A Girl Can Build Anything

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.