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New LEGO Books Featuring The LEGO Movie 2, Harry Potter, Ninjago and Unikitty Listed Via Amazon

If you’re into hunting LEGO-themed books for all the freebies that goes along with them, then you’ll be glad to know that Amazon has listed several new, LEGO books from Scholastic. They may not be that exclusive such as those that are usually released by DK publishing, but one particular title on this list may hold such promise.

For starters, their release date is still quite far off with some of them slated to be released in August and December as listed by Amazon. Let’s see what these are.

LEGO Ninjago Activity Book

Release date: August 28, 2018

This latest full-color activity book is packed with puzzles and games based on the latest LEGO(R) Ninjago theme! Over 30 pages of cool comics, activities, and more. Includes a cool NINJAGO minifigure!

LEGO Unikitty Activity Book

Release date: August 28, 2018

An activity book that can’t be missed, with buildable LEGO(R) Unikitty(TM) minifigure! In this activity book, join princess Unikitty on her adventures with puzzles, comics, and more.

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 and fights the negativity that comes from her nemesis, Master Frown, a big ol’ jerk who lives in the next city over: Frowntown. Joined by a wild cast of characters, including her brother Prince Puppycorn, Bodyguard Hawkodile (he’s literally a crocodile and a hawk put together), and scientist Dr. Fox, Unikitty and her friends make sure that every day is the happiest and most creative ever.

The LEGO Movie 2: Emmet’s Guide to Being More Awesome (with Minifigure)

Release date: December 26, 2018

Emmet is BACK and ready to show us all how to be even MORE awesome! The LEGO(R) Movie 2 hits theaters February 9, with an all-star cast, including Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Alison Brie, and more! The sequel is sure to delight fans of all ages with its special brand of LEGO humor. This one-of-a-kind guidebook is narrated by Emmet himself(!) and comes with a buildable Emmet minifigure. It’s a must-have offering for fans of the film.

LEGO Harry Potter Activity Book

Release date: December 26, 2018

This LEGO(R) Harry Potter(TM) activity book is packed with comics, puzzles, mazes, games, and more! Featuring all your favorite characters from the Harry Potter films, these pages are full of endless fun — plus, a buildable minifigure!

I have to say that these books may really not have any exclusive minifigs bundled with them, except probably that from the LEGO Movie 2. We’ll keep you posted if anything new comes up so be sure to keep tabs with us here on the Brick Show.

LEGO Ideas Invites You To Create the Next FIRST LEGO League World Festival Trophy

Earlier this year, LEGO Ideas launched two particular contests where LEGO fans can submit their original creations with the hope of being selected as the platform’s official logo, and the next gift-with-purchase set following a classic space theme. Both competitions were warmly welcomed by the LEGO community, with the latter hitting a bit of a snag regarding the originality of its submitted project.

This time around, it looks like the LEGO Ideas Team intends to continually tap the vast resources and ideas of the LEGO fan community, particularly with its next competition that is expected to gather a following. The LEGO Ideas Design the Next FIRST LEGO League World Festival Trophy is currently on its Submission Phase throughout this month of May. The winning build which will be selected during the Judging Phase from May 31 to June 5 will be used as a basis for the trophy to be awarded to FLL winners. In a nutshell, this is how to join the contest:

Build your coolest, most display worthy LEGO trophy using LEGO pieces (no DUPLO elements). Submissions may be in either physical bricks or by using a digital building tool such as LEGO Digital Designer.

Take up to five photos of your creation and submit them to the contest. Make sure to show off your model from all angles and any particular features or functions of your trophy.

Add a title and short description.

Upload your entry to the contest using the blue Submit Your Entry button found on the contest’s web page.

Check out the image below to have an idea on what are the prescribed specifications for entries.

Similar to previous LEGO Ideas contests, the Design the Next FIRST LEGO League World Festival Trophy comes with an awesome set of prizes. The Grand Prize winner will receive:

A copy of the final trophy model (large version) with an exclusive printed 2×2 tile featuring the winning designer’s name.

