Books That Heal Kids: career

Showing posts with label career. Show all posts
Showing posts with label career. Show all posts

Book Review: I Can Be Anything! Don't Tell Me I Can't

Author/Illustrator: Diane Dillon
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

From the Book Jacket: Like most girls and boys, Zoe enthusiastically embraces the wonders of our world and its infinite possibilities. "I can be anything I want to be!" she tells us, presenting herself in a range of careers. "But what if you fail?" asks a voice of doubt that attempts to undermine her confidence.

Bold and sassy, Zoe swats the voice away at every turn, declaring her certainty with a charisma that will encourage us all to silence the fears projected onto us by our world. Why can't a girl grow up to be President? Zoe can! When the voice of doubt continues, Zoe knows exactly what to say: "Go away, voice... I can be anything... but first, I have to learn to read. And don't tell me I can't!"

Award-winner Diane Dillon has created a winning character who defies anything to hold her back from achieving her goals. And the key to Zoe's future success begins when Zoe defiantly opens her book, making it clear that both confidence and reading are tools we all need to make our dreams come true.


Why It's On My Bookshelf: I'm a little blown away by the awesomeness of this book. It's like career development wrapped up with growth mindset and telling those negative voices in our head to get lost!!! Because we can be anything! I just can't recommend this one enough. This is definitely my favorite "What do you want to be when you grow up?" book out there! A big message is packed into this story. LOVE. 

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Book Review: Ada Twist Scientist

Author: Andrea Beaty
Illustrator: David Roberts
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

From the Book Jacket: Why are there pointy things stuck to a rose? Why are there hairs up inside of your nose? Ada Twist's head is full of questions. Like her classmates Iggy and Rosie, Ada has always been endlessly curious. But when her fact finding missions and elaborate scientific experiments go too far, her frazzled parents banish her to the Thinking Chair. Will all that thinking change Ada'a mind?

Ada Twist, Scientist is the highly anticipated follow-up to the bestselling Iggy Peck, Architect and Rosie Revere, Engineer. With the same spirit of curiosity and perseverance as her classmates, Ada is sure to inspire young readers to pursue their own passions. 




Why It's On My Bookshelf: So excited about this addition to this fabulous series of books. This might be my favorite one. It's all about curiosity, not giving up, and following your passion. I applaud the author for giving us a character of color who is a girl and who loves science! It's also a great reminder for all of us to be supportive when someone has a goal. 

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Book Review: The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever


Author: J. Joseph Hopkins
Illustrator: Jill McElmurry
Interest Level: Ages 6 and Up

About This Book: Unearth the true story of green-thumbed pioneer and activist Kate Sessions, who helped San Diego grow from a dry desert town into a lush, leafy city known for its gorgeous parks and gardens.

Katherine Olivia Sessions never thought she’d live in a place without trees. After all, Kate grew up among the towering pines and redwoods of Northern California. But after becoming the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science, she took a job as a teacher far south in the dry desert town of San Diego. Where there were almost no trees.

Kate decided that San Diego needed trees more than anything else. So this trailblazing young woman singlehandedly started a massive movement that transformed the town into the green, garden-filled oasis it is today. Now, more than 100 years after Kate first arrived in San Diego, her gorgeous gardens and parks can be found all over the city. 


Why It's On My Bookshelf: I've been trying to pump up my career lessons and this new book has it all! It also reinforces the other messages I've been teaching this year around growth mindset, personal power, and perseverance. Not to mention it's a wonderful true story for girls who are interested in science. It's very well written. My main takeaway was that if you have an idea - you CAN accomplish it and overcome obstacles. Katherine LITERALLY changed the landscape of San Diego. Great read. 

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Book Review: Rosie Revere, Engineer



Author: Andrea Beaty
Illustrator: David Roberts
Interest Level: Ages and Up

From the Book Jacket: This is the story of Rosie Revere, who dreamed of becoming a great engineer. Where some people see rubbish, Rosie Revere sees inspiration. Alone in her room at night, shy Rosie constructs great inventions from odds and ends. Hot dog dispensers, helium pants, python-repelling cheese hats: Rosie's gizmos would astound - if she ever let anyone see them away under her bed. Until a fateful visit from her great-great-aunt Rose, who shows her that a first flop isn't something to fear - it's something to celebrate.



Why It's On My Bookshelf: I really loved Iggy Peck, Architect. So when a teacher alerted me a second book was coming out about a GIRL I was ecstatic. Rosie Revere has a creative mind and has lots of big ideas. But when she tries to build something and it turns out to be a disaster - she doubts herself and decides she's a failure. Luckily her aunt teaches her a very important lesson - The only true failure can come if you quit. You will also see Iggy Peck in Rosie's classroom.

This year my school is really focusing on career education. Nice to have this on my shelf to help encourage children to follow a path towards whatever they aspire to be.

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Book Review: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind


Authors: William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
Illustrations: Elizabeth Zunon
Interest Level: Ages 6 and Up
Click Here for Book Website

From the Book Jacket: Heroes can be any age. When William Kamkwamba was fourteen years old, living in a drought-ravaged area of Malawi in Africa, he pursued a dream that brought electricity and running water to his desperately poor village. 

