She Can Build It! Books, Building Toys, and Tool Sets to Encourage DIY-Loving Mighty Girls

Building Our House

This little girl and her family are moving from the city — to build a new one in the country! Mom and Dad have rented a trailer for them to live in while they build the house from the ground up. There are many steps and stages along the way, and lots of ways that she can help. And when the house is done, the family can be proud of what they built together. This book based on author Jonathan Bean's family's real experience, told through the eyes of his older sister, and includes an afterword with photos of the construction process.

Home Base: A Mother-Daughter Story

A mother-daughter pair are each preparing for their biggest challenge yet. For the daughter, it's an attempt to prove herself on the pitcher's mound. For the mother, it's executing a big bricklaying job. Both face obstacles, including gender stereotypes and the hard work necessary to achieve your goals. But when they're done, they get to celebrate their victories together! With its simple, direct text and absorbing illustrations, this book celebrates all the things that girls and women can do — and how much more we can do with the support of the people we love.

You and Me and Home Sweet Home

Sharonda and her mother live in a room in her aunt's house, and everything is getting a bit crowded. Then, their church announces a special gift: they are going to build Sharonda's family a house of their own. As Sharonda watches in amazement, people come together to hammer, saw, measure, and lift. When they're done, there is a house — and when Sharonda moves in, it becomes a home to treasure. Full of energy and life, this book is a celebration of cooperation, generosity, and the joy of building a space that makes a difference.

Boxitects

Meg loves building with boxes, and she always stuns both her peers and adults with what she makes. But then a new kid shows up at Maker School. Simone is a boxitect too — a good one — and it's not long before the two have become fierce rivals. Then the worst happens: the two are paired as a team for the annual Maker Match. Rather than work together, they each take half the materials and build one half of their creation... a plan that ends in disaster. But when they sit down and find a way to combine their talents, it turns out there's nothing they can't do! This funny and realistic story about two girls who realize that they can make amazing things when they work together is sure to inspire a little "boxitecture" in young readers!

Rosie Revere's Big Project Book for Bold Engineers

Fans of the book Rosie Revere, Engineer will love this fun project book that encourages kids to put their inventiveness and perseverance into practice! In this activity book, there are 40+ things for kids to invent, draw, and make, including designing a better bicycle, building a simple catapult, constructing a solar oven, and more. A simple explanation of the engineering design process, from identifying the problem that needs solving to evaluating whether or not your creation was a success, show kids that invention is rarely a straightforward process, and positive text encourages the owner of the book to see herself like Rosie: inventive and bold!

Ellie, Engineer

Ellie prides herself on her engineering skills, and loves inventing things in her backyard workshop. So when her best friend Kit's birthday approaches, she's determined to make something — and when she hears Kit's mom saying they're getting her a dog, she knows just what to build: a doghouse. But her plans get more and more elaborate, and soon she's got to enlist help from other kids in the neighborhood — kids who don't always get along. Can she create the doghouse of Kit's dreams and still keep it a secret? This exuberant story includes fun backmatter, including a how-to guide to tools, that will delight would-be engineers.

The House That Lou Built

Lou feels squashed and smothered in her grandmother's house, where she shares a room with her mom, so the woodshop-loving girl comes up with a solution: this summer, she's going to build a "tiny house,", which she can put on land she inherited from her dad when he died before she was born. But building a house is tricky (even when it's tiny) and worse, the land might have to be sold to pay off back taxes and fund a move. Fortunately, both Lou's devoted friends and her loving Filipino family are there to help her achieve her dream... even if it doesn't look quite like she imagined. Full of details about Filipino life and culture, this warm story celebrates the true meaning of home and family.

Girls Garage

How to Use Any Tool, Tackle Any Project, and Build the World You Want to See

When girls get building, big things happen! Emily Pilloton founded the nonprofit Girls Garage in 2013, using her background in architecture and construction to help girls get confident with tools as they build real-world projects to help their community. Now, in this book, she provides the same guidance to girls everywhere! This book includes all the information a would-be builder needs, including 175 illustrated tool guides, 21 essential skills, and 11 how-to projects she can try herself. Plus, this 300-page compendium includes encouraging stories from real-life girls and women builders. Part how-to manual, part inspirational guide, this book will give girls confidence that there's nothing they can't plan, fix, or build!

Take Apart Airplane

Even kids love to use power tools! With the Take Apart Airplane from Battat, kids can assemble and disassemble a colorful plane with a power drill that comes with three different bits. With practice, they'll learn how to optimize their work, practicing their fine motor skills and concentration. It's the perfect toy for any child who dreams of building a real plane someday! For another Take Apart set, check out this Take Apart Crane.

Design and Drill Activity Center

Combine power tools and bright colors with this set from Educational Insights! Kids can follow one of the 20 included pattern cards or come up with their own patterns. With 120 bolts in 5 colors, they've got plenty of inspiration in the box. Three different bits fit both the screwdriver and the drill, and then the included wrench helps them get all the pieces out to start all over again.

Build A Bird Bungalow

Build and paint your own bird house to entice birds to your yard with this set from Toysmith! This all-in-one kit includes everything you need to complete and decorate a sweet 6" bird house. The wood pieces are precut so you can easily nail them together. Once assembled, you can decorate your B&B with the four included paints, then attach it to the perfect tree with the included chain. The kit includes wood pieces, four paint pots, paint brush, nails, glue and instructions. It's a terrific rainy- or snowy-day activity to brighten up the day, and she'll be proud to say, "I made that myself!"

3-Pocket Tool Belt

Keep all your repair supplies close to hand with this suede tool belt from Custom Leathercraft! Unlike many toolbelts, this can fit a waist as small as 29 inches, so even tweens and teens can wear it. Two large pockets and one small pocket, as well as a loop for a hammer, ensure you have plenty of space, and the polyweb belt has a quick release buckle for when the job is done.