Last month we featured the wide variety of LEGO books coming out this mid-2018, courtesy of their longtime British publishing partner Dorling Kindersley (DK). There are three titles coming out; one a LEGO DC picture dictionary, then a Ninjago building idea book, and the third a “Choose Your Path” adventure.
The first two LEGO-DK books are noted to have freebies attached. In particular, the multi-ending “Choose Your Path” story has a free minifigure. For those wondering what it might be, we now confirmation on what or who this mystery minifig is. It’s been revealed by LEGO via its official Twitter account that the included minifigure is C-3PO’s fellow protocol droid, U-3PO from A New Hope.
If this little update feels anticlimactic to you, it’s understandable. The LEGO Star Wars U-3PO minifigure isn’t exactly uncommon. Its last jaunt in an official LEGO set was in the LEGO Star Wars 2016 Advent Calendar. It’s a letdown compared to the more exclusive figures added to past DK-published books.
Still, not all of it’s a waste. Those who never got the LEGO Star Wars 2016 Advent Calendar with the U-3PO droid, and are interested in acquiring it, can just opt to by the LEGO Star Wars Choose Your Path book instead. It’s cheaper at $19.99 and releases June 5 which you can pre-order via Amazon.
LEGOLAND theme parks in several countries around the world are really great and all, but The LEGO Group is also giving plenty of attention to their one alternative attraction located just right at their doorstep. We’re referring of course to The Home of the Brick, or LEGO House for short.
That wonderful place over in Billund, Denmark has had a run of sweet events and promotions, catering to local and international tourists over the past several months. Now, their latest treat for visitors is actually something they can pick up and bring home with them: the story of LEGO House.
When dropping by at the Home of the Brick gift shop, guests can buy a copy of a black, white and yellow hardbound entitled “Building a Dream”. The book is a printed documentary of sorts narrating the development and actual construction of LEGO House, as told in several executive interviews.
Source persons interviewed for “Building a Dream” include Kjeld Kirk Christiansen, grandson of founder Ole Kirk and third-generation owner of The LEGO group who’s the visionary behind the concept of the Home of the Brick; former CEO Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and LEGO House chief architect Bjarke Ingels also contribute viewpoints.
The Home of the Brick took about seven years to be fully realized, with it only opening last year on September. That occasion was covered by international press and graced by the presence of the Danish Royal Family, a visible indicator of how integrated LEGO is with its Denmark homeland.
“Building a Dream” is printed in English for the consideration of LEGO’s international fans. Its first print edition is only 2,000 copies, so supply is initially limited. The price is 249 DKK and only available in the LEGO House gift shop in Billund. Come pick one up while you’re there.
Fans of the LEGO Movie and its corresponding sets may be happy to know that our favorite feline (or unicorn) of positivity may soon have an entire series of LEGO sets under her name. The breakout star of 2014’s The LEGO Movie did gain a good deal of followers and some LEGO sets to her credit. She may not have received the same glamor treatment as that of Batman, with his very own moment on the big screen and a relatively huge number of LEGO sets under his belt, but LEGO did give her some separate screen time when Cartoon Network recently launched an animated series dedicated to Unikitty’s wacky adventures along with the rest of her zany new friends.
This time, it looks like Unikitty will not just have a CN cartoon series of her own, but a number of LEGO sets to go along with it as well. As it seems, this still yet-to-be confirmed LEGO theme has been disclosed from an unlikely source. Online book distributor BulkBookStore.com has listed an upcoming Scholastic Book title that gives an overview of what to expect from this latest LEGO-themed book, and I guess it has revealed more than what it meant to. Here’s a screenshot of the page from their website just in case…
Entitled as LEGO Unikitty’s Guide to Being Happy, the book is intended for children ages 6 to 8 and is slated to be released on October 30 retailing for $6.99. What is very interesting about this listing is the way Scholastic worded its overview, and to quote (emphasis mine):
A guide from LEGO(R) Unikitty(TM) herself! The breakout star from The LEGO Movie gets her very own Cartoon Network TV show and toy line from The LEGO Group beginning in 2018. The series follows Princess Unikitty — whose efforts to stay positive no matter what sometimes make her prone to the occasional “rage-out” — as she keeps busy with royal responsibilities. Unikitty is most interested in making sure everyone is happy and in ridding the kingdom of negativity. She often fights the bad vibes that come from her nemesis, Master Frown, a big ol’ jerk who lives in the next city over: Frowntown. Joined by a cast of wild characters, Unikitty and her friends make sure that every day is the happiest and most creative ever.
