Rosie Revere, Engineer; Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts

Andrea Beatty and David Roberts, the creators of Iggy Peck, Architect; are back with a second adventure that epitomises the adage…”If you don’t succeed at first, try and try again.” I do have one issue with that statement, should you keep trying at something that is always going to fail? Like trying to fly a kite without wind…sorry, gone off on a bit of a philosophical tangent there.

Anyway, onto Rosie Revere, Engineer…Rosie Revere has a dream, and that dream is to become an engineer. She is always on the scrounge for things that she can use on her next project. Her room is a wonderful collection of gizmos and gadgets. Rosie used to love making things for her family but when an uncle laughs at one of her inventions she decides that it is best to keep them hidden under her bed.

All this changes though when Rosie’s eldest auntie turns up to stay along with her dream to fly. Determined to make her auntie’s dream come true, Rosie sets about making a flying machine and learns some very valuable lessons along the way.

Rosie Revere, Engineer is a fabulous rhyming story about one young girl’s big dreams. It is full of positive messages about never giving up, perseverance, how mistakes help us learn and embracing failure. The rhyming prose are a delight and the watercolour illustrations are detailed and engaging.

The read challenges gender stereotypes and is packed with positive role models. It is good to have a young girl represented as an engineer and there is a lovely double page spread that pays tribute to several female engineers who are some of the great pioneers of aviation. Do check out the historical note at the back of the book that pays tribute to the millions of women around the world that helped provide equipment and supplies for the allied forces during the second world war. I think children will be amazed to read that women were involved in the building of ships, aircraft, tanks and vehicles.

This is essential reading for any young child, particularly girls, who aspire to become engineers. An enjoyable and engaging read and a reminder that you only really fail if you give-up.

Recommended for 6+.