BUILDING HOMES FOR ALL

Kachala considers dual and dueling problems—an acute worldwide housing shortage and construction-generated pollution—and offers some inspiring potential solutions.

The author emphasizes positive approaches such as construction automation, “upstream thinking,” and housing variety. She convincingly connects the origins of the shortfall to climate change, arguing that these aren’t necessarily conflicting issues; rather, they can and should be addressed together. Kachala boldly tackles political realities: NIMBYism, government inaction, zoning laws, and more. As she describes proposed fixes, readers will learn about robotics, machine feedback loops, digital tools such as virtual reality, and innovations in materials (especially mass timber) and design (for instance, 3-D printing using recyclable or even waste materials). Kachala bases her case on the universal human right to shelter and especially stresses the meaning and importance of “home” for kids. Bright photos, informative captions, and lucid summaries and sidebars offer easy entry to thorny issues. Precise, cheerful line-and-color graphics enlivening every spread often resemble a more realistic version of typical architectural projections. Final pages provide a dozen-plus ways for kids to get involved. Kachala’s expository flair, enthusiastic and informal tone, and her clear, in-depth content convey confidence in her readers’ ability to tackle the circumstances they are inheriting. Here they’ll learn what they need to know to grapple with that future. People depicted are diverse.

Realistic yet uplifting—a testament to the power of STEAM.