Bridge or Bust isn't just a STEM toy--it's a work of art. Every detail of it has clearly been attended to and thoroughly thought through, such that the entire experience is truly incredible. The bridge construction elements are incredible and allow for an incredible level of creativity and control, and do a fantastic job of teaching the principles of bridge construction such that even I, a middle-aged man with no background in engineering, can start to grasp them intuitively.
I spent three full days building bridges with my two boys, who are 11 and 6, and they both were really engaged by the whole experience. The materials were just the right amount of challenge for everyone, such that even a 6 year old could try to solve them by himself, or with help from his big brother.
On top of the incredible engineering that went into the toy, though, is the element that really makes all Upper Story products so incredible: the graphic novel. At Tumble Science, we really value the telling of a good story, and think of storytelling as being truly essential to understanding STEM concepts of all kinds. Research backs this up, by the way--when kids are taught science with storytelling, their understanding goes up, it seems more relevant to their lives, and they connect more directly to it. All the puzzles in Bridge or Bust are embedded in a story that is equal parts hilarious and intriguing.
I'd give this product a 5/5, but it honestly just broke the scale. Can't say I love it enough.
