This book was so beautifully illustrated. It is stunning! The story is about a young boy that clearly loves his grandmother. They sit and read together and she talks about her job as an important architect. But the grandmother gets older and then one day she is "gone."
The boy has a dream about creating an amazing building that would continue his grandmother's legacy. I also agree with some of the other reviews, that this concept would be very difficult for younger readers to understand. However, it is still a wonderful story with illustrations that will delight readers of all ages.
I received a complimentary copy from Librarything Early Reviewers. ( )

Sent to me as an early review book, I was excited to receive this one! As someone who had a wonderful relationship with my grandmother, this book automatically brought endearment.

A boy who loves his grandmother who reads books to him and who previously won many awards for her architectural abilities, she promises to built a special house for him. Alas, she passes away, leaving the boy heartbroken. Picking up a hammer and nails he designs and builds a model of his grandmother. There is a very sweet image of the grandmother who came back to life in a medal body. And as she holds him high in the sky, and over the waters as he listens to the sound of medal on the ground and sees the lovely bright stars way up high in the air.

Traveling through deep water as he rides high on her head, she finds their destination. And, awaiting the boy at the end of the journey is the house she built for him, It is a work in progress, leaving him to use his inherited building talents.

Four stars. I really liked this incredible story of the love of a boy and his grandmother which transcended grief. ( )

Although I liked this book, I think that the message might be a little complex for kids in the target age range. It is a story of a boy losing his grandma, and finding a way of coping with his pain honoring his grandma and her legacy.Vivid illustrations.

I received this copy in an Early Reviewers Giveaway in LibraryThing. ( )

Fun story featuring a boy and his dog :-) ( )

The Building Boy by Ross Montgomery and David Litchfield is a a moving book about loss of a family remember and how memories and love can keep people connected beyond life.A boy's grandmother promises to build him a magnificent house but passes before she can make this a reality. The boy, in coping with loss, makes a robot to take the place of his grandmother. The robot is imbued with spirit of the woman and the robot takes the boy across land and sea to fulfill the promise made.

The book is impactful and deals with death in a thoughtful, somewhat complex way. The blurring of memory, reality, and imagination make the story touching but also might place it out the realm of understanding for its target audience. The art's soft colors add a dream-like quality. While the message is powerful and important, the presentation and pace of the events might be too much for young listeners to grasp without extensive support and discussion. ( )