William had always been interested in how mechanical things work, and after poring over old science textbooks, painstakingly teaching himself English so that he could understand them, he became determined to build a windmill.  The people in h is village called him crazy, but he knew he could succeed. Slowly but surely, he turned junkyard scraps into a functioning windmill, and brought electricity to his home and eventually life-saving water to his village. William's story shows no matter how young you are or how huge the challenge - creativity, determination, and hard work can help save your world.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: The character trait we are focusing on at school this month is Perseverance. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind fits that description perfectly. I absolutely love this story and our students have been inspired by William's courage and never give up attitude. I sometimes think about where the kids I work with will be when they are adults and I imagine some of them might have hard moments and truly struggle. So thankful for books that help me mentor and guide students to NEVER GIVE UP! Reading books about determination and perseverance is a message children need to hear A LOT. I hope to find more books as awesome as this one.

Watch Part Of William's Story Here:


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Book Review: Being Wendy

Author: Fran Drescher
Illustrated by Amy Blay
Interest Level: Ages 6 and Up

From the Book Jacket: Wendy was afraid to say that she felt different from everyone else. But all residents of Boxville must choose a box to wear - for life. These boxes are labeled with what each person does. The teacher wears a TEACHER box. The police officer wears a POLICE OFFICER box. Even the poodle wears a POODLE box!

Now it's time for Wendy to choose her box. Just pick one, everyone tells her. It's simple. But it's not simple, because Wendy loves LOTS of different things - from playing basketball to performing onstage. Wendy's big ideas make her feel lonely...will she ever fit in?

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Now I know you are rolling your eyes and saying - Oh Splendid! Another celebrity thinks they can write a children's book!! But let me just be the first to say, WELL DONE, FRAN DRESCHER aka "The Nanny"!  Well done. Being Wendy is so creative with an AWESOME message of following your dreams and not letting yourself be influenced or limited by what others think you should be....you are special, unique, and different. Love! 

The kids were HOOKED and intrigued as to where this story was going. But the best part was getting to help the students figure out how the message applies to their own lives. Books are such magic. Get creative and use some paper bags as a fun visual. I drew a question mark on a paper bag, cut out arm holes, and had a student wear it. Each student then got a brown piece of paper with directions to list their interests and strengths.

Favorite part of book - when Wendy tries to hug her dad - but he wears a box too so it gets in the way. This sparked such great conversation about acceptance.....GET THIS ONE!
  
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Book Review: Me ... Jane


Author/Illustrator: Patrick McDonnell

Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

From the Publisher: In his characteristic heartwarming style, Patrick McDonnell tells the story of the young Jane Goodall and her special childhood toy chimpanzee named Jubilee. As the young Jane observes the natural world around her with wonder, she dreams of "a life living with and helping all animals," until one day she find that her dream has come true.

One of the world's most inspiring women, Dr. Jane Goodall is a renowned humanitarian, conservationist, animal activist, environmentalist, and United Nations Messenger of Peace. In 1977 she founded the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), a global nonprofit organization that empowers people to make a difference for all living things.

With anecdotes taken directly from Jane Goodall's autobiography, McDonnell makes this very true story accessible for the very young -- and young at heart.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Just when I think I'm done gushing about a book....another one takes my breath away. I am so head over heels for Me...Jane as were the students. The illustrations are darling. This was my chosen read for Earth Day last week. Yep, I even read it to the 5th graders and they were so engaged as they listened to Jane's dream to one day go to Africa and live a life helping animals. Then on the last page comes a REAL photograph of Jane Goodall living out this dream. GASP went the kids. The kind of gasp I love. Yes, dream big!


In a time of state testing and constant assessments it's a breath of fresh air to read such an encouraging uplifting TRUE story. I want kids to remember there is nothing wrong with having a dream of doing something special with their lives. 

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Book Review: Iggy Peck, Architect




Author: Andrea Beaty
Illustrator: David Roberts
Interest Level: Ages 4-9

About This Book: Meet Iggy Peck—creative, independent, and not afraid to express himself! Iggy has one passion: building. His parents are proud of his fabulous creations, though they’re sometimes surprised by his materials—who could forget the tower he built of dirty diapers? When his second-grade teacher declares her dislike of architecture, Iggy faces a challenge. He loves building too much to give it up! With Andrea Beaty’s irresistible rhyming text and David Roberts’s puckish illustrations, this book will charm creative kids everywhere, and amuse their sometimes bewildered parents.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Such an awesome find! Iggy Peck is one of those characters I've been waiting for to share with my students. There seems to be a hole on my shelf in the career category. But what makes this book so special is he is faced with some criticism and a potential shutdown from an adult. There will always be people who might question your dream for yourself. Don't let that stand in your way. Such a great message. Love this story! 

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Book Review: Someday

Author: Eileen Spinelli
illustrated by Rosie Winstead
Interest Level: Ages 5-10

About This Book: Children will savor each page of this delightful book that alternates between Someday and the present. Goldie dreams of a busy future as an archaeologist, an animal scientist, an Olympic gymnast, and more. On the alternate pages she enjoys being a kid and hones the skills that she will need to achieve those goals–digging, counting, cartwheels–all those things that look like playing. Winstead's stylish art is a perfect fit for the whimsical text. The adorable little girl is all spindly limbs, buck-teeth, and flyaway hair, even in her dreams of adulthood. Observant readers will have fun comparing and contrasting the background elements in the someday/right now pairs of pages as they read this empowering book again and again.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I love this book. The cover really grabbed me and I read the first page and was sold:

Someday I am going to be a great artist. I will wear a blue smock. I will carry my paints to the beach to paint the sea. A very rich person will offer to buy my painting for two million dollars. But I will smile. And I will say: "I'm sorry, this painting is not for sale. It is a gift for my art teacher." Someday...

Okay, don't you love that?? Kids LOVE this book and it is uplifting and fun to read to them. If you want to encourage children to dream with unending imagination, find a spot for it on your bookshelf! Students had a lot of fun talking about their Somedays.

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