"Read It. Build It. Code It.: Growing K-5 Engineers Through Literacy-Based STEM" demonstrates how picture books and stories can serve as powerful entry points for engineering and design in elementary classrooms. Participants will actively engage in hands-on stations that mirror classroom practice, including applying the engineering design process to literature-based challenges, creating solutions with makerspace materials, and exploring both unplugged and robotic coding. Educators will design, build, test, and improve projects using tools such as simple robotics, stop-motion animation, and low-floor STEM materials-all grounded in authentic texts. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use lesson ideas that integrate literacy, engineering, and coding while fostering creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration in K-5 learners.