Hard Hat Area: Have You Got What It Takes to Be a Contractor? (On the Job)

Lisa Thompson is a Compass Point Books author.

Grade 5–8—These books are great introductions for students to determine if a career is right for them. Liking animals might not be a good enough reason to become a zookeeper. Does the person have the stomach and back to clean cages, fix fences, feed, and care for wild animals? Readers may think that being a fashion designer only involves sketching pictures of clothes, but there is more to the business and promoting end of the field. Each title covers basic duties required for a specific career. Then a practitioner provides a journal of his or her normal day or week, including positives and negatives of the position. Suggestions for courses to take in high school and continuing education are given. Salaries of varying levels are given but a misprint in Zookeeper leaves readers hanging on the top earnings. Sharp full-color photos and facts appear throughout. To break up the routine a few puns are thrown, such as "I used to be a carpenter, but then I got bored." Solid titles for students doing career research.—Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX
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