Follow Your Dreams
RSSReviewed by Amy Rowland, Guggenheim Elementary School, NY -- School Library Journal, 11/01/2009
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Also in this article:
Careers - 300 |
Careers - 300
From kindergarten to high school, “what I want to be when I grow up” is a topic continually worth exploring, especially in an era when many people are likely to embark on multiple careers in their lifetimes. The following series have something for almost everyone: those interested in traditional as well as cutting-edge careers, elementary through upper-level readers, students seeking solid advice about education and training for specific jobs, and particularly for children pondering the many possibilities.
AMES, Michelle Firefighters in Our Community ISBN 978-1-4042-8058-8. LC 2008049033.AMES, Michelle Librarians in Our Community ISBN 978-1-4042-8072-4. LC 2008053793.
AMES, Michelle Police Officers in Our Community ISBN 978-1-4042-8057-1. LC 2008048148.
AMES, Michelle Teachers in Our Community ISBN 978-1-4042-8069-4. LC 2008051467.
AMES, Michelle Veterinarians in Our Community ISBN 978-1-4042-8071-7. LC 2008052682.
HEATH, Erin Doctors in Our Community ISBN 978-1-4042-8070-0. LC 2008049467. ea vol: 24p. (On the Job Series). photos. glossary. index. CIP. Rosen/PowerKids Pr. Nov. 2009. PLB $21.25.
K-Gr 3–Alternating between pages of simple text (two sentences maximum) and current, informative color photos, these attractive volumes are well suited to students learning the basics about community workers. Brevity occasionally leads to oversimplification: for example, a library is defined only as “a place to find and read books,” but for the most part, the content is just right for the youngest segment of the target audience. A diverse group of children and adults appear in the photographs, undermined by the fact that only one female police officer (posed by a desk rather than out in the field) and one male teacher (out of 10 photos) are shown in their respective volumes. A picture “words to know” glossary and a link to an online list of current Web sites will extend the learning experience for beginning researchers.
BRAUN, Eric If I Were a Major League Baseball Player illus. by Sharon Harmer. ISBN 978-1-4048-5536-6. LC 2009003586.BRAUN, Eric If I Were an Astronaut illus. by Sharon Harmer. ISBN 978-1-4048-5534-2. LC 2009006883.
TROUPE, Thomas Kingsley If I Were a Ballerina illus. by Heather Heyworth. ISBN 978-1-4048-5532-8. LC 2009003295.
TROUPE, Thomas Kingsley If I Were the President illus. by Heather Heyworth. ISBN 978-1-4048-5533-5. LC 2009003298. ea vol: 24p. (Dream Big! Series). illus. further reading. glossary. index. CIP. Picture Window 2009. PLB $25.32.
K-Gr 3–These books are narrated by young protagonists who imagine future glamorous careers and feature cartoon-style illustrations reminiscent of Harry Bliss's work in A Fine, Fine School (HarperCollins). An additional page, “How do you get to be…,” and informative sidebars provide simple facts about job training and education as well as enriching topical information such as the speed of a fastball, what happens in the International Space Station, and the five positions in ballet. A diverse group of girls and boys are depicted at work in all volumes except President. That title is narrated by a boy whose fantasy is more about the perks of the job (getting whatever he wants to eat, splashing in the fountain on the White House lawn) than the responsibilities. Colorful and well designed, the books are sure to be as appealing to children as the careers they describe.
KENNEY, Karen Latchana Firefighters at Work ISBN 978-1-60270-648-4. LC 2009002384.KENNEY, Karen Latchana Librarians at Work ISBN 978-1-60270-649-1. LC 2009002386.
KENNEY, Karen Latchana Mail Carriers at Work ISBN 978-1-60270-650-7. LC 2009002398.
KENNEY, Karen Latchana Nurses at Work ISBN 978-1-60270-651-4. LC 2009002393.
KENNEY, Karen Latchana Police Officers at Work ISBN 978-1-60270-652-1. LC 2009002391.
KENNEY, Karen Latchana Teachers at Work ISBN 978-1-60270-653-8. LC 2009002395. ea vol: illus. by Brian Caleb Dumm. 32p. (Meet Your Community Workers Series). illus. glossary. index. CIP. ABDO/Magic Wagon 2009. PLB $18.95.
K-Gr 3–Though similar in focus to Rosen's “On the Job” series, this set contains far more detail and is better suited in scope to the upper end of its target audience. An uncluttered layout and consistent organization are pluses, but vapid computer-generated cartoon illustrations make the characters look as though they forgot to take their vitamins. Chapter headings such as “Problems on the Job,” “Technology at Work,” and “Special Skills and Training” make it easy to pinpoint specific information. “A Day As…” and “Did You Know?” sections and frequent sidebars add useful supplemental information to each volume.
