Growing up the one question that we all here as children is “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Many of us have some idea at that specific time in our lives. But, as we get older…does the answer change? There are so many jobs and careers out there it becomes really hard to choose just one. Well, author Handel decided to put together a book for primarily children, but really readers of all ages to figure out exactly what it is that they want to be when they grow up.
Who Do You Want To Be? draws the eye of readers with a man dressed in a uniform standing outside with a bright red firetruck behind him. In the distance, readers can see a cityscape off to one side and hill country off to the other side.
Is this individual a firefighter? Or is he a police officer? There is no way to really tell, but the cover of Who Do You Want To Be will definitely encourage and stimulate conversation based on the cover alone.
As Who Do You Want To Be opens, author Handel teases a little of what readers will find within this book’s pages. We’re given a little bit of the poetry and rhymes that will be spread throughout the book. It is light and fun, as author Handel teases that maybe a child would wish to be a firefighter simply because the truck is red.
That might be a reason for a child to wish to be a firefighter, but it’s not the best way to make a decision, right? LOL! The main audience that author Handel is targeting with Who Do You Want To Be is children aged 4-8 years old. This is typically the age group where parents and other relatives try to encourage their little ones to begin to think about a path in life they may wish to pursue.
What we think that parents and guardians will really appreciate is the resources that author Handel includes in Who Do You Want to Be? Author Handel doesn’t just include resources for individuals or families living in the United States. He includes career choice resources for a variety of other countries as well. This is something that we really applaud, as it shows author Handel’s consideration for those who live outside of the U.S. and gives them a good starting point for any research they may wish to pursue.
Who Do You to Be? is packed with colorful illustrations throughout. Almost every page in this short children’s book has a beautiful picture showing the different careers and jobs that a child can choose from. It’s fun how this book starts off with the question that is the title of the story. “What do you want to be?”
This story emphasizes how there are so many different jobs and careers out there. There are even some that some of us may have never thought of. Who Do You Want to Be? is a fun, light, and is sure to engage and encourage young minds to think of all the things they could be.
Many of the pictures reflect well what young readers could imagine what a specific job would potentially be, but not all. Who Do You Want to Be? is a picture book that is meant to engage and encourage conversation. We would recommend not taking all of the content literally, simply because not every job or career is spotlighted in a positive manner.
For the most part, Who Do You Want to Be? flows in a rhyming pattern. That is not the case for the entire story, but that’s okay. Not every job or career is going to have a rhyme that goes with it, and some are just allowed to stand alone.
Author Handel includes at the end of Who Do You Want to Be? an index for children to be able to find their favorite parts easily. It’s a nice detail that allows children to go back to a favorite part of the story without having to really hunt for it.
Overall, Who Do You Want to Be? is a delightful book to explore. The only true negative about the story itself is that some of the jobs or careers mentioned are cast in a mildly negative light. We feel that it would have been more advantageous to keep the entire story in a more positive light to encourage young children to explore and discover for themselves what it is that they might wish to pursue.
Please note that the pictures in this book were created using A.I. as well. We didn’t catch it at first, but gradual signs start to pop up here and there. Concluding with the author acknowledging this at the end of the book.
Who Do You Want to Be? is an ideal book for parents looking to broach the subject of a career for their children in a fun way. The colorful pictures will capture the attention of young readers and encourage them to begin the process of exploring future dreams of what they wish to be.
Pros:
- Engaging and easy to read
- Ideal for storytime
- Covers lightly a variety of careers and jobs
- Has a number of diverse individuals throughout
Cons:
- Some careers/jobs are cast in a slightly negative light.
- Illustrations are A.I.-generated
Scribble's Worth 
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