
I don’t know if you remember the Build your own dinosaur review I did a while ago. Well, today I have another in the same series entitled “Build your own History Museum“. This series is so much fun and I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

What I am Reviewing
Build your own History Museum is a Lonely Planet Kids book. It has 5 amazing pop-ups to you to make and display. 24 pages filled with interactive elements covering 9 periods in history. Encourage the architectural skills of your children, in lower elementary, as they build pop-up display while engaging in history. Created by Claudia Martin, and illustrated by Mike Love. Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
The Details for Build your own history museum
This hardcover book covers nine periods of history.
- Ancient people
- Mesopotamia
- Indus Valley
- Egypt
- Greece
- China
- Rome
- Maya
- Vikings
It closes with two sections called Where in the world? (map showing different images from the time periods and testing if you recall what time period) and Rise and Fall (how civilizations come and go).

Part of making the museum and walking through is to insert these duel sided elements.

Some of the elements are simple tab inserts, others are larger, enabling you to build pop-outs.

Your young architects’ won’t be left in the dark. Instructions on how to build elements and place tabs are given.

You will find brief, factual writings throughout. Interesting tidbits to whet the appetite for more.
Colourful, bright images fill the pages. So much colour scattered across the pages, it delights the eye and brings depth to the words written.

How to Use
This book would be an excellent primer into 9 different time periods throughout history. A good starting point into look into these time periods in a deeper way.
I got to thinking that it might inspire children to do more, and look into things like children’s museums, or perhaps even do more creating. Youtube came to my rescue with this museum build. Children could add interactive elements inside of it.
Other history based youtube channels you might enjoy are hands on history, A kid explains history, history channel and the great war.
Should you get it?
YES! Have fun. Build a museum. Be inspired to learn more from our past. It’s ever so interesting. Having fun while you learn makes it even better.
Solid pieces, good construction, easy storage. Can’t really go wrong. Build your own History Museum requires no glue or scissors, just the coordination of the readers own hands. Be creative! Learn the past!
This look like such fun! I know I have one who would just love to do this. May see about purchasing one for her for summer time, since so many things are getting canceled.
These books are fun. If you were closer… a certain someone would have a book to play with. 🙂