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What do you want to be when you grow up?

April 26, 2019 Claire Annette Noland 4 Comments

What do you want to be when you grow up? is a question often asked of children. Well, today’s alphabet book features some occupations that most children (and adults) have not considered.

WORK: AN OCCUPATIONAL ABC
Written and illustrated by Kellen Hatanak
Groundwood Books 2014
32  nonfiction picture book alphabet

 

The twenty-six letters of the alphabet are used to form a list of potential careers but not just any careers. These jobs are daring, adventurous, and different. The letters themselves illustrate aspects of each occupation as you can see in this illustration of the fish swimming through the O.

One great thing about this alphabet is the diversity of characters by shown by different skin colors, genders, sizes, and age showing that anyone can do the job.

 

 

 

Though each occupation is just listed by title withing the book, you can turn to the back and read the tongue-in-cheek want ads that include:

K-9 Officer: As a K-9 Officer, you’ll be able to fight crime with your best friend.

Wedding Singer: If you love to sing and entertain then say “I do” to a career as a wedding singer.

Yogi: this is a great career for anyone looking for a job with flexibility.

Zookeeper: Zoo-keeping may be the only job that encourages monkey business.

Have you ever thought of making a career change? If so, what would you like to be?

 

Today’s featured letter is W in the A to Z April Blog Challenge where the alphabet guides the posts. I am featuring alphabet books this year.

Filed Under: alphabet books, Blogging A to Z, Books, Multicultural Children's Books, picture books

Previous Post: « V is for Venus: A Plant Alphabet
Next Post: X calls for change! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hilary says

    April 26, 2019 at 6:45 am

    Hi Claire – the books you’ve been featuring have been so much fun to see … love this one too – and great they’ve added some adult humour in at the end … opens the doors to the kids’ opportunities out there for their future – cheers Hilary

    Reply
  2. Mrs Fever says

    April 30, 2019 at 1:53 am

    What a fun concept! I love it when a common trope gets turned on its head!

    “I want to be a vibraphonist when I grow up!” would certainly cause the person listening to such a declaration to sit up and take notice!

    Reply
    • Claire Annette Noland says

      April 30, 2019 at 5:27 pm

      So true! Who has ever heard of a vibraphonist? Now we can say that we have!

      Reply
  3. Eva says

    May 7, 2019 at 6:40 am

    I’d love this book. Of course, my favourite illustration is the postal worker 😉

    Reply

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Hello. I’m Claire Annette - reader, writer, teacher, and field trip planner extraordinaire. Here at A Field Trip Life you will find ideas for adventures large and small and the kids’ books that inspire them. Sign your permission slip. Let's go!

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claireannettenolandbooks

Author | teacher | Field Trip Planner
books that take you places
Raven’s Gift
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Evie’s Field Day
Out and About w George series

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Here's to letters, books, friends, and summer days.🌻
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