Writer of STEM/STEAM Nonfiction Books for Kids
People everywhere should have somewhere safe and affordable to call home—but many don't. When we do build more housing, the construction unleashes tons of greenhouse gases. The world is facing a double whammy—a housing shortage and a climate crisis!
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What if you could 3D print eco-friendly houses in months, weeks, or even days?
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What if 3D printing human settlements on the Moon and Mars helps us tackle housing challenges here on Earth?
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What if you could quickly manufacture modular mass timber buildings that actually slow climate change?
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And what if robots, drones and wearable technologies were our superhelpers?
These ideas might seem far-fetched and futuristic, but they’re happening. The future of construction is here…and it’s becoming a STEAM career.
BUILDING HOMES FOR ALL:
TECHNOLOGY FOR A FAIR AND GREEN PLANET
🎉 REVIEWS & ENDORSEMENTS
“Bright photos, informative captions, and lucid summaries and sidebars offer easy entry to thorny issues. Kachala’s expository flair, enthusiastic and informal tone, and her clear, in-depth content convey confidence in her readers’ ability to tackle circumstances they are inheriting. Realistic yet uplifting―a testament to the power of STEAM.”
Kirkus Reviews
THE MOST TRUSTED VOICE IN BOOK REVIEWS SINCE 1933.
"Building Homes for All is a vital, inspiring look into how innovation and empathy can reshape one of our most basic human needs: housing. As an investor in 14Trees, I’ve witnessed firsthand how technologies like 3D printing, robotics automation, and sustainable materials can accelerate homebuilding and dramatically reduce carbon footprints. And through my work with Eco-Explorer, a nonprofit program that empowers young minds to understand sustainability, I’ve seen the power of education in sparking real-world impact. This book is a brilliant introduction for middle school-grade readers to the future of housing—one that is faster, greener, fairer, and more inclusive. It challenges young readers to see not just what is, but what could be. I hope it inspires a new generation of builders, dreamers, and changemakers, just like it inspired me."
Phoebe Wang
INVESTMENT PARTNER, AMAZON CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABILITY ADVOCATE, AND FOUNDER OF THE ECO-EXPLORER PROGRAM
"A warm and heartfelt book that takes us back to childhood – when the world still felt simple and kind. Building Homes for All shows how we can build differently: faster, greener, and with more care for people and the planet. We’re proud to see Team4UA featured in its pages — with our 3D-printed school in Ukraine. Grateful for the mention of Ukraine and for sharing our mission with young readers! Highly recommend this book to parents who want to talk to their kids about the future…”
Jean-Christophe Bonis
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“I was honoured to lead the team that built Canada’s first 3D-printed homes for residential use, and I’m honoured again to have our project featured in this wonderful book. Building Homes for All provides insight into complex housing challenges in an accessible way. I would recommend this book to youth, and to parents, who are interested in learning more about the housing issues Habitat for Humanity is working to address. The book powerfully conveys why housing matters and affirms that housing is a right. It is a positive, solutions-oriented read that will inspire future problem-solvers, home builders, innovators, and government leaders. It’s also wonderful to see a woman author and illustrator working together to encourage young readers to explore STEAM and solutions for our shared future.”
Fiona Coughlin
CFRE, C. DIR, CEO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WINDSOR-ESSEX
"This book is bursting with excitement and possibility. It inspires young people to imagine a future where everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home, a future made possible by bold ideas and innovations in science and technology that are transforming how we build and live."
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“Building Homes for All provides an engaging and thorough look at how technology and automation will help us confront our 21st century challenges with 21st century solutions. The book is replete with factual and up-to-date information that educates kids about housing issues in our world: how we got there, how we’re fixing it, and how we move forward. With plenty of photographs, infographics, and visuals, the book clearly explains a complex issue for younger readers and is doubly an excellent primer for all ages on the intersection of technology and society uniting together to address our housing future.”
