Review Detail

In this follow up to their 2022 If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It: How 25 Inspiring Individuals Found Their Dream Jobs, the team of Nelson and MacIsaac are back with more story of individuals who worked hard and were lucky enough to have jobs that they love. A wide range of careers is highlighted in this new installment, from science oriented fields like cave microbiologist and paleontologist to more liberal arts oriented choices like stand up comedian and ballet dancer. There is also a lot of diversity shown in the physical ability, ethnic, cultural, and gender related identifications of the people being showcased. The mostly two page spreads include not only a brief overview of the person's career, but also pro tips, "why not try" recommendations, spin off jobs, and other individuals who have followed similar paths. There are photographs of the people interviewed, and page decorations by Ritchie to enliven the pages. There are lots of words in bold print and a glossary at the back of the book, where there are also explanations of the careers associated with producing the book.
Strengths: Studies have shown that children do better in math if they can feel a sense of purpose and tie their education in to future goals, so a book like this could be helpful in explaining the educational backgrounds needed for different careers. Upper elementary school seems like a time when children are just starting to realize that they will soon need to decide "what they want to be when they grow up", but don't have a great idea of what is available in the larger world. Books like See It, Dream It, Do It are instrumental in showcasing what choices are available, and provide a lot of food for thought.