Busy Builders: Construction Site, Airport, Fire Station from Silver Dolphin Books

Great Summer Fun

Each book in the Busy Builders series includes a 32-page fact book, a 3-D building, and 48 model pieces. These sets remind me of my childhood when we played with "paper dolls." We had stiff paper dolls that had the ability to stand alone. They were not real durable, but they were fun and we had hours of fun playing with them.

The Busy Builders sets have lots of "bells 'n whistles" that make this modern-day paper construction set come alive for the kids. Educational. Fun. Packed with imaginative play tools and sure to please. The whole product is "playable" - the box unfolds into the "house" or building with streets on both sides and curved pieces of street that connect. The figures have stand-up features. Once the set is removed from the box and "constructed," it can not fit back into the box without completely taking it apart. To extend the life of the  set one will need to provide storage. It would be fun to have all three sets to play with and have a "city" so-to-speak. Originally priced at $20 each, they can be found for less online at Amazon, etc.

Busy Builders: Construction Site will bring young children to a busy building site, where they will meet the construction crew at work on a new school. The fact book introduces kids to the people and machines at a construction site, using colorful illustrations and simple text. Plus, the box folds out to form a school under construction, complete with model pieces for the building, vehicles, and construction workers.

A page inside the Construction Site book.

My thoughts: It is always fun to see kids playing with toys / replicas of the tools used in the construction of buildings - especially large buildings. In this construction site set they will have great opportunities to engage in imaginative play around a building under construction, put together the figures and tools, and read the informative book that begins with the first worker to enter the construction site for the day and unlock the gate.

Busy Builders: Airport takes young children behind the scenes at a busy airport, allowing them to see how all the flights and passengers move smoothly through the terminal. The fact book introduces kids to the various procedures at an airport—from check-in to arrival—using cute illustrations and simple text. The box folds out to form an airport terminal, and the included model pieces for the runway, air-control tower, airplane, and baggage carts provide hours of interactive entertainment.

My thoughts: The concept of a play set and accompanying story book is nice and lends itself to the opportunity for educational play, reading conceptual information, hands-on opportunity to put together a play set, and an opportunity to simply have some fun.
Constructed of sturdy cardboard it will last through many play times, but it is not intended for long term play. 

I see the Airport construction/play set as a grand opportunity to introduce boys and girls to the concept of airport travel. The book takes the reader through the various parts of traveling through the airport from arrival, going through getting a ticket, the security scanner, the posts of arrivals and departures, etc.

Busy Builders: Fire Station takes young firefighters inside a busy fire station, where they will learn how rescue teams prepare to fight fires and save people from danger. The fact book introduces kids to the daily routines—and a variety of emergencies—of a firefighting crew using cute illustrations and simple text. Once children have read the book, they can spend hours with the foldout fire station, complete with model pieces for a fire truck, helicopter, and firefighters.

A page inside the Fire Station book.

My thoughts: Fire fighters are always heroes and people to which children look up to and admire. Engaging in the imaginative play activities of a fire fighter by putting together the fire house, road around it, and vehicle will surely provide hours of fun for boys and girls alike.

Playing with the three sets -  Construction Site, Fire Station, and Airport together will provide a family of children wonderful interactive play time together imagining how a city functions.

I recommend these Silver Dolphin Book products.

Purchase on Amazon here: Busy Builders: Fire Station Busy Builders: Construction Site Busy Builders: Airport

DISCLOSURE: I was provided complimentary products/books to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and I was not compensated.