Norman Brosterman

Architect, sculptor, and collector Norman Brosterman first became interested in the history of kindergarten while assembling the world's finest collection of antique building block and construction toys. In 1989, Brosterman's collection was acquired by the Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal. Discovering that the famed Froebel Blocks, which are well-known to all students of Frank Lloyd Wright, were merely part of a much larger system of elegant, nature-based, design toys, Brosterman embarked on years of research into the history of this lost world, culminating in the publication in 1997 of his award-winning book, Inventing Kindergarten.

Brosterman recently co-founded Kaleidograph Design LLC, makers of the Kaleidograph paper kaleidoscope, pattern design toys, to create and manufacture nature-based toys in the spirit of Friedrich Froebel.