I Am Stealth.

The preliminary cover images of the two Ninjago Activity Books with Minifigures to be released on August that I mentioned here are out. Normally I would not put anything with the "confidential" tag here but seeing how they are already in some book sites, here they are:

LEGO Ninjago: The Chosen Four Activity Book with LEGO minifigure

LEGO Ninjago: Spinning Power Activity Book with LEGO minifigure

Also, the two other LEGO City Activity Books with Minifgures have finally gotten their full titles:

LEGO CITY: All Aboard! Activity Book with LEGO minifigure
(October 2011 • Age: 5+ • £5.99 • 9781409310358)

LEGO CITY: Space Mission Activity Book with LEGO minifigure
(October 2011 • Age: 5+ • £5.99 • 9781409310365)

We love these books!! We have all the previous releases, including the now out-of-print Atlantis sets. Right now, I am thinking if the Annuals are worth getting (they do not come with minifigs!).

* Images from Penguin/Ladybird.

Build Me A City

I am having second thoughts about acquiring The LEGO Ideas Book that is set to come out on August. A couple of sample inside pages have hit the net and they are plain "meh" material. For those who are feeling like me, LEGO Certified Professional Sean Kenney's latest might be a better purchase. I passed on both Cool Cars and Trucks and Cool Robots because they required special pieces, and we only have basic bricks, but I am really keen on getting Cool City. The cover alone convinced me (such yummy buildings), I do not need any sample pages.

Available on hardback and having 32 pages, it comes out on October 11, 2011, although most popular online bookshops have it on preorder now. If the description is true, there will be a guide for a mini metropolis. Think Micro Building Set (Dacta 9324). Now, that is cool.

Die Trees, Die!

Just like real Ninjas they have crept up unnoticed. (Or, like me, nobody is paying attention.) The same guys responsible for putting out the LEGO Atlantis and LEGO City series of activity books, Penguin, are at it again. On August two new activity books with minifigures based on the new LEGO Ninjago theme will be released. Also on August, expected to come out are two LEGO City storybooks with minifigures and accessories and the LEGO: The Official Annual 2012. Then another LEGO City activioty book with minifigure comes out on October.

LEGO Ninjago Spinning Power Activity Book with LEGO minifigure
5+; Paperback; 290 x 205 mm; 24pp £5.99; 9781409309369

LEGO Ninjago The Chosen Four Activity Book with LEGO minifigure
5+; Paperback; 290 x 205 mm; 24pp; £5.99; 9781409309352

LEGO City Storybook with LEGO minifigures and accessories
5+; Paperback; 240 x 200 mm; 34pp; £6.99; 9781409309321

LEGO City: Police on Alert! Storybook with LEGO minifigures and accessories
5+; Paperback; 240 x 200 mm; 34pp; £6.99; 9781409309314

LEGO: The Official Annual 2012
5+; Hardback; 285 x 215 mm • 64pp; £7.99; 9781409309345

LEGO City Activity Book with LEGO minifigure 2
5+; Activity Book; 290 x 205 mm; 24pp; £5.99; 9781409310365


Now, I do not know how popular the Ninjago theme is among AFOLs (It sure is a hit with the kids, especially in Australia as this news article would show), but I am getting these activity books when they become available. We have both the Atlantis and two of the City, with the other two expected to get here in a couple of weeks. Bang for your buck, these books are. Definetly worth adding to The LEGO Ideas Book and the Brickmasters. Little P. loves the activities, and it is always good when the minifigure population count grows. All that for a tiny fraction of what you would spend on a Collectible Minifgure.

None of these book are availble for preorder as of now. No cover images too. Keep your eyes peeled.

Book It!

That image of the LEGO Ideas Book that I stumbled upon actually came with images of 2 other upcoming LEGO books from DK Publishing- Brickmaster City and Brickmaster Ninjago. I did not put up the images of those 2 since they were marked "confidential", and I did not want to go against The Lego Group's policy on confidential images.

A couple of days ago I found what might be the final product images, different from the confidential images. Here they are:

The books, which will both have 2 minifigures included, aside from the bricks, will come out on July. SRP is $29.99. I am definitely picking up the City. Am not into Ninjas.

I Can See The Future

So you have bought all the LEGO sets you ever wanted. Your room has LEGO boxes up to the ceiling. Display cabinets are filled with built sets and MOCs. But how will you ever know when that new set you have read about on Brickset is finally going to be released? YES! You need a calendar!! And it is not too early to grab a 2012 calendar for marking down those dates for sets that have no release dates yet. LOL!!

High-res versions of the cover image of the 2012 LEGO Calendar that is available for preorder from Amazon.com, and some pages off the Workman 2012 Calendars catalog can be viewed by clicking the small images below.

" Named Toy of the Century by Fortune magazine and now the subject of a bestselling book series, LEGO toys are one of the most popular ever, beloved by boys, girls, and grown-ups too! Exhibiting a dozen astonishingly lifelike constructions by top LEGO designers, LEGO: The Calendar is a fun and obsessive tribute to the little plastic blocks that have fueled kids' imaginations for generations. Each of these creations is a masterpiece of imagination and engineering. A space shuttle on the launch pad (10...9...8...). A perfect replica of the White House. An entire city block, finely detailed down to every lamppost and distinctive building facade. Accompanying the photographs is lively text with historical lore, building tips, and LEGO artist profiles. "

Let Us Kill More Trees

While there are plenty of online resources for LEGO building ideas and inspirations it is always good to have some around that you can readily pick up when there is a lull in "normal" life.

The last official LEGO idea books came out more than a decade ago. If you have deep pockets you can pick up some of those off evilBay. Even nicer, and maybe even harder to come by at a good price and mint condition, are those from DK Publishing, which produces some really nice LEGO related books including the fantastic "The Lego Book". Going for steep prices even for beat up condition, Build Fabulous Figures and Build Amazing Animals should be in your hunt list. Kids, as well as AFOLs I think, would love these two.

Available for preorder now on most online bookstores is another idea book from DK. "The LEGO Ideas Book" is for official release on August 15, 2011.

(Image of product is not final.)

"LEGO® inspiration: tips and techniques from expert LEGO builders covering transport, buildings, space, kingdoms, adventure and useful makes. Perfect for LEGO fans who want to make their models cool, fun and imaginative."

My day is coming up. Greetings are okay but The Lego Book would be better. LOL!