So, are you ready to vanquish all negativity in Unikitty Kingdom? Are you ready to take on the forces of evil and spread rainbows and sunshine? Are you ready to get happy? Then this is the guide for you!
Is Scholastic hinting on new a series of LEGO sets for Unikitty and her friends? Furthermore, if the book is expected to be released in October, is it possible that these new LEGO Unikitty sets will be a part of LEGO’s summer wave of releases? Sure, we already have the LEGO Movie sets that bear the sought after multicolored unicorn – 7 in fact – but none of these have placed Unikitty in the forefront except Cloud Cuckoo Palace (70803).
If indeed what scholastic has revealed is true, then we can expect a wave of similarly designed sets later on. It is also interesting to see how the characters from the TV series will eventually turn out as LEGO minifigures if indeed this happens. We haven’t received any official word yet from LEGO as of the moment, so until then, it will be wise to grab the shaker and take these things with a pinch of salt. We just have to keep our fingers crossed until then.
FYI: The banner image above is from the promotional exclusive Unikitty minifigure given away during the San Diego Comic Con 2014 just in case we get too hyped.
Whether you’re a child who plays with LEGO bricks, or an older rookie hobbyist looking to become a seasoned Master Builder, you’re always curious to learn more about making grand creations out of LEGO.
For LEGO enthusiasts in the UK, here’s where DK Ltd – longtime publisher of LEGO print media – comes in. In an ambitious collection of 25 booklets, they can make your Master Builder aspiration closer to reality, thanks to My LEGO World.
My LEGO World is a 25-volume set of 32-page paperback books that lay out the basics and fundamentals of brick-building for kids and hobbyists who are new to LEGO. Twenty of the books in My LEGO World tackle various ideas, while the other five are nifty catalogs chronicling the most popular minifigures ever manufactured for LEGO.
A lot of the information in these booklets has already been published under different titles, but repackaging them into these slim volumes for My LEGO World is a great way to provide building tips to younger LEGO fans. AFOLs can also appreciate the brevity of the simple instructions they give.
My LEGO World is available in UK budget retailer The Book People. From November 14 to 15, this set will be priced at £27 from the regular tag of £124.75, so visit their website if you’re interested. Listed below are the 25 volumes or titles included in the collection; you might even see one that catches your fancy.
As any fan of LEGO knows, the global brand has already grown far beyond toys for decades now. They are just as much a formidable multimedia presence as anything else, with TV shows (animated series on Cartoon Network for instance) and also feature films with Warner Bros.
They also have published a number of books, both novels and illustrated guides and encyclopedias exploring their various set and minifigure themes. These latter books are often huge and hardbound, which usually means a higher price than paperbacks. But over in the UK, discount bookseller Book People has an offer for LEGO bookworms.
Starting from Wednesday, November 8, until Thursday, November 9, Book People is having a flash sale on their selection of handpicked LEGO books from various publishers. During these two days they will be selling at knockdown affordable bargain prices that would make discount hunting bibliophiles drool.
This is no exaggeration. The Ultimate LEGO Star Wars hardback (Dorling Kindersley Ltd.) is 320 pages of minifigure characters and creatures, vehicles, equipment and locations as rendered by LEGO. Even the sweet UCS Millennium Falcon set (75192) is depicted there. Usually priced at £69.90 in the UK, Book People is offering it for £13.00. Awesome!
The bargains don’t end there. UK LEGO fans can also avail of the following official books:
The LEGO Visual History, RRP £25.00, now £9.00
Ultimate LEGO Star Wars, RRP £30.00, now £8.00
LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Build Your Own Adventure, RRP £17.99, now £8.00
LEGO Nexo Knights: Build Your Own Adventure, RRP £17.99, now £8.00
LEGO Everything You Ever Need to Know, RRP £17.99, now £5.00
They would make excellent companion gifts with the latest LEGO sets and minifigure collections coming out on British markets for the Holidays. If you’re in the UK, better order your choice books now.
Next year, one of the most pioneering sci-fi films in terms of the use of CGI on live-action will be celebrating its Silver Anniversary: the 1993 Universal Pictures blockbuster, Jurassic Park, directed by Steven Spielberg based on the novel by Michael Crichton.
