken. Picking up a hammer and nails he designs and builds a model of his grandmother. There is a very sweet image of the grandmother who came back to life in a medal body. And as she holds him high in the sky, and over the waters as he listens to the sound of medal on the ground and sees the lovely bright stars way up high in the air.

Traveling through deep water as he rides high on her head, she finds their destination. And, awaiting the boy at the end of the journey is the house she built for him, It is a work in progress, leaving him to use his inherited building talents.

Four stars. I really liked this incredible story of the love of a boy and his grandmother which transcended grief.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came as a wonderful, magical, tender surprise.

[Chance Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sad book in which a young boy's grandmother dies so he builds a robot version of her. Beautiful illustrations. Poignant story. The end is a little too philosophical/symbolic, even for me.

[Mehsi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ik heb deze in het Nederlands gelezen. Misschien voeg ik ooit nog de Nederlandse editie toe. Maar na 20 bibliotheekboeken die voor het meeste er niet waren.... had ik geen zin om deze ook nog te doen.
Redelijk boek, maar ik vond het maar een vaag verhaal. Opeens gaat de robot leven? Opeens gebeurd er dat? Meh. :|

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sophisticated picture book about a boy who fulfills his architect grandma's dreams, via magical realism and imagination, told with intriguing illustrations and lively, rich language.

[Eloise Battey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel that the messages in this book may be a little tricky to unpick for children, unless discussed in class and talked about with an adult. However, the message is lovely. 'The Boy' loses his grandma and realises that for his next house to be a home, his grandma must be part of it. It shows how the ones you have loved and lost can live on in your heart and be brought with you on your adventures in life simply through your memory.

[Bruce Gargoyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this title from Allen & Unwin for review.

A Top Book of 2016 pick!

Ten Second Synopsis:
A boy decides to finish his grandmother's dream of building a big house for the two of them, but finds some unexpected help along the way.

I'm not sure if it's something to do with the soft, moonlit scenery, but The Building Boy certainly cast its gentle and inspiring ambience over this stony reader. The industrious and colourful endpapers depicting engineering and design drawings give the first hint that this book is about getting things done, but perhaps not in the way you might think. The first few pages of the story introduce the Boy and his architect granny, while a golden glow running through the illustrations on these pages gives readers a clue about the depth of the relationship between these two characters. We just loved Grandma's stylish bobble hat and patchwork skirt, too!

When it becomes apparent that grandmothers don't last forever, the tone of the book changes into one of slight uncertainty, as the plans that the boy had made with his grandma start to unfold in unexpected ways. The moonlit vistas perfectly compliment the touch of magical realism that seeps into the Boy's endeavours and by the end of the book the reader is left with a sense of comfort and a kernel of hope that Grandma's legacy will live on.

Clearly, The Building Boy is addressing themes of grief and loss, but the unusual approach to the subject matter makes this the perfect choice for coming at the topic obliquely, focusing on the relationship between the child and his grandmother, rather than the event of her passing. The fact of the grandmother's death is never explicitly stated, despite it being obvious that it has occurred, which allows for the creative interpretation of how the Boy's beloved granny continues to inspire him even though she is not physically present. The overall message is a twist on the platitude-ridden "our loved ones are kept alive in our memories", but the original narrative mechanism thankfully opens the way for the message to be deftly sent without the need to speak the cliche. The lyrical and evocative text also pays tribute to the special relationship between grandparent and grandchild, acknowledging the fact that this inter-generational sharing of activities is often tinged with a special type of magic.

The Building Boy is a celebration of the love and hope shared between generations, of building a legacy and carrying on with one's dreams even when the inspiration behind them is no longer with us. I highly recommend this both for its masterful aesthetic and sympathetic, yet imaginative, rendering of a topic that will strike a chord with many children.

[Dettie Leestafel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oma is te oud geworden om huizen te bouwen, op het laatst kan ze eigenlijk niets meer en dan op een dag is oma weg. Alleen haar eigen huis staat er nog en daar is niets leuks of gezelligs meer aan zonder oma.
De jongen heeft gelukkig wel een goed idee en gaat aan de slag. Van allerlei materialen van en bij oma's huis maakt hij een enorme pop, met oma's ogen, oma's lieve gezicht, oma's bril en kleren net als oma droeg. Als hij klaar is, zegt hij 'Oma, wakker worden!' en dan gebeurt het! 'Oma' doet haar ogen open en samen met de jongen vliegt ze over tuinen en hekken, dwars door de zee en verder...


Oma rent, en rent, en rent maar door, zelfs over de daken van een grote stad, totdat ze aankomen bij oma's doel. Het is een huis op een heuvel, hoog boven de stad en voorbij de zee. Maar in het midden van het huis zit een gat. 'Het is nog maar een half huis. Hoe kan ik het ooit afmaken?' vraagt de jongen. Oma's houten en ijzeren lijf twinkelt en blinkt en oma glimlacht.


Afscheid nemen en verandering is het hoofdthema van dit boek maar het niet naargeestig of akelig maar opbouwend en vriendelijk weergegeven. Het omgaan met het gemis wordt omgezet in daden. Door zijn creativiteit te gebruiken geeft de jongen in dit boek zijn oma een plek. Zo zal hij haar nooit vergeten.
Dankzij de invoelende, fantasievolle afbeeldingen wordt het verhaal nog krachtiger en indrukwekkender. Knap en goed doordacht verhaal.

