Overview

'A cleverly architected book... perfect for children exploring the environment or anything to do with construction.' - Literacy Tree The Mellon family have outgrown their flat. It's time to move, but none of the houses they look at are quite right, so they decide to build their own house. Masha is an architect. She designs a house that accommodates the Mellons' needs, their budget, and most importantly, the environment. It is an eco-house. The Mellons Build a House is a hugely enjoyable picturebook that takes the reader step-by-step through house design and build. Heat pumps, solar panels, insulation and rainwater harvesting are all clearly explained and brought to life in Nik Neves's warm, inclusive illustrations. A timely and essential read for aspiring young architects and construction-enthusiasts.

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9781800660335

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Reviews

"""This may be one of the MOST forward thinking eco-friendly titles I've ever seen."" - Elizabeth Bird / Fuse 8 / School Library Journal ""Reading this book, you get to see the entire process from design to meeting with contractors to pouring the cement. It's very eco-conscious, including everything from a rooftop garden to reserving rainwater to solar panels, and more. You even get to see how blueprints work!"" - Fuse 8 / School Library Journal ""Kids learn many building terms, from heat pumps to solar panels, as they absorb the lessons of designing a home and the many options and considerations involved. Adults will find The Mellons Build a House a fine example of introducing ecological thinking and decision-making to the very young, who normally don't receive such messages this early in their lives."" - Midwest Book Review ""A great breakdown of an environmentally friendly design that keeps the family's needs in mind. Informative for children and adults alike. This book can spark conversations about conservation and ecology."" - Youth Services Book Review ""The illustrations and neat title initially attracted me to this book and when I read it, I knew I had to share it with the world. I read lots and lots of books. Most are just okay, but then sometimes I find a really unique one like this and I have to share. This book is a must have for architecture and construction enthusiasts."" - Books Grow Minds ""There follows one of the most cleverly architected (sorry!) books that expertly runs a storyline parallel to details around designing and building an eco-home. This would be such a fantastic book for children of any age. And in terms of circling back to this month's themes, progress is evident on all levels: the house is built; the environment is considered; the family move forward with their lives and the building industry is a career open to all."" - The Literacy Tree, UK"

'This book follows the journey of designing and building a new house and how this can be done in a more ecological way thinking about each step and its impact on the environment – making it stand out from the array of books about more traditional houses and homes. The book was enjoyable to discover and included interesting facts and lots of technical vocabulary – with enough science to capture older children as well as younger primary pupils who will enjoy the visual information and narrative frame.' - Books for Topics - Best Books for Year 2 'A beautifully presented information book on architecture and construction which centres sustainability, within the frame narrative of a family seeking to build the most eco-friendly home possible.' - Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) 'What an interesting and original subject for a picture book. I particularly liked the number of women involved in this construction project. Children are concerned with the environment and this is the perfect vehicle to get KS1 children (aged 5-7 years) discussing what changes might be made in their own homes and schools to be more sustainable.' - The English Association 'I would recommend The Mellons Build a House in the primary school library as a good one to pick up and will keep groups of children enthralled. I would also use it as part of a project in KS1 and lower KS2 around homes and housing or environmental work.' - Just Imagine Book Reviews

Author Information

Robin Jacobs is a children's television and book writer. She is the author of Don't Hug the Pug and Earth-Shattering Events. She is an active environmentalist and has recently completed an eco-build of her own outside of Bristol. Nik Neves is a prize-winning Brazilian artist and illustrator living and working in Berlin. He has worked with clients including: Moet, Printemps, Vogue, Facebook, Brooklyn Industries, National Geographic and Lonely Planet.

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