One LEGO Ideas NASA Apollo Saturn V (21309) set.

A $400 USD shopping spree on shop.LEGO.com

Two Runner Ups will also receive: one copy of the Grand Prize Winning trophy in a small version, one LEGO Ideas NASA Apollo Saturn V (21309) set, and a $400 USD shopping spree on shop.LEGO.com.

Be sure to submit your entries on or before May 31, 2018 at 6AM, EST. For more information, refer to the contest’s rules and guidelines right here.

Designer Video for LEGO Star Wars UCS Y-Wing (75181) Now Out

Many LEGO fans who keep up with related news would remember how the LEGO Star Wars UCS Millennium Falcon (75192) was such a major big deal upon its release, leading to it selling out multiple times. LEGO seems fit to do the same now for the UCS Y-Wing (75181).

And the latest entry to the LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series (UCS) is no slouch at getting attention to its stunning detail. Where the UCS Falcon (75192) was mostly encased in a spaceship hull, the Rebel Alliance’s star-fighter-bomber is filled all over with support struts, connector tubes, wiring, etc.

Such an intricately-crafted LEGO model needs proper spotlight, and so we’ll get one in the form of this designer video put together by two of the minds behind the UCS Y-Wing (75181). Senior Designer Jordan Scott and Graphic Designer Maddy O’Neil share a few bits of trivia about their creation.

Take for instance: did you know that set 75181 has been in development for the past three years? It says a lot about the conceptualization of this set, numbered earlier than the long-released UCS Millennium Falcon (75192), but coming out much later, this May the 4^th Star Wars Day celebration.

Other LEGO promos connected to the May 4 release of the UCS Y-Wing (75181) include a printed technical blueprint of the set, available free with any LEGO Star Wars purchase by black VIP cardholders (and with an unspecified minimum purchase amount for non-VIPs). The set also includes a Gold Leader minifigure with blaster sidearm, and an R2-BHD astro-mech droid copilot.

First Look at the LEGO City Capital (60200)

This most recent reveal comes as a very much welcomed surprise. Amazon France has revealed another large LEGO City playset with the LEGO City Capital (60200). This new LEGO City set features three buildings, six vehicles, and more than 10 minifigures. Amazon’s French website has not yet listed other details such as the set’s piece count, retail price and even its release date, but looking at the set’s images gives me the immediate impression that how I wish LEGO will come up with a modular hotel and museum.

In any case, I hope this set is like a hint of things to come. Other than a LEGO City Hospital, fans of the City theme have been looking forward for a properly built and scaled Hotel and a Museum. So looking at the Capital, it somehow gives the assurance that those desired sets are probably in the works already.

Nevertheless, the LEGO City Capital (60200) is a nice offering, expected to be released this summer. Some LEGO fan forum members have reported seeing this set in store shelves in Denmark so it will not be long before this set goes in display in North America.

It’s also nice to see the latest addition of vehicles that LEGO is throwing in together with this set: I particularly like the newer double-decker bus and ice cream tricycle. The latter is a good addition to other recently released LEGO City vending carts like the LEGO City Hotdog Stand (30356) polybag and the cotton candy cart included in the LEGO Creator Roller Coaster (10261). The LEGO City Capital (60200) also comes as the next set that follows the likes of 2013’s LEGO City Town Square (60026) and 2015’s LEGO City Square (60097), an expansion of sorts to your ever-growing LEGO City complex.

Get Ready To Go Back to the Jurassic World With The LEGO Store 2018 June Calendar

The LEGO Store 2018 June Calendar has finally arrived, and it bids you to take the high-stakes adventure across the perilous lands of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, slated to hit theaters next month. On top of that, we also get to see all the cool promotions lined up for the month, plus a new gift-with-purchase set. Click on the images below for more information, or you can download the LEGO Store June Calendar in PDF format right here. Let’s take a look.

