"Girls Can Do It Too": How a Teacher’s Mom Inspired Her First Book Empowering Girls in the Trades

RACINE, WI – Kidia Burns recalls the distinct scent of a factory that clung to her mother like a protective layer, an experience that ultimately inspired Burns to write “Girls Can Do It Too!”

As a welding teacher at J.I. Case High School, Burns has a clear memory of her mother returning home with metal shavings scattered in her hair like snowflakes and rags tied around her waist. This image left a lasting impression on her.

Mom serves as author’s inspiration

“My mother was a machinist,” Burns said. “I just loved that she would come home dirty. She had on her work boots. She had her shop rag in the back of her pants. She had metal chips all in her hair. And I thought, ‘Oh my God, my mom looks so strong. I want to be just like her.’”

Burns remembers her mother, who passed away in 2017, carrying a toolbox and working in fields typically dominated by men for about 20 years.

“I just want to make sure I’m making her proud. She was my inspiration for why I do everything that I do,” Burns said.

“Most of the people in our family are nurses and most of the men are factory workers, but my encouragement came from both of my parents,” Burns added.

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Burns discovered the rewards of working in manufacturing—competitive pay, flexible hours, and solid benefits. These lessons she now imparts to her welding students at Case High School.

“It’s hard to try to convince them sometimes because it’s dirty and it’s hard work, but hard work pays off,” Burns said.

This is why she became an instructor, aiming to teach more women how to operate a CNC machine, read a micrometer, understand blueprints, and grasp basic shop math.

What “Girls Can Do It Too!” is about

Before Burns began writing her book last spring, she spent time leading girls through her nonprofit, Professional Women in Trades, encouraging them to “pick up a wrench, pick up a caliber, and take on non-traditional careers.”

The idea for the book emerged during a time when Burns spent time with her granddaughter, Neleh Avery.

“I held an event (at Case) in 2024 called Teens and Trades, and I met a bunch of little girls who thought that working in trades was dirty and they couldn’t do it,” Burns said. “The idea of the book was to inspire girls at a younger age and to expose them to trades and let them know you can do it, you can do machining and welding.”

“Girls Can Do It Too!” addresses these themes, showcasing girls in various trade fields.

Looking ahead, Burns plans to create a series of children’s books focused on specific trades.

“The next one that I want to do is welding,” Burns said. “It’s going to be dedicated to welding, and they’ll have the girls with a welding mask on, and going over different techniques in the book for them.”

“Girls Can Do It Too!” is available at barnesandnoble.com.