Erol Ahmed
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS, BUILT ROBOTICS
“Building Homes for All will captivate middle schoolers with its engaging stories and graphics, while broadening their understanding of the intertwined housing and climate crises — and the technology, innovations, and collaborations needed to tackle them. I’m confident the book will inspire the next generation of change-makers to embrace curiosity, challenge the status quo, and forge multi disciplinary solutions to complex challenges.”
PROFESSOR, ARCHITECT, ATTORNEY, AND URBANIST
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"Building Homes for All began by explaining in understandable terms problems facing the housing industry. Rather than leaving us hopeless, the book proceeded to detail many cool initiatives leading to positive change around the world. Readers will feel empowered to explore this exciting field. The format and illustrations are high engaging."
FORMER FIRST CANADA SENIOR MENTOR AND STEM TEACHER
“This book sparks curiosity and shows children how technology and creativity can help solve real-world challenges like affordable and sustainable housing. As someone working daily with large-scale 3D construction printing, I was both impressed and delighted by this book. It manages to translate a highly complex and rapidly evolving technology into a story that children can grasp, while still highlighting the hope and opportunities 3D printing brings to the world. The mix of real-world examples, history, and imaginative possibilities makes the book inspiring not only for children, but for adults as well. It shows young readers that innovation can tackle some of the biggest challenges we face, such as affordable and sustainable housing. This is exactly the kind of book that plants seeds of curiosity, creativity, and responsibility in the next generation—the very people who will take construction, design, and technology to the next level."
Mikkel Brich
CEO OF 3DCP GROUP
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"Informative, thought-provoking, and inspiring. Young readers need books like this—and so does the construction industry. The world needs innovators and critical thinkers to tackle the dual challenge of housing shortages and climate change, and middle grade books like this help seed the next generation. This easy-to-read and beautifully illustrated book offers a realistic yet forward-looking view of construction. Along the way, it breaks down stereotypes and shines a light on exciting new technologies and trends. What I liked most is that it inspires young readers through complex, real-world problems, difficult trade-offs, and emerging innovations. And it doesn’t sugarcoat innovation—it shows that innovation is risky and change is hard, but that not innovating is even riskier. The book also emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork and strong core values: protecting and respecting people, and building homes (and futures) for all in a responsible, safe, and sustainable way. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing this book with my own children—watching their surprised reactions and genuine curiosity as they discovered 3D-printed houses and other emerging tech—and learning new things right alongside them. I’m sure many other parents, children, and educators will find it just as eye-opening and inspiring—a perfect spark for conversations about the kind of world we want to build together."
Karl Zelik
ENGINEERING PROFRESSOR AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY & CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER AT HEROWEAR
"Building Homes for All clearly articulates—for audiences young and seasoned alike—how robotics, exoskeletons, and other emerging technologies are reshaping the way we build and care for our planet. Elaine beautifully captures the spirit of innovation driving a new generation of builders who blend human ingenuity with smart machines to create a fairer, greener future.”
Josh Caputo
FOUNDER & CEO OF HUMOTECH
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“A fantastic read! This book does a great job of drilling down to the root of our current housing crisis, from policy problems to NIMBY-ism, and presents real solutions that the industry is implementing, such as factory-built housing and mass timber. Building Homes For All is an amazing book for kids to learn more about this important topic, get excited about awesome cutting-edge technology, and, beyond that, their parents should be reading it as well!"
PROJECT MANAGER, HOME CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
“This book gives young readers an extraordinary opportunity to see how innovation is helping to meet two global challenges: the shortage of safe, healthy, affordable housing and the continued escalation of climate change. Readers learn about cutting-edge building design and technology being used to solve these problems. The book shows how 3D printing, using eco-friendly materials, can build housing in record time. It shows technology such as virtual reality and robotics being used not only to design and implement new construction methods and sustainably produced materials, but also to enhance and ensure the safety of construction workers whose skills remain vital in this new approach to home building. Page after page, I found myself thinking ‘no way!’ as I started reading—then ‘way to go!’ as the text, photos, and terrific illustrations showed the reality of so many seemingly improbable innovations. Packed with information that’s well balanced between text and visuals, this book will engage middle-grade readers (and older readers, too)."
CHILDREN'S AUTHOR