15 Picture Books About Engineering for Kids

A young girl decides to create the most magnificent thing. With her trusty assistant and best friend by her side, who happens to be an adorable little pup, she puts her plan into motion. However, after creating it, she realizes it’s all wrong. Will her magnificent thing come to fruition? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

A lesson for kids and grownups alike, one of the best takeaways from this story is the need to take a step back once frustration sets in. Quitting doesn’t have to or need to be the only option. So many times, the answer will reveal itself, once the problem is tackled with a clear mind.

As a follow up to The Most Magnificent Thing, young readers or listeners will also enjoy The Most Magnificent Idea or The Most Magnificent Maker’s A to Z, both by Ashley Spires.

Emily Warren was a bright girl who enjoyed learning about math and science during an age when society didn’t believe that girls were capable of excelling in these fields. She married Washington Roebling, who became the chief engineer for the Brooklyn Bridge. After some time, Washington became sick and although not an engineer by trade, Emily stepped in to keep the construction process going. Then and today, Emily is celebrated for her fantastic feats in helping to complete the Brooklyn Bridge and furthering women in STEM fields.

In a small village in Malawi, a terrible drought struck, leaving the villagers without food or money. Fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba was resolved to make a difference. Collecting junkyard scraps and going against all odds, he created a working windmill that could produce electricity and pump water. Kamkwamba shows readers how important determination is, even when those around you doubt you and that anyone can make a difference, no matter how young they may be.

Maxine loves to make new things from old things. When she receives a pet fish, she immediately gets to work on making him a new, better home. By repurposing items from around the house, she creates the most spectacular fish tank. One day at school, Maxine’s teacher announces they’re going to have a pet parade. Maxine is excited, but bringing a fish to a pet parade is not quite as simple as she’d hoped. A perfect picture book for young tinkerers, it is full of creative ideas and exuberates the use of imagination.

Rube Goldberg, an engineer by education and artist by trade, became famous for his comic strips performing simple tasks in the most elaborate ways. This picture book hilariously shows 14 extravagant inventions used to help Rube get through a typical school day. Children will love the colorful illustrations and playful contraptions that bring a dose of fun and complexity to a simple day. Just beware, your home may never be the same after reading this book!

Emma Ren is excited when her teacher puts the weekly assignment on the board – who can build the best robot? She immediately starts thinking about who she would like to be on her team, but her teacher has other ideas.

Being matched with a boy in her class who doesn’t believe girls could possibly be capable of building things is trying for both of them. Good for boys and girls, this picture book takes readers through the engineering process while placing a strong emphasis on teamwork. It illuminates the fallacies of stereotypes and shows that two heads can be better than one.

Perfect for little readers (or listeners), this title, part of the Big Dreams for Little People series, shows children how drawings and building blocks today can become future careers tomorrow. From bridges and buildings to computers and robots, engineers have a hand in almost every field in the modern world. This picture book discusses the many types of things that engineers create and build in a simplistic way that children can understand.