NAHB’s Children’s Book Makes Impact in Construction Industry, Wins Prestigious Award
One year ago, BuilderBooks, the publishing arm of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), released a new children’s book, The House That She Built. The publication, written by Mollie Elkman, aims to help bridge the gap of the industry’s skilled labor shortage by educating and exposing children to STEAM and construction careers, and elevating women in the industry. The book was inspired by the team of real women who came together from around the country to build a one-of-a-kind home in Utah: The House That SHE Built.
This past spring, The House That She Built was one of 150 books selected to receive the prestigious IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award. The book won Gold for the best Children’s/Young Adult Cover Design. The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) had received a record-breaking 1,894 entries.
What started as a house and turned into a book, has now evolved into a full national movement to show girls that they can accomplish anything. To celebrate, Zillow has created a listing for the book.
“We are so proud of the impact that The House that She Built has had on educating young people on careers in construction and highlighting the importance of women’s representation in the industry,” said NAHB First Vice Chairman Alicia Huey, a custom home builder and developer from Birmingham, Ala. “It is great to see the success and recognition the book has received over the past year, and we look forward to seeing what is yet to come with this movement.”
The House That She Built has received widespread industry support and is making an impact in many ways, including:
- Creating The House That She Built Girls Scout Patch Program
- Hosting activities for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America
- Translation of The House That She Built into Vietnamese
- Printing of 50,000 copies within the first year
- Support from social media influencers in the trades
- Featured at industry shows such as the NAHB International Builders’ Show, the International Roofing Expo and the Floor Coverings International Convention and Women in Residential Construction Conference
- The House That She Built limited edition jewelry line created by Goldfine Jewelry to inspire the younger generations. Proceeds from the collection will support skilled workforce development, diversity and inclusion in the construction industry.
- NAHB’s Professional Women in Building participation around the country
The House That She Built is only the beginning of inspiring diversity and inclusion for future generations of the skilled workforce for the housing industry. Industry leaders 84 Lumber and Andersen Corporation continue to be sponsors of the book and support its mission to further workforce development initiatives in home building by generating awareness of the skilled trades to underrepresented communities.
The House That She Built is a 10 x 10 hardcover picture book with dust jacket/36 pages, $17.95 retail, ISBN 978-0-86718-7854. The book is distributed by IPG and is available by visiting www.shebuiltbook.com.
[Editor’s Note: Members of the press who are interested in receiving a complimentary copy of The House That She Built to review for their publication/show or would like to schedule an interview with the author should contact Patricia Potts at ppotts@nahb.org or 202-266-8224].