What’s That Building?: An Architectural Guessing Game

‘If you need space for…comfy places to read; listening to stories; finding out about the world…what building do you need?’ This is just how What’s That Building? by Rebecca Donnelly is constructed. Each double-page spread is a guessing game for readers: put together the clues using the pictures and work out what the building is, then turn the page and all is revealed, along with a detailed explanation of what the building has inside it, what it’s made of, and why.

With each new building the reader finds themself immersed in a mini world full of life depicted in the detailed illustrations by Jocelyn Cho. A museum jammed packed with exhibits; a planetarium full of possibility; a school teaming with children – each building has its own structure and design, perfect for the job in hand. An added mystery element is the ‘hidden’ architect on each page: similar to a Where’s Wally search, every building houses its own architect-in-situ – scan the pages to find her!

Written, designed and illustrated by an all-female crew, this book is a refreshing take on picture books about buildings and building designs. Each building is packed with unusual characters too – spot the penguin pilot and the teddy bear traveller at the airport, for example. Modern and inclusive, this large, hardback non-fiction book deserves a place in every KS1 and lower KS2 classroom.