The studio is revving up to celebrate 25 years of fiction’s most famous dinosaur park by unleashing an avalanche of tie-in merchandising across multiple media platforms. This milestone celebration also comes alongside the worldwide premiere of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, the fifth film in the franchise and direct sequel to the hit comeback movie Jurassic World in 2015.
Now, it’s been known that LEGO is also once again in partnership with Universal in cranking out merchandising for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. As early as April this year, there has been news of the company is planning no less than five standard LEGO sets (75926, 75927, 75928, 75929, 75930), three Junior sets (10756, 10757, 10758) and two Duplo sets (10879, 10880) that will most definitely depict events from the upcoming sequel.
There would also be LEGO books – in paperback and digital format – based on the setting such as “Owen’s Survival Guide” from Scholastic and a LEGO Jurassic World “Reader with Stickers.” There’s no word yet, however, if they will also cook up new LEGO sets or merchandise tying to the original Jurassic Park on its anniversary. It should be recalled that LEGO released some play sets and a humorous CGI web short entitled Indominus Escape when Jurassic World came out two years ago.
The official “Jurassic Park” 25th Anniversary items that were confirmed include a commemorative silver-plated coin (with the logo as the head and a fossilized mosquito as the tail), which is slated to be released this November. Also coming are art print posters, a children’s adaptation from Little Golden Books, a junior novelization reissue in hardback, and more to be announced.
Universal plans to devote January to April 2018 for celebrating the silver anniversary of the original film, with the rest of the year being devoted to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. The sequel premieres on June 22, 2018.
The LEGO Ninjago Movie is now in full swing in theaters across the US and North America, and if you are like me who wants to delve deeper into the world of Ninjago, then you may find these books helpful and interesting. Similar to The LEGO Movie and The LEGO Batman Movie, The LEGO Ninjago Movie also comes with a handful of books that will certainly cater to the ninja in you. Long time LEGO publisher Dorling Kindersley has published several TLNM books that you may want to pick up. Catering to all ages, this collection of books takes you behind the scenes of the LEGO Ninjago Movie, filled with concept arts, artworks, and tons of back stories about our ninja heroes plus some interesting trivia. Check out the details below and click on the links if you wish to purchase them via Amazon.
Discover everything there is to know about The LEGO® NINJAGO® MOVIE™ with this engrossing guide to its key events and characters. The perfect companion to the ninja heroes’ big-screen debut, The LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE: The Essential Guide explores all the heroes, villains, vehicles, and locations, with lively and informative text and captions. Images from the movie allow readers to relive the story.
Relive the excitement of The LEGO®NINJAGO® MOVIE™ with more than 1,000 full-color stickers and scenes depicting key events and characters. Combining fun and informative captions with a range of innovative and engrossing sticker activities, Ultimate Sticker Collection: THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE is a must-have for all LEGO NINJAGO fans.
Journey beyond the on-screen world of The LEGO® NINJAGO® MOVIE™. Packed with stunning concept art, sketches, artwork, inspiration, and LEGO builds, this book tells the fascinating story of how The LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE was made. Find out how your favorite heroes, villains, vehicles, and locations were created for the movie.
Prepare for Battle with Garmadon’s Shark Army! Meet Lord Garmadon. He is the baddest villain in Ninjago City. Learn about his Shark Army and their wicked weapons and discover Garmadon’s evil plans. Can the ninja defeat them? Perfect for 3-5 year olds learning to read, Level 1 titles contain short, simple sentences with an emphasis on frequently used words.
Join the Secret Ninja Force on their adventures! Meet the members of the Secret Ninja Force. Learn how they train with Master Wu and how they keep Ninjago City safe. Discover what happens when they work together. Find out what it takes to be a ninja. Level 2 is for children who have started to read alone, but still need some help.
It seems that The LEGO Ninjago Movie will also receive the same DK treatment as its predecessor. If you recall, The LEGO Batman Movie has also been actively promoted thanks to LEGO’s partnership with Dorling Kindersley (DK) publishing company. With a range of printed media that appeals both to children and adults alike, DK has been instrumental in stirring further interest for TLBM. One particular book in mind is the LEGO Batman Movie: The Making of the Movie. By far, this is the most comprehensive resource on the workings behind the creation of TLBM, including an inside look at how the brick-built sets were created, and a yet-to-be-verified source of the rumored 2018 wave of LEGO Batman Movie sets. If you wish to have this under your collection of uber cool LEGO books while enjoying great discounts of up to 30%, you may want to check it out over at Amazon.
