The books: Building the Future series
Stories that show kids the real people engineering, building, and inventing the future, written by a construction manager who builds it every day. More books are on the way.
Book 2 · Chapter book · Ages 9–12 · 8 chapters
Who Will Build Tomorrow?
A STEM story about curiosity, teamwork, and learning from mistakes.
Chris, Kelsey, Kai, and Nya have a challenge: help design the playground for a new community center. With their construction mentor, Ms. Arat, they explore how water, energy, materials, technology, and people shape the world around them. They build, test, disagree, and try again. Then their model breaks on the morning of the showcase, and they have to decide what matters most.
Inside the book
Chapter 1: It Started With a Question 
Chapter 2: Tomorrow Is Already Here 
Chapter 3: The Playground Problem 
Chapter 4: Built to Last 
Chapter 5: When the Building Thinks 
Chapter 6: The Day Everything Goes Wrong 
Chapter 7: The Future They Forgot 
Chapter 8: Who Will Build Tomorrow?
What's inside
- 8 illustrated chapters
- A hidden cone in the pictures
- "Your Turn" questions after chapters 1 to 7
- 5 Future Builder Challenges
- A glossary of 40+ real building words
- Guides for parents and educators
Kids practice
- Asking better questions
- Testing ideas and learning from failure
- Using AI wisely and checking answers
- Designing for every kind of person
- Working through disagreement
Good to know
Reading level is about 5th grade. Strong younger readers enjoy it, and it works well read aloud in grades 3 and 4.
The story stands on its own; you don't need Book 1 first.
Book 1 · Illustrated book, ages 5–10 · Coloring book, all ages
Girls in Engineering & Construction
Strong foundations, fearless futures.
Nya studies foundations. Sophia designs mechanical systems. Kelsey leads safety. Lian explores chemistry. As they grow from curious students into engineering and construction leaders, they learn that building the future takes vision, discipline, courage, and teamwork.
The companion coloring book lets kids color the four friends on the job site, in the lab, and leading the team. Made for girls of all ages. Get them together for a gift or a screen-free afternoon.
Prices are set by Amazon and may change.
Four friends in the STEM lab 
Nya and the foundation 
Kelsey's safety checklist 
Lian's chemistry 
First day on site 
Graduation day 
Leaders on the job 
Passing it on
Questions families ask
What age is Book 2 for?
Ages 9 to 12. The four main characters are 9, so kids this age see themselves in them, and the challenges keep older kids busy.
Do we need to read Book 1 first?
No. Each book stands on its own. Book 1 is a shorter illustrated book for ages 5 to 10, with a companion coloring book for all ages. Book 2 is a longer chapter book for ages 9 to 12.
Is Book 2 only for kids who like science?
Not at all. It's a story about friends, mistakes, and teamwork. The science shows up the way it does in real life: inside problems the characters care about.
Can I buy copies for a whole class?
Yes. Visit the schools page to request classroom-set pricing.