Paula Bunyan

Paula Bunyan holds a master's degree in industrial/organizational psychology and spent twenty+ years studying how people find meaningful, fulfilling work. After spotting one clear gap — skilled trades are rarely introduced to children during their most imaginative years — she set out to change that. Her mission: Build trade talent, one story at a time.

Why It Matters

Career ideas form early. Research shows that children begin developing ideas about jobs and their value in society as early as age three. Between the ages of two and six, children experience a critical imagination window where they freely dream about who they can become, entirely free from limits tied to education, income, or stereotypes. Exposing young minds to career-related books during this vital period broadens their possibilities. Stories normalize skilled trades, build respect for hands-on work, and expand what careers feel truly possible.

About the Book Series

Three books per skilled trade are planned, each with Paula Bunyan and Timber the purple goat guiding readers.

1. ABCs OF TRADES: If kids can say “tyrannosaurus rex,” they can certainly say words like “ampere” and “circuit”! Familiarity of words leads to comfort and increasing understanding as they age.

2. EVERYDAY HEROES: Role-model stories celebrate the real-world impact of skilled professionals.

Children grow up reading about firefighters — so why not electricians, welders, or plumbers as heroes of their own trades?

3. TRADE MATCH RHYMES: Playful, rhyming stories that help parents and children spot the interests and strengths that may naturally lead to a trade.

Benefits

• Builds Early Confidence: Early exposure to trade-related vocabulary builds familiarity and curiosity, giving children the confidence to explore STEM and trade skills.

• Encourages Interactive Learning: The engaging rhymes and colorful characters keep young readers captivated, turning reading time into an exciting exploration of how things work.

• Sparks Meaningful Conversations: Parents and educators can easily use the story to discuss how skilled trades professionals impact our daily lives.

• Empowers Future Generations: Highlights the skilled trades as rewarding, secure, and highly valuable career paths.

Add Paula Bunyan Children's Books for the Skilled Trades to your home, school, or classroom library to inspire the next generation of skilled professionals. Start building trade talent, one story at a time.