Reading Architecture is a literacy project designed to help RIBA understand what architecture books we should be recommending to children, young people and teachers. During the summer term of 2021 over 650 students from 27 schools across England were asked to read and review a set of architecture books.
Read the reviews of The Homes We Build by Anne Jonas, the winner of the teachers' choice category for ages 8 to 11.
Darcey, age 11, Ferndown Middle School
- Illustration and design: 5
- Content: 4
- Overall: 5
"I loved the drawings, pictures and content. It was detailed and I would read it again (and show my friends!)."
Naz, age 11, Handford Hall Primary School
- Illustration and design: 5
- Content: 4.5
- Overall: 4.5
"This book is about the different types of homes that people build throughout history, and the different habitats of which people build their homes in. My first impression was that I absolutely adored everything in it; the cover was interesting and wasn't too wordy, but at the same time it didn't have too many pictures.
It was quite hard to find things as the content was quite wordy, but the images and diagrams helped to explain things. It was very informative and told me a lot about different houses, their habitats, their good and bad points and how they were built and why.
Overall, good job Anne Jonas and Lou Rhin, it's interesting and useful!"
Ellie, age 11, Handford Hall Primary School
- Illustration and design: 5
- Content: 5
- Overall: 5
"I think this book was awesome. The cover I loved because I could already see this book would be about our homes, I especially loved the treehouse. But when I read the blurb I just wanted to read it straight away. My first impression of the book was I WANT TO READ THIS. It looked amazing.
The layout inside the book I loved because of the amount of detail and effort that was put into it. I found it easy to find information because of the bold titles. It explained everything in really good detail.
It is aimed at anyone who likes architecture and designing - I loved this book."
Scarlett, age 11, St Mary's Catholic Primary School
- Illustration and design: 5
- Content: 4.5
- Overall: 4.5
"Firstly I love the front cover so would probably choose this book.
Secondly, I like that it tells you about houses in different climates and why they were built the way they are! It also lists the materials they might use and why (e.g. in Sweden they use wood, a material that is plentiful in the country and also a great insulator).
I would recommend this book to people wanting to learn about architecture around the world!"
Maisie, age 11, St Mary's Catholic Primary School
- Illustration and design: 5
- Content: 4
- Overall: 4.5
"If I saw this book in a shop would I buy it? Yes I would! The front cover gives you ideas on the houses that will be in the book, the back cover is also the same.
I loved how it told you why the houses were built to suit the climate. I loved the illustrations.
This book may just be one of my favourite books out of all of them. I would recommend this book to 9-13 year olds."
Learn more about Reading Architecture as part of RIBA's National Schools Programme.
