I'm Fun, Too!

by Jonathan Fenske

The first-ever LEGO(R) picture book! From the creator of Barnacle Is Bored and Plankton Is Pushy . The first-ever LEGO(R) picture book, from Barnacle Is Bored creator Jonathan Fenske! What happens when an ordinary LEGO minifigure of the past meets the extraordinary minifigures of today, with their elaborate vehicles, colorful clothes, and wild accessories? He thinks he's no fun at all! "Let's face it. If we were all ice cream, those guys would be the super-duper chunky happy birthday blast. And I would be the vanilla." After feeling down about being ordinary, he and his new friends piece together just how special he truly is. This vibrantly illustrated storybook will charm readers of all ages, reminding them that what makes each person special can be found on the inside.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Emotion, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 2018

About the author

Jonathan Fenske is the author and illustrator of the leveled readers Woodward and McTwee, Love Is in the Air, Guppy Up!, and A Pig, a Fox, and a Box, which was a 2016 Geisel Honor book. He is also the author of two picture books, Barnacle Is Bored and its follow-up, Plankton Is Pushy. Jonathan lives in South Carolina with his family.

Reviews

[Alicia Justice · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son loves this book so much. He's autistic and loved the feel of it first of all. The cover feels like legos and he just went nuts over that telling everyone to feel the book. I loved the story itself!

[Ms. B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! You don't even need to be a fan of Legos to appreciate this story about comparing yourself to others. Kids will like the story of a Lego who feels plain compared to the newer Lego characters; adults will like author Johnathan Fenske's humor.

[Craig Schorling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and fun with that Lego brand of humor. My kids were cracking up during the story.

[Snowflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 6 year old loves this book. It's rare for him to want to reread books, yet this book has been reread several times already.

[Ashlee Tominey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mini figures for the win!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: It is no fun being NO FUN. Look at the NEW guys......with their FANCY HAIR, and FANCY CLOTHES, and FANCY FACES. Everyone wants to play with THEM.

Premise/plot: This picture book is narrated by an ordinary, plain, classic LEGO minifigure. He feels less than until he realizes that he has it good after all. He has potential and promise. He can do anything, be anything: the world is his to build.

My thoughts: I really LOVED this one. I did. It works on so many levels. I loved it as a straightforward story. It was fun--and funny. My favorite part was when the guy in the chicken suit started complaining.

It would be so fun to have such a TASTY TREAT. But I can't even hold a cone.

I also loved it as a moral. There are many, many, many, many picture books about building self-esteem and loving yourself for who you are. But this one is unique. Perhaps because it stars LEGO minifigures it comes across as super-fun and not super-preachy. It doesn't read like a dinky book. IT is just an--dare I say it--AWESOME story.

But this one does more than just celebrate individuality and build self-esteem. It also shows the importance of gratitude, kindness, and imagination.

I also like that it contrasts the generations of imaginative play. "Old" versus "new" or "plain" versus "fancy."

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 10 out of 10

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, I am ALL FOR originality...but I have to keep wondering: if you HAVE TO keep on telling people exactly how much fun you are, are you REALLY all that much fun???

And, if people tell you that you are fun, BUT, no one wants to hang out with you or even stick around to hang out with you, are you REALLY all that much fun???

(You may not be that much fun. I'm just saying.)

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age: Preschool-2nd grade

Classic Legoman feels downright ordinary compared to the new, beefed up lego figurines. They've got more clothes, bigger accessories, and even more emotions compared to Classic's plain face. But Classic soon finds out that all that stuff gets in the way of creativity and imagination, feeling better about his "empty canvas." Fenske perfectly illustrates the juxtaposition of classic vs. modern figurines and has a touch of weird humor, just like the video games and tv shows.

This book would have gone off the shelves solely for being LEGO, but Fenske created a great story to go along with its popular appeal.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised to find that this is a LEGO book with an actual story, although I guess I kind of loved the movie also. The old "plain" lego is our narrator and he talks about how he used to be the best of the best, but now there are so many other LEGO characters and creations that he feels boring. He learns, however, that he can share parts with other LEGO and through collaboration everyone is fun! I could definitely see suing this in a classroom before doing a LEGO STEM activity.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a lego figurine who is jealous of all the newer figurines who have more expressive faces, fancier outfits, and a more detailed (and rounded) accessories. He is pretty down in the dumps, listing all the qualities about himself he sees as negative until a few other figurines wander by and express their envy of the very features he disliked, pointing their own flaws. Seeing himself in a new light the main character decides he is a pretty fun guy.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ordinary Lego minifigure feels like he is very boring when compared to the newer Lego minifigures with their flashy outfits and special features. This is a gently humorous story about feeling good about your body and identity. Whether or not you are a Lego fan, this is a humorous story that will be a fun book to share.

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES to this book!
Volunteering at the school book fair allows me to see what's new, read the latest picture books, and get a grasp on the popular themes. I have learned that Legos will always be in demand.

#ScholasticBookFair

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic Ordinary Lego Minifigure thinks he's to ordinary to have fun with a crew of extraordinary minifigures, and better off alone by himself. But when the new crew shares with him that they're stuck being who they are, and he can be anyone he wants to, he realizes that he too is fun.

[Chinook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit, I don’t entirely get the appeal of this book, but my kids are fans. I think the illustrations are a lot of it. Plus, they love Lego and they play the Lego videogames with their dad, so it may just be an enjoyment of the familiarity of the characters.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book about self-esteem done in an accessible way. I especially like it when Emmet Joseph Brickowski says , “ let’s face it. If we were ice cream… those guys would be SUPER-DUPER CHUNKY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BKAST. And I would be VANILLA.”

[Triston Dutschke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story tells of a toy who is being forgotten. As new and more exciting toys are coming out, this lego piece is upset. He is not getting attention anymore. The story can teach students to be appreciative of the toys they have. Also to include all, even if it is not as interesting as the rest.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little Lego man is sad about being so plain. The new characters have so much going on that he feels he has no fun at all in comparison. When they begin noticing features about him that they wish they had, the ordinary Lego man realizes how special he is the way he is.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book is told from the perspective of a lego person who doesn't feel he is as good as the other lego people. love the spirit of individuality. preschool and up

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute book about being yourself and not having to be flashy.

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story has a good message. It would me high interest because all of the characters are LEGO figures.

[Kristen Dutkiewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Positive message that ANYONE can be fun! Cute for children, especially those who love LEGOs.

[Jude · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book included many words my six-year-old is learning in kindergarten. It's also got a simple, but important life lesson about how your self-perception differs from others' perceptions of you.

[Kristina · Rating 1 out of 5]

A little too awkward.

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a simple cute book!! I believe it teaches kids that it's okay to be just you! You don't always have to fit in with the "cool kids"!

[Kris Dersch · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not a change-the-world book, but for a product tie-in this is actually quite good. I'm so glad it doesn't rhyme.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

A self esteem lesson wrapped in an ad for Lego. Bound to be popular.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even being ordinary, you can be extraordinary.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emmett sees all the new Lego characters and feels sad that they're more fun. Soon, he discovers other characters think he's awesome too.
Use to talk about being who we are and celebrating ourselves.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid story of appreciating yourself as you are.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Textured cover won me over from the start, but the story is wonderful as well and shows how each character looks at life from a different perspective and get another viewpoint.