A new exciting exhibit exploring the creative realm of children's books will be launched in the National Building Museum. The "Building Stories" exhibit will showcase 150 titles from 28 countries through its four galleries covering 4000 sq ft. The exhibition will be on display for 10 years.

Cathy Frankel, Deputy Director for Interpretive Content at the National Building Museum, expressed the museum's focus on exploring the built environment's impact through the lens of children's books. The exhibit intends to illustrate that within these stories, buildings, and cities play significant roles as essential characters, driving the stories forward.

Where Books and Architecture Converge

The National Building Museum made the exhibit an immersive experience in collaboration with authors, illustrators, and exhibit designers. The curation was done by Leonard Marcus, a well-respected author and historian specializing in children's books. Marcus, known for a similarly themed exhibit at the New York Public Library in 2013, expressed the intention to attract both children and adults to the world of "Building Stories."

At a preview of the exhibit on Thursday, Marcus stated that this exhibition encapsulates the compelling and theatrical elements that make illustrated children's books so captivating. It feels akin to immersing oneself in a book while exploring other books.

The exhibit's galleries are designed with interactive elements, including knobs, video projections, screens, rotating info cards, and reading nooks. While the connection between architecture and children's books might not be immediately apparent, visitors will uncover the concept as they navigate through the four sections.

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The first section, Building Readers, introduces children's books, emphasizing shapes, alphabets, and language while drawing parallels between the creation of books and the design of buildings. Moving on to Your Home, My Home, the exhibit explores the multifaceted concept of 'home' through a multimedia presentation, referencing ideas found in books like "Tar Beach," "Shadow," and "The Snowy Day." Scale Play, the third section of the exhibit, shows a magical portal that immerses visitors in the sensation of shrinking, with themes commonly found in children's literature, such as navigating the world when one is small. Finally, the last gallery, Wider World, presents a diverse selection of children's books for reading and oversized soft blocks shaped like letters. 

Highlights: From Book Dummies to Roman Architecture

One of the exhibit's highlights is the display of original preparatory artwork, also known as 'book dummy,' for beloved titles like "Goodnight Moon" and "Hello Lighthouse." Additionally, a special installation showcases sketches and blown-up illustrations of Roman architecture, illustrating the creative process behind David Macaulay's 1997 book, "Rome Antics."

"Building Stories" features an array of pop-up books with intricate three-dimensional designs. Visitors can explore a version of "The Wizard of Oz." The exhibit also showcases the detailed map drawings found in classic fantasy books like "The Hobbit," "Winnie the Pooh," and "Harry Potter," providing a visual journey into these imaginary worlds 

Community Celebration and Building Readers Club

To kick off the exhibit, the National Building Museum will host a free all-day community celebration on Sunday, January 21. Attendees can enjoy puppet shows, giveaways, live folk music, and story times with local public figures. The museum has also partnered with the D.C. Public Library and its foundation to launch the Building Readers Club, a free program guiding children from kindergarten through eighth grade in learning about architecture, engineering, and design found in children's books. Club members get complimentary access to the exhibit.

The museum director, Aileen Fuchs, expressed optimism that "Building Stories" will draw in more than a million visitors this year, pivotal in revitalizing downtown D.C. This exhibit is recognized as the museum's most ambitious project in over ten years. The director also highlighted the impact of children's literature and hoped the exhibit would take visitors to new places.

Cathy Frankel emphasized that the exhibit is for both kids and adults. The museum, opening its doors on January 21, invites visitors to start exploring this exhibit over the weekend.

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