BREZINA, Corona Careers in Law Enforcement ISBN 978-1-4358-5264-8. LC 2008040856.BREZINA, Corona Careers in the Juvenile Justice System ISBN 978-1-4358-5267-9. LC 2008046758.
HARMON, Daniel E. Careers in the Corrections System ISBN 978-1-4358-5266-2. LC 2008040845.
ORR, Tamra B. Careers in the Court System ISBN 978-1-4358-5265-5. LC 2008041018. ea vol: 112p. (Careers in Criminal Justice Series). photos. reprods. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. CIP. Rosen. Nov. 2009. PLB $31.95.
Gr 9 Up–Informative and text-heavy, this series is well suited to motivated high school readers and provides a comprehensive overview as well as valuable details for those considering a career in criminal justice. Jobs described range from those requiring advanced degrees, such as juvenile court judge or psychologist, to many that do not, among them court reporter, police dispatcher, and forensic technician. Practical advice–including how to prepare for each career, contacts for gathering further information, and recommended additional reading–is attractively interspersed with color photos and detailed captions. Frequent sidebars contain a wealth of historical and biographical information. Pros and cons of each career are discussed, as are ways in which new technology is affecting the criminal justice field.
CLIFFORD, Tim Forensic Scientist illus. by Ken Hooper & Lance Borde. ISBN 978-1-600694-371-7. LC 2009020481.CLIFFORD, Tim Mountaineer illus. by Ken Hooper & Lance Borde. ISBN 978-1-600694-373-1. LC 2009020483.
CLIFFORD, Tim Safari Guide illus. by Ken Hooper & Lance Borde. chart. map. ISBN 978-1-600694-372-4. LC 2009020482.
KOEHLER, Susan Animal Trainer illus. by Thomas Zahler. ISBN 978-1-600694-376-2. LC 2009020486.
KOEHLER, Susan Race Car Crew Chief illus. by Thomas Zahler. map. ISBN 978-1-600694-375-5. LC 2009020485.
KOEHLER, Susan Treasure Hunter illus. by Shepherd Hendrix. ISBN 978-1-600694-374-8. LC 2009020484. ea vol: 32p. (Jobs That Rock Graphic Illustrated Series). illus. photos. reprods. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Rourke 2009. PLB $29.93.
Gr 5-8–A refreshing combination of graphic illustration and photos, and fiction and nonfiction, this series is long on kid-appeal but sometimes short on providing job information. Each volume begins with a fictional preteen character having a graphic-illustrated adventure involving the featured job and ends with a brief fact-filled and photo-illustrated “Discover More” chapter. An enthusiastic tone, diverse characters, and varied and current Web site links are pluses, but writing and illustration quality, information about education and training, and insight into the nitty gritty of each career are erratic. (Most notably, Mountaineer and Safari Guide are far more about recreation than vocation.) Great for reluctant readers or as additional purchases, but not for reports.
GAZLAY, Suzy Learning Green: Careers in Education ISBN 978-0-7787-4854-0; ISBN 978-0-7787-4865-6. LC 2009028074.GAZLAY, Suzy Managing Green Spaces: Careers in Wilderness and Wildlife Management ISBN 978-0-7787-4855-7; ISBN 978-0-7787-4866-3. LC 2009028145.
OWEN, Ruth Building Green Places: Careers in Planning, Designing, and Building ISBN 978-0-7787-4852-6; ISBN 978-0-7787-4863-2. LC 2009028072.
OWEN, Ruth Growing and Eating Green: Careers in Farming, Producing, and Marketing Food ISBN 978-0-7787-4853-3; ISBN 978-0-7787-4864-9. LC 2009022429. ea vol: 64p. (Green-Collar Careers Series). photos. reprods. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Crabtree 2009. PLB $22.95; pap. $10.95.
Gr 5-8–Sometimes you just can't see the rain forest for the trees. These books are full of worthwhile and current information, if readers have the time and inclination to wade through cluttered, collagelike layouts, a jarring variety of typefaces and colors, overstuffed photo captions, and too much text punctuated with too many exclamation points. The best features here are the frequent “Career Profile” sidebars, contributed by people with intriguing and varied “green” jobs (such as running a zoomobile or being a vet for organic dairy cows) and the “Start Your Green Future Now” pages, which provide ideas about projects and activities. An index to careers is sorely needed. Concise information about how to prepare for each career is also lacking.
Rosen's “On the Job” and Picture Window's “Dream Big!” are standouts for the early elementary grades, though neither covers new territory and, along with ABDO's “Meet Your Community Workers,” may be supplemental purchases for classroom or library collections. Rourke's “Jobs That Rock” should be considered for reluctant readers or for collections in which graphic novels and biographies are flying off the shelves. Rosen's impressive “Careers in Criminal Justice” series will fill a worthwhile niche in many high school collections, and Crabtree's “Green Collar Careers,” in spite of its weaknesses, warrants purchase where interest in the expanding environmental-services field is high.
