WHAT’S THAT BUILDING?: AN ARCHITECTURAL GUESSING GAME, by Rebecca Donnelly, Jocelyn Cho, Phaidon Press, Oct. 8, 2025, Hardcover, $19.95 (ages 5-8)
Dive into design and architecture in What’s That Building?: An Architectural Guessing Game, by Rebecca Donnelly and Jocelyn Cho.
In this interactive first book of architecture, children discover how architects design everyday buildings, from planetariums, aquariums, and airports to supermarkets and shopping malls, so that they best meet their users’ needs. Set up as a guessing game, the book presents clues that invite readers to guess which type of building is needed in 10 different scenarios. For example, what building do you need for students, teachers, and learning about science, history, and art? A school! Children continue the fun by looking for the hidden architect on each spread.
Answers are provided in cutaway reveals that are jam-packed with details. Each building is accompanied by informative text that explains its architectural and design features. —Synopsis provided by Phaidon Press
Kids love learning the who, what, where, when, why and how behind almost everything. What’s That Building? helps satisfy that craving with both broad and narrower reviews of building use. This book features on the finished buildings by asking readers to solve ten puzzles and find the architect hiding in each building.
Rebecca Donnelly’s text is both informative and bright. She challenges readers with questions throughout with a conversational tone. Jocelyn Cho’s incredibly detailed illustrations call to mind other search-and-find books with a mix of serious and humorous characters. What’s That Building? is sure to capture and hold attention.
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