Similar to TLBM, DK has revealed The LEGO Ninjago Movie: The Making of the Movie, and is expected to be similar to the scope and content of the one before it. It is both listed on Amazon UK and Amazon US, but the former provides us with a look on its cover, and hopefully a few sample pages later on.
Journey beyond the on-screen world of The LEGO® NINJAGO® MOVIE™
Packed with stunning concept art, sketches, artwork, inspiration and LEGO® builds, the book tells this fascinating story of how The LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE was made. Find out how your favorite heroes, villains, vehicles, and locations were created for the movie. Learn about each development stage of the movie, from the initial idea and storyboarding to recording the dialogue and special effects. Created with the LEGO Group, with exclusive insights from the filmmakers, animators, and LEGO designers.
The LEGO Ninjago Movie: The Making of the Movie is now available for pre-order and will be released on September 26, 2017 just along side of the film’s debut on the big screen on September 22, 2017.
Remember that LEGO Batman Movie Tartan Batman minifigure exclusive that came out last November? If you recall, this minifigure comes as a free exclusive together with The LEGO Batman Movie Chaos in Gotham City Activity Book. It was received well amongst LEGO Batman collectors and aficionados, and a fine addition to a host of costumes and crazy outfits of the Dark Knight.
This time around, LEGO has teamed up once more with long-time print media partner, Scholastic, to offer another LEGO Batman Movie exclusive that comes with a nice freebie. Amazon France has posted another Scholastic Activity Book that features not that of Batman, but that of one of his long-time enemies, the Penguin.
Though the graphic that comes with the Amazon France listing is not clear enough to give us a closer look at the minifigure (considering as well that it may well be written in German), it is quite clear from its silhouette that it belongs to the Penguin as he is seen in the Batcave Break-In (70909) set. This LEGO Batman Movie version of the Penguin comes in two variants: a cheery, smiling one as seen in 70909, and an angry, battle-ready Penguin as seen in thePenguin Arctic Roller (70911). Basically, they are the same minifigs except for the expressions printed on their respective head pieces.
The Penguin as seen in Penguin Artic Roller 70911 (left), and his variant as seen in Batcave Break-In 70909 (right). The free Penguin minifigure that comes with the latest Scholastic Activity Book probably looks closer to the one on the right.
As we can see from the Amazon posting, the Penguin minifigure freebie seems to take its cue from the Batcave Break-In set. This may not prove to be as exciting as the Tartan Batman minifigure, but a good way nonetheless of adding the Penguin in your collection. I guess it’s a matter of time until we see the Scholastic Activity Book offered in the US. In the meantime, it is also good to know that the LEGO Batman Movie is now officially out in HD format via Amazon, and will soon be available in DVD and Blu-ray on June 13.
Last April, we reported on a DC Comics Super Heroes minifigure exclusive that will be offered together with Dorling Kindersley’s Build Your Own Adventure Book Series. This time, we have a closer look at this exclusive thanks to Amazon UK. DK’s latest LEGO book offering comes with the very first, LEGO John Stewart Green Lantern minifigure. It is expected that this rare minifigure will be eyed upon by most collectors since this is the only second iteration of the Green Lantern, the first being Hal Jordan as seen in the LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes Green Lantern vs. Sinestro (76025) set.
Check out these clearer images of the LEGO John Stewart Green Lantern minifigure, together with some preview pages from the book.
This DK exclusive Green Lantern minifigure sports a different torso as compared to Hal Jordan’s version on 76025. Furthermore, unlike the latter, the exclusive minifig features a pair of glowing, green eyes and a slightly varied black and green leg print. It also comes with instructions in building Stewart’s spaceship, a sledge hammer construct, laser jammer, bank vault, and Flash’s Buggy. Here’s a preview of what you can find inside DK’s latest offering.
If you don’t want to miss out on the chance of having this minifigure, be sure to take advantage of placing a pre-order to guarantee your copy before the book is released to the general public on August 1, 2017. It will retail at USD$16.50.
