A Girl Can Build Anything

"A girl can build many things./ A girl can build anything." Employing this emboldening refrain throughout, previous collaborators Charlton-Trujillo and Zietlow Miller (the Lupe Lopez books) empower readers to dream--and build--big in this book boasting a cast of construction-capable girls. As affirming text kicks off with "a vision./ A sketch./ And a plan," digitally collaged tissue paper scenes from Morris (All Aboard the Schooltrain) depict a child, shown with brown skin, drawing in a notebook. In subsequent scenes, a communal cast ranging in abilities, ages, body types, and skin tones works to build a variety of structures, starting with simple objects ("A box?/ A birdhouse?// A bookshelf?") and leading to more elaborate projects, all improvements to an abandoned playground strewn with "caution" tape. Text introduces building materials ("Sheetrock./ Shingles./ Or shutters") as well as tools ("Drivers./ Handles./ Levers") as characters construct a trellis, a table, a tree house, and more. Acknowledging that some projects may lean, wobble, or completely collapse, growth-mindset lines invite creators to return to the drawing board ("Failure isn't final./ It's where new ideas are made"). It's a confidence-boosting look at teamwork that shows the whole as greater than the sum of its parts. Ages 4-8. Authors' agents: (for Charlton-Trujillo) Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary; (for Miller) Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. Illustrator's agent: Claire Easton, Painted Words. (Apr.)

K-Gr 3--Girl power is emphasized heavily in this delightful read that showcases exactly what girls are capable of. The book opens with a girl, clad in yellow work gloves, drawing up her project idea. "It starts with a vision. A sketch. And a plan. To create what you've only imagined." Illustrations feature eye-catching bright colors done in tissue paper collage and finished digitally. Characters, primarily Black and brown girls, work hard and work together, building small things like birdhouses and then larger things like an entire playground; as adults, they are seen constructing a large building made of steel. The authors nail down encouragement on every page for girls who desire to build. Mistakes will happen, but continuing is the only way to go. "Take a breath. Take a break. Then... try again. Because failure isn't final. It's where new ideas are made." No more than a few short sentences are delivered on each page; the illustrations make the point. Inspiring and motivating, the book may be aimed at girls, but everyone will get the message. VERDICT This get-it-done book carries an important message for all children.--Tracy Cronce