See It, Dream It, Do It

Finished February 17

See It, Dream It, Do It: How 25 People Just Like You Found Their Dream Jobs by Colleen Nelson and Kathie MacIsaac with illustrations by Scot Rictchie

This book is similar to their previous career information book, If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It. The careers covered here are:

* Fitness Trainer / Coach

* Skydiving Instructor

* Ranch Owner / Equine Therapist

* Architect

* Teacher / Basketball Coach

* Palaeontologist

* Radio Host / Multimedia Journalist

* Cave Microbiologist

* Forensic Artist

* Ambassador of Canada to Iceland

* Private Investigator

* Park Ranger

* Heavy Equipment Technician

* Stand-Up Comedian / Actor

* Pilot

* Travel Company Owner

* Psychologist

* Charter Captain

* Community Advocate / Mentor & Coodinator

* Midwife

* YouTube Content Creator / Former LEGO Designer

* Cybersecurity Analyst

* Electrical Engineer

* Funeral Director

* Ballet Dancer

Most of the people profiled have some connection with Canada, which is helpful. Looking to our own country for inspiration in terms of jobs is a way to see yourself within your own community. 

As in their other book, they also list some jobs that are related, and briefly feature another person who is successful in a related job. 

Exposure to such a variety of possibilities opens children's eyes to the wide range of things they can consider for their future. 

If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It

Finished December 12

If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It: How 25 Inspiring Individuals Found Their Dream Jobs by Colleen Nelson and Kathie MacIsaac, with illustrations by Scot Ritchie

This book about careers for kids is one that will truly inspire. I liked the range of jobs shown here from barber to veterinarian, including some less mainstream jobs like an NHL scout and a cake designer. I liked the inclusion of so many Canadian people in the examples here, and I loved the diversity. 

Each example is a two-page spread with the person and job highlighted, including a photo of the person. There are also several boxes with other information. One is Living the Dream, another example of someone in a related profession, usually one that started in their youth. There is a box called Other Work with other types of jobs in the same field, and another box called Spin-Off Jobs with jobs that are in a related field to the example. There is a box of Pro-Tips that give ideas on how the reader can explore this field beginning right away. The last box is Why Not Try, which gives an action the reader can take. These range from looking someone up online to starting a club at school. 

After the job profiles the book includes a list of Future Dream Jobs, one that don't exist now but likely will soon or that are less defined due to how recently they've appeared, with some short discussion of the premise for inclusion. This is followed by a discussion of skill sets, differentiating between technical skills and soft skills. A glossary is also included.

This book would be an excellent addition to any school or public library.