June 1 to 30. LEGO VIPs earn Double Points on two new LEGO Jurassic World sets.

Particularly, Blue’s Helicopter Pursuit (75928) and Carnotaurus Gyrosphere Escape (75929). This offer runs for the whole month of June, so if you haven’t purchased these sets, or you’re planning to give them as a gift, doing so next month will double up those coveted points.

June 4 to 20. Free Exclusive Creative Storybook (40291) with a purchase of any LEGO sets worth $99 or more.

First seen on Germany’s LEGO Store flyer, the Creative Storybook features some of the most famous fairy tale stories of Han Christian Andersen.

June 5 to 6. VIP Monthly Mini Model Build is a Surfer Dragon (40281).

In order to sign up, guests must have a registered LEGO® VIP email address. If you do not have one, you can create one for free at shop.LEGO.com/VIP. This event has limited space. To reserve a spot, visit shop.LEGO.com/Minibuild-Registration starting May 15.

May 21 to June 30. Free Ticket With Paid Ticket to LEGOLAND Resorts or LEGOLAND Discovery Centers.

This offer is valid with any LEGO set purchase both in store and online while supplies last during the promo period. Limit one per customer.

April 13 to June 24. Take the Star Wars Kessel Run Adventure!

To celebrate the release of the next Star Wars anthology, Solo: A Star Wars Story, LEGO invites fans to take part in the most challenging space route in the galaxy. Stop by the LEGO® Store to take the Star Wars™ Kessel Run adventure, and become the pilot or co-pilot and join forces to build a ship. This is currently on-going, and will run until June 24.

June 18. Minifigure Swap Monday.

Specifically for ages 6 to 14 only. Please see your friendly Brick Specialist for more details.

June 20. Sign up to build and take home a cool T-Rex mini model!

Don’t miss this opportunity to build an exclusive dinosaur mini model! At this free event, you’ll get to build a ferocious T-Rex mini model and take it home! Registration begins in store and by phone on May 1, so don’t wait to sign up. This event is intended for ages 6-14.

June 23 and 30. Join in a LEGO Life Meeting!

Join a LEGO Life Meeting to meet other LEGO fans and test your building skills. You’ll get to build the June mini model and use your creativity to make it your own. Then upload your creation to LEGO Life to share it with LEGO fans across the country and for a chance to win one of two $50 LEGO Store gift cards! This exclusive event has limited space, so please sign up early! Registration is $10 per child. Open to children ages 6–14 only. Registration begins May 1.

Next month also marks the release of the much-awaited, and long overdue LEGO Creator Expert Roller Coaster (10261) starting June 1, with early VIP access beginning May 16. Other exciting sets slated to be released by next month are the LEGO City Artic sets and the sophisticated LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron (42083).

Release Countdown Clock for LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron (42083) Now Up

Good things come to those who wait; and LEGO builders who are also aficionados for quality automobiles can soon count the days towards the release of a collaboration effort with Bugatti towards recreating their TRON-like Chiron sports car in LEGO Technic (42083). LEGO in fact, will help keep count.

If one were to take a look at the dedicated mini-page for the LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron (42083) on LEGO.com, they’ll find that the company has installed a countdown timer for the release of the set. You read it right; it’s only about a month or so away before hitting stores.

LEGO’s well aware of the interest and demand from Technic builders and car nuts for the Chiron (42083), so they’ve been kind enough to move it several times to earlier dates. Officially it becomes available starting June 1, but LEGO VIP members might get it as early as May 16.

That said, the countdown clock’s been the only significant update on the status of the LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron (42083). It would’ve been nice if they had another teaser to show, but fret not; check the previous one instead. It’s coming in one more month so mark your event calendars.

LEGO Blueprints for UCS Y-Wing (75181) Available for Free to Black VIP Cardholders on May the 4th

For quite some time after it was first introduced, the Star Wars-themed LEGO VIP Black Card was tied to one of the most impressive model sets ever rolled out by the company: the UCS Millennium Falcon (75192). Of all Star Wars promos since, this was most synonymous with the card.

