21st Century Junior Library: Careers

School Library Journal

Reviewed on 1 January 2009

These ambitious titles offer a wealth of material about the different careers that can be found under the umbrella of one workplace: Hospital, for example, covers doctors, nurses, physical therapists, chaplains, custodial and kitchen workers, accountants, and lawyers, with the latter being described in the most general of terms (“lawyers make sure the hospital follows all of its rules”). Each volume begins with a general description of the workplace, followed by details about workers and a final chapter recommending early steps readers can take to pursue one of these careers—those interested in becoming teachers can help friends with schoolwork, for example. Sidebars with headings such as Create! Think! and Ask Questions! encourage active learning and extend the ideas presented in the text. Colorful, clear photos on each page seem carelessly chosen (some fail to add information), and the books have several typos. Despite the chipper tone of the texts—there are lots of exclamation points!—readers may be overwhelmed.