I'm Going to be an... Engineer

I'm Going to be a/an... #1

by Junissa Bianda (Illustrator)

Little ones dream big. They may look like they're playing with building blocks or drawing cars, but really, they're constructing towering skyscrapers and designing superfast race cars. Learn a little about what engineers do, and spark a passion that lasts a lifetime.

Hardcover

First published April 21, 2021

About the author

Junissa Bianda is an illustrator from Indonesia with a passion for art. Rarely do you see her without a colored pencil and a sketchbook. In the past, she proclaimed herself a professional scribbler, as she was known for scribbling on her friends’ school notebooks. She holds an undergraduate degree in graphic design, a graduate degree in children's book illustration from the Academy of Art University, and has studied everything from oil painting and manga to 3D animation. Her work can be identified as whimsical and colorful. She currently lives in Indonesia with her mom, five siblings, and two cats.

Reviews

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter loves this book, and it's so inspiring to hear her answer the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?" with "engineer". The book does includes the simile "move like greased lightning", which honestly, I'd never heard before and might be a little odd. There's another bit where the character states that their "machine will power more machines... and more... and more... and more..." and it's fun to keep going and yell "and more" so loud that mom gets on to us :)

What I really appreciate about this book is the representation it offers, and this book helped me realize how important it is to have diverse representation in children's books. The main character is a girl, and she's playing with a child of unspecified ancestry. Children (including my daughter) can see themselves in these characters and also learn to empathize with people who may look different from themselves. Seeing a girl engineer in the book helps my daughter imagine herself in that role, and seeing a child who reminds her of her friend Pepe from daycare being a doctor helps her build from the assumption that anyone can be a doctor.

Overall a fun read!