Now however, LEGO is keen to remind their VIP members with the Black Card that they can get more out of it where Star Wars is concerned. For May the 4^th, VIP cardholders might be able to avail of an official technical blueprint for their UCS Y-Wing Bomber (75181).

This information comes to us by way of French LEGO news source Hello Bricks. And the preview image of the Y-Wing (75181) blueprint is out of this world, showing how the Star Wars star-fighter’s mechanics were translated into LEGO bricks and building elements. It’s a LEGO Star Wars tech-geek’s dream.

And the nice part is, LEGO Black VIP members can get this sweet technical illustration during May the 4^th with any LEGO Star Wars purchase, without minimum amounts. That’s…marginally better than the regular non-VIP shoppers who do get a minimum LEGO purchase amount. But at least everyone has a chance.

May the 4^th be with you this coming Friday, as the precious blueprint of the UCS Y-Wing (75181) comes to The LEGO Store, for free especially if you have a Black VIP card. Other LEGO promos for Star Wars Day are: free BB-8 (40288) polybag with minimum $75 purchase; LEGO Store “Make & Take” Porg; twice the VIP points on many LEGO Star Wars products.

LEGOLAND Castle Hotel in LEGOLAND California Now Officially Open

In case you missed out on the festivities of the grand opening of the very first Castle-themed LEGOLAND hotel in North America, then you might want to check out this video uploaded by LEGOLAND California. Needless to say, it’s a sight to behold: with royal trumpeters announcing the opening of the hotel’s gates, nobel knights mounted on valiant steeds, a little knight and squire formally cutting the ceremonial ribbon, and a majestic hawk handing over the key to the Castle to the legendary Merlin.

Here are some of the events’ highlights followed by LEGOLAND’s official press release. To place your bookings, visit their website right here.

HEAR YE, HEAR YE!
LEGOLAND^® CASTLE HOTEL IS OFFICIALLY OPEN!

First LEGOLAND^® Castle Hotel in the Nation and Second Hotel at

LEGOLAND^® California Resort Opens its Doors!

CARLSBAD, Calif. (April 27, 2018) – Trumpeters announced the grand opening of the new LEGOLAND^® Castle Hotel at LEGOLAND^® California Resort today after a royal ceremony in front of hundreds of media and special guests. The ceremony included knights on horses, a little girl squire and boy knight plus a hawk that flew the key to the Castle to Merlin the wizard.

“Seeing guests walk into the Grand Hall for the first time is an awesome sight,” said General Manager Frank Idris. “I can’t believe just five years ago we opened the first LEGOLAND^® Hotel in the nation proving how much LEGOLAND California Resort has become a multi-day destination for families with children ages 2-12. Our guests have asked for an even more immersive experience and that’s exactly what we’re giving them with LEGOLAND Castle Hotel. Not only does every room tell a story, every wall, floor, LEGO^® model is designed to make guests feel like they’re in an actual castle.”

“We’re excited to open a second hotel having learned from the first how powerful the brand is and children love how their experience in our theme park transforms into an overnight magical memory,” said LEGOLAND California Resort General Manager Peter Ronchetti. “Not only will this 250-room hotel bring more people to the beautiful city of Carlsbad which benefits local business, but we’re adding more than 200 jobs further boosting the economy in the region. Considering that, plus the amazing locally-sourced food, great entertainment and whimsical features found throughout the new hotel, this is already a great win for us!”

A royal LEGO statue marks the entrance and is just one of more than 2,100 LEGO models created out of more than three million bricks. As guests enter the Grand Hall, they are greeted by a towering LEGO wizard conjuring up spells to protect the Castle from the bad knights and dragons.

