Building Homes for All

Building Homes for All

  • By: Elaine Kachala
    Illustrated By: Catherine Chan
  • Pages:96
  • Publisher:Orca Book Publishers
  • Series: Orca Think
  • Themes:Green housing, Sustainable housing, dwellings, ecological housing, Climate change
  •  
  • Available:03/17/2026
  • Lexile:970L
Hardcover
9781459839564
$26.95
Ebook
9781459839588
$21.99

The world is facing both a housing crisis and a climate crisis.

People everywhere are struggling to find and pay for homes. When we do build new housing, the construction unleashes tons of greenhouse gases. We need more affordable houses built faster without polluting the Earth. What if you could 3D print eco-friendly houses in months, weeks, or even days? What if you could quickly manufacture modular, mass timber buildings that actually slow climate change? And what if learning to 3D print human settlements on the Moon and Mars helps us tackle housing challenges here on Earth?

All of these things are possible. Technology offers hope and solutions, but it takes teamwork to challenge old ideas and change traditional ways of doing things. Discover why homes are essential for our health and well-being and meet trailblazers who are proving that we can create affordable green housing and healthy communities at the same time.

“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
“Provides an engaging and thorough look at how technology and automation will help us confront our twenty-first-century challenges with twenty-first-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 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

“I was honored to lead the team that built Canada’s first 3D-printed homes for residential use, and I’m honored 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 the author and illustrator, both women, 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

"Building Homes for All begins by describing in understandable terms problems facing the housing industry. Rather than leaving us hopeless, the book details many cool initiatives leading to positive change around the world. Readers will feel empowered to explore this exciting field. The format and illustrations are highly engaging.”

– Sarah Sils, Former FIRST Canada Senior Mentor and STEM Teacher
"As someone working daily with large-scale 3D construction printing, I am both impressed and delighted by this book. It manages to translate 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 also for adults. 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 a sense of 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
“A warm and heartfelt book. 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. Highly recommend this book to parents who want to talk to their kids about the future.”
– Jean-Christophe Bonis, CEO of the Team4UA Charitable Foundation
“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 to create a fairer, greener future.”
– Josh Caputo, founder and CEO, Humotech
“Informative, thought-provoking and inspiring. 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.”
– Karl Zelik, engineering professor at Vanderbilt University and chief scientific officer at HeroWear
Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standard Selection   | 2025  |  Commended

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