Robin Jacobs

This is maybe more for grown-ups? Or for older kids (mid- to upper elementary) who are interested in all of the aspects of building an eco-house, from the foundation (literally) to the solar panels and "green" roof. It's very thorough, describing the hows and whys of the process from the ground up, including plumbing, electricity, and insulation. The language is clear and specific, and the architect in charge of the project is a brown-skinned woman named Masha. The family appears to be mixed race: the father has brown skin, the mom looks white, and the three kids have varying skin tones.

I would have liked to see more back matter (there's only a glossary), particularly selected sources, and some kind of acknowledgment about the privilege inherent in being able to choose to build the exact house you want.

See also: Building Our House by Jonathan Bean… (mehr)