So You Want To Be An Architect (So You Want To Be A...)
About
So You Want to Be an Architect — the career book for the kid who can’t stop building, drawing, and dreaming up spaces.
For every young reader who builds elaborate worlds out of blocks, notices how a room feels the moment they walk in, or redraws the floor plan of their own house for fun — this beautifully illustrated introduction to the world of architecture was written for you.
But this isn’t a book that pretends architecture is only about drawing pretty buildings. It reveals a surprising truth: a great building doesn’t start with the building. It starts with people. Before an architect draws a single line, she listens — asking how a family really lives, what they need, what they love. Readers will discover why the skill that matters most in architecture isn’t drawing at all. It’s empathy.
Inside, kids ages 10–14 will explore:
- What architects really do — from the first pencil sketch on a napkin to the powerful software (AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp) that builds an entire structure inside a computer
- The real tools of the trade — sketching, physical models, 3D printing, and an architect’s most underrated instrument: their own senses
- Unforgettable true stories — the London skyscraper that melted a car, the tower with a giant swinging ball named Damper Baby, the world’s thinnest house, and Gaudí’s upside-down Sagrada Família
- The trailblazers who shaped our skylines — Filippo Brunelleschi, Frank Lloyd Wright, Maya Lin, Zaha Hadid, Jørn Utzon, and Norma Merrick Sklarek
- A “Day in the Life,” a glossary of architect words, and a practical guide to what any curious kid can start doing right now
Along the way, readers learn how the spaces around us shape how we heal, how we learn, and how we gather — and whether they have the curiosity, patience, and eye for people that the work takes.
A perfect pick for:
- Curious kids who love building, drawing, LEGO, Minecraft, and design
- STEAM learning and career exploration at home, in homeschool, or in the classroom
- Parents, teachers, and librarians seeking smart, inspiring middle-grade nonfiction
- Gifts for future architects, engineers, and makers ages 8 to 14
Part of the So You Want To Be A… series — honest, inspiring, beautifully illustrated career guides that treat young readers as the future professionals they might become. With nearly 200 titles and growing, there’s one for every dream.
Because someone has to design the room where a child learns to read, and the library that anchors a town for a hundred years. Maybe that someone is your reader.
Praise for this book
"Have you ever drawn a house and wished it was real? So You Want to Be an Architect by Linda Soules is a non-fiction children’s book that introduces readers to the world of being an architect. Soules describes these professionals as part artist, part engineer, part listener, and part dreamer. For them, the simple act of sketching ideas can be the first step toward building a real structure. In this book, young readers get a behind-the-scenes look at this career. An architect’s work includes sketching designs, constructing models, visiting construction sites, and more. Another aspect of this field is understanding clients’ needs. Architects create spaces that turn those wishes into something real. Also included are sections on the tools they use, where they work, and the types of projects they design. Challenges and rewards are also highlighted. At the end, there are pages introducing famous architects and a glossary of terms. So, do you want to be an architect?
I’ve read several books in Linda Soules’ So You Want to Be… series, and just like the others, So You Want to Be an Architect did not disappoint. I love how she continues to introduce children to different careers while reminding them that these opportunities are for everyone. The dedication says it is for “every kid who ever drew the floor plan of an imaginary house,” and I was one of those kids. I really connected with Linda Soules's description of architects as dreamers. As an educator, I would read it during a careers unit. Then, as a follow-up, we could vote as a class for our favorite buildings. Students can also design their own structure or create a model. I’d also use the glossary to help young learners understand new architecture terms. I also appreciate how Linda Soules presents so much information in a way that is clear and accessible to kids. I can tell how much hard work she puts into each title. The artwork adds another layer to the experience. My favorite is the one depicting a woman wearing a hard hat on a construction site. Julia Morgan, the architect behind San Simeon, once said, “Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves.” This guide shows children that their drawings could one day become places that really matter to others. Anyone looking to read about unique careers, creativity, or designing will want to pick this one up."