Put Legos in front of Elijah McClelland and he is one focused boy.

McClelland, an 8-year-old from Freeport and second-grader at Morse Street School, is one of 30 local students, ages 5-11, who will take part in Lego Derby Day, scheduled for 3:45-4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the Freeport Community Library. The kids will build cars using only Legos from the library’s big collection, then make a test track to see how it runs. Chairs will be removed from the community room, and three big sheets will be laid down on the floor for the event. When the children are satisfied with their design, they can run it down a race track to see how fast and far the cars can go.

McClelland is accustomed to visiting the Freeport Community Library, where his mother, Kim, helps staff the desk. Kim and Fred McClelland also have a daughter, Gia, who is 7.

Practicing for Lego Derby Day after school one day last week, McClelland talked all about his experience with the popular building blocks made out of plastic. He patiently sorted through a big box of Legos to build a car.

Q: What do you like about Legos?

A: They’re fun to use and you can make anything you want. You can make a house, you can make a plane, you can make a boat, you can make a town.

Q: How long have you played with Legos? Are you in a Lego club?

A: Ever since I can remember. Yes. There can be tons of people making Legos in a room on a topic. There’s more people, so it’s more fun. I usually make them with one or two other people.

Q: Do you use Duplo Blocks (pieces for young children that are twice the length, height and width of traditional Lego bricks, making them easier to handle)?

A: I use the smaller ones. The small ones are harder. I also like that you can have the smaller pieces that can fit into one space. With Duplo Blocks, they fall at a smaller height.

Q: Do you play with Legos at school?

A: If we have indoor recess, yes. There’s about four or five of us.

Q: Are you anxious for the derby?

A: It will be different. I usually do Pinewood Derby and cardboard sets.

Elijah McClelland of Freeport proudly displays the Lego car he built in about 15 minutes last Wednesday at the Freeport Community Library. McClelland, 8, will take part in the Lego Derby Day, Feb. 3 at the library.