Design & DIY

4 books to introduce young DIYers to the workshop

adorable african-american father and son using drill Photo by LightField Studios/Shutterstock

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Looking to introduce a young cottager to the workshop? Here are some books to get them (and you) started.

cover of girls garage book by emily pilloton, books

1. Girls Garage: How to Use Any Tool, Tackle Any Project, and Build the World You Want to See

Emily Pilloton worked in architecture and construction before she started Girls Garage, a non-profit that teaches basic carpentry and repair skills to young women ages 14 and up. Billed as “the only book you’ll ever need for a lifetime of building and repair,” Girls Garage features 175 illustrated tool guides, 11 projects, and 21 essential skills, and it also showcases 15 real-world girls and women. $43, Indigo

rosie revere, engineer cover, books

2. Rosie Revere, Engineer

The only thing that Rosie Revere’s great-great-aunt Rose (Rosie the Riveter) wants to do is fly. Luckily, Rosie is a talented inventor of all sorts of gadgets, and she’s determined to help. Although Rosie fails at first, she learns to keep trying—an important lesson for any maker in training. $23, Indigo

cover of rosie revere's big project book for bold engineers, books

3. Rosie Revere’s Big Project Book for Bold Engineers

DIYers are always thinking about the next challenge. Rosie Revere’s Big Project Book for Bold Engineers accompanies Rosie Revere, Engineer. It includes more than 40 projects that kids can invent, draw, and make, including a solar oven and a dog treat dispenser. $18, Indigo

cover of woodworking with kids, books

4. The Guide to Woodworking with Kids: Craft Projects to Develop the Lifelong Skills of Young Makers

Doug Stowe has spent 20 years teaching students K-12 how to work with wood. The Guide to Woodworking with Kids helps parents, grandparents, and guardians safely teach little ones the skills they need as future craftspeople. It also features 15 hands-on projects, such as a toy train and a basic tool box, to help kids master the basics. $30, Amazon

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