Snakes 2: Ninjago Brickmaster 2012

Update: Final cover art for the latest Ninjago Brickmaster book is out.

 

Slithering Snakes

Here is the preliminary, not confidential, cover image of the 2012 Ninjago Brickmaster book that is coming out on October from Dorling Kindersley (DK).

LEGO Ninjago Fight the Power of the Snakes! Brickmaster

Suitable for LEGO fans, this title lets you join the Ninjas on their quest to defend the four mystic weapons of Spinjitzu and make 12 exclusive LEGO models as you go. It includes two different minifigures, over 100 bricks, and a set of scenarios for the Year of the Snake.

ISBN: 9781409383253

Judging from the last time DK came out with the Ninjago Brickmaster draft cover, I think there will only be minor changes to the cover shown here.

In addition, there are 2 Ninjago activity books with minifgures that are coming on August, but I cannot find the cover images. (You know how LEGO is with their top secret images. *s)

Crooks and Planes

Two new LEGO activity books with minifigures from Ladybird. Set to come out on March 2012.


LEGO CITY: Busy Airport

An activity book that lets you join the LEGO CITY minifigures at the bustling LEGO airport; build your very own LEGO CITY minifigure; and, read the stories and complete the puzzles.

ISBN: 9781409312833

LEGO CITY: Crooks on the Loose!

An activity book that lets you join the LEGO City police as they hunt down crooks; build your very own LEGO CITY minifigure; and, read the stories and complete the puzzles.

ISBN: 9781409312840

The Trees Keep on Dying

2 new LEGO books with minifigures are now available for preorder from various online bookshops.

LEGO City: Fire Team Adventure! Storybook with LEGO Minifigures and Accessories

Lets you join LEGO City minifigures on their action-packed adventures. This storybook comes with interchangeable minifigure parts and lots of accessories, that helps you build 3 different LEGO characters.

ISBN: 9781409309321


LEGO City: Police on Alert! Storybook with LEGO Minifigures and Accessories

It's Thomas' first day as a LEGO CITY police officer and he's already on a case! This title lets you join the LEGO CITY police, as they try to figure out who stole blankets, a horse... and robbed the bank.
Full description

ISBN: 9781409309314

Covering Your World

Here are the covers for the other upcoming LEGO Activity Books with minifigures that I mentioned in this previous post.

LEGO CITY: All Aboard! Activity Book with LEGO minifigure

LEGO CITY: Space Mission Activity Book with LEGO minifigure

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.

2012 Is Over.

The cover image for the LEGO: The Official Annual 2012, which is talked about briefly here, has finally surfaced.

" This awesome annual is bursting with brilliant comics, games and activities about all your favourite LEGO® ranges, including LEGO® CITY, LEGO® Kingdoms and the awesome new ninja theme, LEGO® Ninjago! With LEGO® bricks to build and play with too, this is the perfect Christmas gift for LEGO® fans! "

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.

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!