[Michael Earp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad and sweet and wonderfully illustrated!

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A curious, dreamy book, beautifully illustrated. Metaphorical in its use of architecture and building yet right there in real life with the boy as he builds his homage to his grandmother.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a bittersweet masterpiece. When it was first released last year I bought it without hesitation. I had flicked through it but not actually read the story before buying it. I bought it solely based on the illustrations by the AMAZING illustrator David Litchfield who is, without doubt, one of my favourites!
When I got it home and read it my heart was shattered into a million pieces and then put back together again. This was released only a little while after I lost my grandma and from the moment I read it I decided that it'd be forever close to my heart. The story is just as beautiful as the amazing illustrations that accompany it.
This is a story about love, loss, and legacy.
It demonstrates how the people we love never leave us and that their influence stays with us and how in turn we can influence future generations.
This is one for both children and adults. For children it's a wonderful story that can help them deal with the loss of a loved one and for 'grown ups' like myself it can offer comfort, a small sad smile, and a helpful boost to go out there and inspire the next generation.

[Melanie Coombes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so beautifully illustrated. It is stunning! The story is about a young boy that clearly loves his grandmother. They sit and read together and she talks about her job as an important architect. But the grandmother gets older and then one day she is "gone."
The boy has a dream about creating an amazing building that would continue his grandmother's legacy. I also agree with some of the other reviews, that this concept would be very difficult for younger readers to understand. However, it is still a wonderful story with illustrations that will delight readers of all ages.
I received a complimentary copy from Librarything Early Reviewers.

[Corine · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 *****
This book...

Bring out the tissues. *You've been warned* This hit close to home as I lost my Dad when I was eight, and we lost my son's paternal grandmother (my mother-in-law and BFF) when he was one. So reading it to him was an emotional experience, but still brought a smile to my face in the end.

The illustrations alone are enough to warrant purchase. Absolutely stunning. And the endearing message that you rebuild and heal after loss by remembering your favorite "pieces" of your loved one. My son is five and I will probably read this a couple of times per year as his understanding of the concepts will evolve and grow.

[Hannah Higson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a boy who's grandmother builds half a house for him before she dies. Unfortunately she never manages to finish building the house. The boy misses his grandma so he decides to build her. The 'DIY' grandma comes to life and takes the boy through water and across a city to the half finished house. The boy asks grandma how he is supposed to live in a half built house and she tells him he has already built it. The grandma slots into the finished gaps to create the house. The last page shows us that the boy opened up his house as a school for young architects.

I enjoyed this book.

[Raegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

-Disclaimer: I won this book for free through goodreads giveaways in exchange for an honest review.-

What an exceptionally sweet & heartwarming book!

If I saw this book in a store I would probably buy it alone because of the amazing illustrations and cover. The mood of the book is soft and the pictures compliment that perfectly. It had everything I would want in a children's book and it will definitely be a favorite of mine for life. I really don't know what else to say, I liked the book that much.

TBC

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the direction of the story and am curious what made the author decide to write the story in this way. The mood is darker as it deals with a loss, but it's also comforting and gratifying because it tells young people that they can take a loss and try to do something useful with it; they do not have to just sit down and cry (although sitting down and crying is important too). I read another book by this illustrator before, Grandad's Secret Giant, which is another wonderful, meaningful story.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked very much the illustrations, but found the story to be rather weak and not really coming together. It's a touchy and difficult subject but I don't think that this approach is particularly good in helping children understand the idea of loss, or learning how to deal with it, for that matter.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked this story of a little boy whose grandmother was a famous architect and promises to build him a house one day. But then she becomes too old to do so.

Again, I liked the story. But the grandmother dies and the boy builds a replica of his grandmother, which comes to life. The story gets rather muddled after that. It's a bit strange.

[Tracy Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Illustrations are beautiful and the relationship between the boy and his grandmother is touching. I love that she is a good female role model. The building of a grandma robot and it running through the ocean with the boy was just a bit too fantastical and philosophical for me!

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit sad. Boy lives with his grandma, and she gets older then passes away and leaves him alone. So he builds a grandma and she comes to life. She takes him to the house she built for him and he finished it.

[madziar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mały chłopiec buduje swoją babcię z desek i stali po tym, jak dowiaduje się o jej śmierci. Gdzieś w odległym miejscu staruszka zostawia mu swoje serce w postaci domu zbudowanego z marzeń, wspomnień i przekazywanej dalej tradycji.

[Zoe Mobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the illustrations of this book and the overall I thought it was a magical story. It is a lovely book to show to a child who has lost a loved one! I had to read this a few times as I wasn't sure if I liked it however the more I read it the more I grew to love it.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Birthday David Litchfield and thank you very much for this lovely book and its wonderful pictures. The relationship with the grandmother and grandson and the way it was portrayed really did make me cry. What a lovely message at the end.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surreal fantasy story about dealing with death and grief through living the lessons passed on.
Grandma teaches the Boy about architecture and building, which he uses after Grandma dies, to build a Grandma house. This house takes him on a journey to the house she had begun to build for him.

[Jacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it's a little bit "Iron Giant: The Geriatric Edition," this story beautifully illustrates that our loved ones remain a part of us even after death.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely fantasy story about a boy dealing with the passing of his grandmother.

[Emily Kazmierski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations in this are beautiful. It's a quick read, but meaningful. My four year old loves it.