I’m glad that PickyKidPix knows how to use power tools. It started with woodshop in middle school, and then she progressed to assembling her own furniture from Ikea. The Ikea projects included a bed, desk, desk hutch, TV console and bed side table.
This is the Mesopotamia Throne Project Inspiration Photo.
When it came time for her to figure out a school project, she and her partner decided to build a throne from Mesopotamia. They had to figure out how much wood and what size pieces of wood they needed. All my husband did was help them cut the wood to their specifications and drive the wood to school. After that, it was all them and some choice power tools.
This is the Mesopotamia Throne my daughter and her partner built. Power tools were expertly wielded.Girls using power tools is a beautiful thing. I found some picture books for kids who like to build. Maybe these books will bring out the engineer, the industrial designer, the architect and the builder in all kids. I hope so! It’s a great life skill that I wish I had!
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
A little girl and her assistant decide to construct the most magnificent thing. She hammers, tinkers, measures, glues, smooths, wrenches, fiddles, saws and adjusts, but it’s not quite right. This is a lot harder than she thought. It makes her frustrated. It makes her mad. In fact, she gets so angry that she smashes it apart. Her assistant suggests a walk. And this little break helps her reconfigure her magnificent thing .. which ends up turning out exactly how she wants it. [picture book for kids who never give up, ages 4 and up]
Interstella Cinderella by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Meg Hunt
Once upon a time on a planetoid, lived a girl named Cinderella who dreamed of fixing fancy rockets. A retold Cinderella fairy tale of a girl who fixes robot dishwashers and zoombrooms but secretly studies space ship repair.
Her stepsisters are invited to the Prince’s Royal Space Parade, and, of course, she’s not allowed to attend unless she can fix a broken ship to fly to the show. Her fairy godmother comes through with tools and a spacesuit, and Interstella Cinderella is there to fix the Prince’s spaceship when it gets stranded. The Prince wants to find the girl who fixed his ship so he searches the cosmos for a girl who can wield a sonic socket wrench.
In an apt ending, Cinderella escapes and claims the socket wrench and the Prince asks for her hand, but she has a different response than in the classic fairy tale. [picture book for mighty girls, ages 4 and up]
Magic Trash: A Story of Tyree Guyton and His Art by J. H. Shapiro, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
This true story about Tyree Guyton literally turned trash into art to save his decaying Detroit neighborhood. And it worked. The Heidelberg Project is more than 30 years old. Visit this remarkable public art display in Detroit or online at www.heidelberg.org. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
In Mary’s Garden by Tina and Carson Kügler
As a little girl, Mary was happiest building things. She helped her father build a house on the shore of Lake Michigan. She collected treasures from the shore — driftwood, sea glass, stones and broken household objects — and used them to create marvelous sculptures for her garden.
This picture book is about the Wisconsin artist Mary Nohl and her garden in her Lake Michigan cottage. Even today, Mary’s art is controversial. The John Michael Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin is seeking to preserve her legacy. You can learn more about that here. [picture book about staying true to yourself, ages 4 and up]
Mary Nohl’s house and garden (photo by Tina Prigge, captured by Salon Vagabond)
What About Moose? by Coren Rosen Schwartz & Rebecca J. Gomez, illustrated by Keiko Yamaguchi
Fox and her friends are building a tree house and she wants to be the project foreman. But then Moose joins in and takes over by shouting commands using a megaphone. He thinks he is doing his share but his friends don’t agree because no one likes a dictator! When the treehouse goes up, there is one small problem. Everyone is needed to figure this one out, not just Moose! [picture book about working together, ages 4 and up]
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Lisa P Genschel
You missed If I built a house by Chris Van Dusen. @stevenmalk
Thanks Lisa!! I’ll hunt that one down!!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…4 Early Chapter Book Giveaway! #ScholasticBranches
I LOVED In Mary’s Garden–that was such a lovely book. One that’s somewhat similar is, and another favorite of mine is Bottle Houses: The Creative World of Grandma Prisbrey by Melissa Eskridge Slaymaker with amazing illustrations by the talented Julie Paschkis!!
And Interstellar Cinderella is cute too. That title is just perfect!
Hi Maria,
Thanks for your great book recommendation!! That’s such a perfect pairing with Mary’s Garden!!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…4 Early Chapter Book Giveaway! #ScholasticBranches
Learning how to do woodworking is on my personal bucket list. I love this book list!
maryanne recently posted…Fun Halloween Crafts for Kids
Hi MaryAnne,
My regret from Junior High is not taking shop classes. At my school, you could only take science if you gave up shop which was woodworking, metal shop and drafting. I wish I could learn it too!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…4 Early Chapter Book Giveaway! #ScholasticBranches
Thanks for including WHAT ABOUT MOOSE? in this list! I love INTERSTELLAR CINDERELLA, but haven’t read the other two. I’ll have to check them out!
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks so much for stopping by! Always so fun to have authors and illustrators visit here!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…4 Early Chapter Book Giveaway! #ScholasticBranches
Love the Mesopotamia Throne! Your daughter and her friend look so proud with their woodwork creation. Unique project.
In Mary’s Garden caught my attention. Thanks for sharing!
Patricia Tilton recently posted…Happy International Dot Day!
Hi Patricia,
They warned everyone against sitting on it. I guess it’s meant for limited use only! I thought it turned out great!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…4 Early Chapter Book Giveaway! #ScholasticBranches
I always know what to look for at the library after visiting your blog!
Ann recently posted…This Summer Rocks! Amber
Thanks Ann! I bet your kids love to build with an industrial designer as a mom!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…4 Early Chapter Book Giveaway! #ScholasticBranches
I agree — girls using power tools is an awesome site! Love the list Mia!
Jacquie recently posted…Non-scary Pirate Books & Movies for Kids
Thanks Jacquie! My daughter loves her tool belt and power drill! It makes me so happy!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…4 Early Chapter Book Giveaway! #ScholasticBranches
You make such great lists! This is a wonderful topic. Thanks for linking up at Booknificent Thursday at Mommynificent.com!
Tina
Tina at Mommynificent recently posted…Never Too Early! – Booknificent Thursday Link Up Party #115
Thanks Tina!!
Pragmatic Mom recently posted…4 Early Chapter Book Giveaway! #ScholasticBranches