Students of any age begin thinking about what jobs and careers they’d like to have as adults. Yet, in an increasingly complex world, readers need to have up-to-date and accurate resources that will help them recognize their strengths and lead them to a successful and fulfilling future. These series offer accurate representations of both popular and lesser-known careers in many fields and are organized in ways that will appeal to different kinds of learners. The information in these series includes everything from education requirements and essential skills to salary information, industry trends, and what each day could look like in a variety of different jobs. Plenty of color photos, captions, fast facts, and suggestions for further reading are included in these books, and with almost all reading levels represented, this season’s series offer something for everyone.

Elementary

Sterling, Charlie W. A Day with a Veterinarian. ISBN 9781636903316.
Toolen, Avery. A Day with a Bus Driver. ISBN 9781636903224.
––––. A Day with a Construction Worker. ISBN 9781636903255.
––––. A Day with a Garbage Collector. ISBN 9781636903286.
ea vol: illus. by Dean Gray. 24p. (Meet the Community Helpers!). Jump!/Grasshopper Bks. Jan. 2022. Tr $27.99.
K-Gr 3 –Early readers will love to learn about how veterinarians, bus drivers, construction workers, and garbage collectors work hard to serve people and animals in their communities. Each book features common situations associated with each job: Dr. Jenny has a busy day treating animals at her clinic, including a turtle and a cat, while Tom and Tammy the garbage collectors start their day before the sun comes up to make sure their community stays clean and healthy. Each volume includes a short reading guide for educators and caregivers, a one-question quiz at the end of the narrative to ensure comprehension, a picture glossary and index, and a diagram of common tools used in each profession. Easy-to-read text, smooth story line transitions, and simple illustrations make this series ideal for those who are beginning to read independently or with the help of a caregiver. VERDICT This simple yet versatile series is a great addition to smallerearly learning collections.

Upper Elementary to Middle School

Brundle, Joanna. My Job in Engineering. ISBN 9781725336407.
––––. My Job in Math. ISBN 9781725336445.
––––. My Job in Science. ISBN 9781725336483.
––––. My Job in Technology. ISBN 9781725336520.
ea vol: 32p. (Classroom to Career). Rosen/PowerKids. Jan. 2022. Tr $26.25.
Gr 3-5 –Practical career information pairs with fascinating facts about science and technology in this series, which highlights different jobs in engineering, mathematics, general science, and technology. Various career profiles are included in each volume: My Job in Engineering includes education and skill requirements for civil, mechanical, agricultural, and electrical engineering, among others, as well as nontraditional paths like consultant and motorsports engineer. Readers will love learning that a degree in mathematics could lead to careers like videogame programmer or astronomer. Diversity is well-represented in this series. Each page balances illustrations and graphics with blocks of text and short captions that explain the daily lives and routines of each job; however, some early readers may struggle to navigate the smaller text in this series. VERDICT ­Overall, a good series that will update school or public library collections.

Davidson, B. Keith. Construction Manager. ISBN 9781039646148.
––––. IT Technician. ISBN 9781039646124.
––––. Web Developer. ISBN 9781039646162.
Hicks, Kelli. Cosmetologist. ISBN 9781039646155.
––––. Landscape Designer. ISBN 9781039646131.
––––. Legal Assistant. ISBN 9781039646117.
ea vol: 32p. (Top Trade Careers). Crabtree/ Blossoms. Jan. 2022. Tr $26.60.
Gr 4-6 –A variety of opportunities in the skilled trades are explored in this series that is ideal for middle elementary grades. Each volume introduces basic concepts related to each field, such as required skills, education, and challenges and opportunities, and expected salary and career growth. These books are simple enough to be suitable for an early elementary audience, while remaining interesting enough to more advanced readers, thanks to captivating text boxes, graphics, fast facts, and basic vocabulary. Unfamiliar concepts are in bold and are summarized in the visual glossary in the back matter. Color photographs reflect racial diversity while also remaining current, as many workers are donning masks. ­VERDICT An up-to-date series that would be a great addition to middle school collections.

Upper Middle School to High School

Braun, Eric. Can You Become a Pro Gamer? ISBN 9781663958990.
––––. Can You Become a Social Media Influencer? ISBN 9781663959003.
Doeden, Matt. Can You Become a Pro Athlete? ISBN 9781663958983.
Lassieur, Allison. Can You Become a Pop Star? ISBN 9781663958976.
ea vol: 112p. (You Choose: Chasing Fame and Fortune). Capstone. Jan. 2022. Tr $32.65.
Gr 5-9 –With a choose-your-own-adventure narrative format, this exciting hi-lo series offers a fun twist on the answer to the question, “What should I be when I grow up?” Readers who dream of being pro gamers, social media influencers, pro athletes, and pop stars will learn what each industry is really like through a combination of situational examples and practical information in each of these books. A simple introduction to each industry is followed by real-life hypothetical examples of what someone in each of these fields might encounter. In the book about becoming a pop star, readers contemplate what they would do if their video got lots of negative comments online; and in the book about becoming a pro athlete, they must weigh the potential consequences of taking performance-enhancing drugs. The end of each chapter presents an opportunity to choose; readers skip ahead and discover different career outcomes. The choices presented offer examples of learning experiences to prove that there’s no “right” or “wrong” way forward—different opportunities for learning and growth. Ample spacing between lines of text and lots of white space on each page make these perfect for readers who are excited about popular careers as well as improving their reading comprehension. VERDICT Ideal for developing readers; a great addition to any public or school library collection.

Dougherty, Terri. Jobs If You Like Video Games. ISBN 9781678202309.
Mooney, Carla. Jobs If You Like Social Media. ISBN 9781678202286.
Nardo, Don. Jobs If You Like Animals. ISBN 9781678202248.
Roland, James. Jobs If You Like Music. ISBN 9781678202262.
ea vol: 64p. (Discovering Jobs). Refer­encePoint. Mar. 2022. Tr $31.95.
Gr 6 Up –Popular hobbies and interests shine in this series about careers for readers who love video games, social media, animals, and music. Each of these well-organized books begins by introducing the history of each job, as well as the education, skills, personality, working conditions, and average starting pay for a variety of roles. Readers will learn what a typical workday looks like for jobs like professional gamer, drone pilot, quality assurance tester, marketing manager, content strategist, social media analyst, DJ, music producer, wildlife rehabilitator, animal control officer, veterinary technician, and more. What makes this series stand out is its analysis of how the pandemic has affected each of these fields and the future implications of those impacts. VERDICT A standout series that high school guidance counselors should consider for their collections.

This season’s standout series is Capstone’s “You Choose: Chasing Fame & Fortune,” with its adventurous format that will engage and excite readers who dream about becoming athletes, pop stars, and social media influencers. Similarly, Reference Point’s “Discovering Jobs” helps readers see how their hobbies can become high-paying careers. All of these series are well-organized, timely, and up to date, and will help readers be inspired to explore both emerging and traditional jobs and industries.