In the Royal Princess rooms, the princess is joining forces with her jester friend to sneak into the grand tournament and compete with the knights. In the Knights and Dragons rooms, the knights are on a mission to defend the king’s castle and protect his treasure. In the Magic Wizard rooms, the wizards are concocting potions and fireworks for the grand tournament. Every room has a children’s sleeping area which includes bunk beds, a trundle bed, their own television, LEGO building station and shooting stars illuminating on the ceiling. Every adult sleeping area has an ornate head board with LED lights which could resemble a stained glass window, a canopy sparking with twinkling lights or shelves filled with potions and a magical bubbling illuminated cauldron.

In Dragon’s Den, a full-service sit down restaurant, guests can watch chefs preparing their food, enjoy LEGO models and entertainers within a unique dining experience. Breakfast is included with each guest’s stay and includes made-to-order items along with a buffet.

The Royal Courtyard immerses children in a fairy tale of their own creation with multiple play areas for different age groups, a giant movie screen, resort-style pool with interactive water features and hot tub and a tented stage for live plays and shows. Interactive elements throughout LEGOLAND Castle Hotel include a knock-knock door, a royal throne that makes silly noises, LEGO caricatures to build upon, a self-playing piano and a slide from the first floor to the lobby.

LEGO Creative Storybook (40291) – First Seen on LEGO Germany Promo Flyer

It’s starting to look like Germany may be trying to pull a turnaround where it comes to the trend of decreasing popularity (and sales) for LEGO in that country lately. They’ve already set up a “Make & Take” event there at local Toys R Us stores (German ones still operating).

Now, LEGO Germany is getting the drop on most other major markets around the world with the release of their promo flyer for May-June 2018. One of these items is a limited-time giveaway set that might look familiar to those who’ve been keeping up with LEGO Ideas’ currently-running Reviews Stage.

Said giveaway is from the LEGO Creative Storybook (40291), featuring Denmark’s eternally remembered author of fairy tales, Han Christian Andersen. The design is a diorama shaped like a pop-up storybook, with Hans writing a story on one page while the other side depicts a scene from The Ugly Duckling.

There’s been no word yet on when the Creative Storybook (40291) will be made available for sale or promo giveaway outside of Germany. For now, the set is available to LEGO Shop customers in that country for every total purchase of at least €65. The promo also runs from June 4-24.

Meanwhile, the ongoing LEGO Ideas 2017 Third Review Stage also includes a submission called Pop-Up Book by JK Brickworks. It looks like a larger take on the LEGO Creative Storybook set. One must wonder if the similarity might preclude Pop-Up book from passing now, but the final decision’s still a ways off.

Vintage BMW R60/2 Motorcycle Gets 10K LEGO Ideas Support, But Will It Be Allowed?

The LEGO Ideas platform has been the place to go when there’s a dream set a builder would like to be officially interpreted in LEGO. And indeed, quite the number of model vehicles, buildings, and so on has been released in that line. But some may not, even with support.

And we’re not talking about the entries that don’t get past the Review Stages either. We’ll take the example of this particular project by LEGO Ideas member maximecheng03. He created a LEGO motorcycle, scaled just enough to fit any LEGO Constraction model character sitting astride it. It’s certainly a beauty.

But there’s a problem. This Ideas motorcycle is a replica of a real model, the BMW R60/2 with twin engines. Herein lies the snag: apparently BMW is on LEGO’s list of so-called “restricted licenses”, as in they couldn’t – or wouldn’t – make any LEGO merchandise based on anything those licenses cover.

So although maximecheng03’s BMW R60/2 motorcycle did just recently hit the needed 10,000 support record needed, the fact that LEGO is restricted from making products tied by license to BMW means it probably won’t be included in the 2018 First Review Stage. That’d be unfortunate if the list isn’t that strict.

For now, the number of recent LEGO Ideas submissions that are in for the upcoming review phase stands at nine, with the latest addition being a yabba-dabba-doo-tastic rendition of The Flinstones home, car, and character minifigures. Much as it’d be nice for maximecheng03 to get in, it doesn’t look good.