How many pieces does the Monster Book of Monsters have?

Set 30628 has 320 pieces and includes one minifigure.

Does the book actually move?

Yes, a simple hinge mechanism lets the cover open, giving it the snapping look from the films.

Is this set good for display?

Its book shape lets it sit naturally on a shelf among real books, making it a solid small display piece.

Harry Potter

The Monster Book of Monsters

The Monster Book of Monsters is one of the more playful LEGO® Harry Potter releases: instead of a building or vehicle, you assemble a snapping book straight out of the films. At 320 pieces with a single minifigure, it sits among the smaller sets in the range, yet a hinge-and-gear mechanism gives it more going on than its size suggests.

Set number: 30628
Year: 2020
Pieces: 320
Minifigures: 1
Theme: Harry Potter
Different parts: 87

What can I build with it?

View the official building instructions at LEGO® ↗

Parts list 87

As BrickLink list (XML)

Import on BrickLink: Wanted → Upload, upload the file (or paste its content), pick a Wanted List and add the parts.

Spare parts (7)

These extra parts come with the set in case one gets lost.

Minifigures 1

Draco Malfoy, Slytherin Sweater, Medium Black Legs fig-0107264 pieces × 1

Description

A book that fights back

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the book is notorious for snapping shut on anyone who touches it, and that trait is exactly what this model captures. Hinged plates and a small gear let the cover swing open like a jaw, turning a static shelf piece into something you can pose mid-bite. At 320 pieces the build stays quick, but the moving parts add a layer of engineering that larger, static sets often skip. The parts list on this page shows which elements drive the action, so you know what to expect before you start clicking bricks together.

Colours that sell the illusion

Reddish brown, dark brown, tan and red combine to give the book a worn leather cover with rusty metal fittings, and the effect works because those tones dominate the 87 unique parts rather than being scattered across a wider palette. Many pieces are small hinge and plate elements shaped to curve around the spine, so the model reads as a book silhouette rather than a plain block. Scanning the parts list before building is worth it here, since several hinge pieces and printed elements are genuinely useful for other Harry Potter builds, particularly anything involving shelving or a study.

Who it suits

With one minifigure and a modest piece count, this is a supporting set rather than a centrepiece: a strong addition to an existing Harry Potter collection, or a self-contained option for someone who wants a single, recognisable object rather than a whole scene. It works well on a shelf, where the book shape blends convincingly among real books, and equally as a small gift for fans of the series. Anyone combining it with other Harry Potter sets can use the parts list to spot which colours and special elements carry over into a library or classroom build.

Building and displaying it

The build itself suits newcomers just as well as seasoned fans, since the 320 pieces split clearly into cover, book block and mechanism, so no prior experience with hinge-based models is required. Once finished, the book can be displayed closed or slightly open, depending on whether you want the calm shelf look or the snapping, threatening pose from the films. Because it ships as a polybag rather than a boxed set, it also works well as a small add-on gift alongside a larger Harry Potter haul, without taking up much extra shelf space once it's built.

FAQ

How many pieces does the Monster Book of Monsters have?: Set 30628 has 320 pieces and includes one minifigure.
Does the book actually move?: Yes, a simple hinge mechanism lets the cover open, giving it the snapping look from the films.
Is this set good for display?: Its book shape lets it sit naturally on a shelf among real books, making it a solid small display piece.