Judy’s Library Book Corner: Standing Small

This time around I’ve picked a book with a catch. I’m going to explain to you why I think this book is one of the best Lego books I’ve ever seen and then I’m going to tell you that you can’t buy it.

Well, that’s not entirely true. You can buy it, but it’s technically sold as a companion book to a different book. I found my copy at the library, where it’s circulated on its own and in my opinion it is strong enough to stand alone.

The title of this latest wonder is Standing Small: A Celebration of 30 Years of the Lego Minifigure, by Nevin Martell. You’ll find it wrapped up behind the book called The Lego Book, by Daniel Lipkowitz. I’ve got no beef with The Lego Book. It’s a fine collection of all things Lego, from the history of the brick to the theme parks that circle the globe. But if you’ve ever had a thing for the little guys who come with the sets, you’ll love the book that’s tied in as an afterthought.

Our library copy sat on the kitchen table for weeks, and was inspected by just about every member of our family. It’s page after page of every minifigure and the story behind them. Every category imaginable is covered, from the generic town sets to the specifics like Star Wars and Spongebob. It’s not uncommon to find a dozen different figures featured on each page. Which leads to a lot of fun analyzing.

I’m a sucker for the fun facts scattered throughout the book. Did you know that all minifigures had neutral, happy expressions until 1989? From that point on they were free to share their true feelings. Do you have any idea what the first glow in the dark accessory was? Or which minifigures were the first to come with mini guns? What’s your guess as to which was the first female minifigure to sport eyelashes? Or which one first wore make up?

Each page is full of fun pictures and interesting facts. Any geek kid (or parent) who loves Legos will love this book. If you’re anxious to get it right away, feel free to plunk down the $40.00 for the set it comes in. But if you’d rather just have this single volume, I’ve got some inside information from one certain librarian I know, who says Lego might be releasing it on its own sometime next year. You also have the option of checking it out from the library. But in my opinion, this one’s definitely good enough to own.