I'll be a chef

PreS-Gr 2-Expanding on the age old question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" this series employs cartoon drawings to explore the career-related imaginings of a child (e.g., what it would be like to play a violin solo for a concert performance, or find a T. rex bone on an archeological dig). Baroncelli's illustrations depict a diverse group of cheerful children as they turn sandbox play into a dinosaur dig, or a collection of stuffed animals into a veterinary office. Speech bubbles contain the narration, and instances of challenging vocabulary (stethoscope, tortellini, percussion) seem incongruous to the toddlerlike appeal of the book, although a words-to-know section in the back offers some help. Each tale ends with a hands on activity, for instance, making a box guitar from a shoebox, wire hanger, and rubber bands. VERDICT A palatable series to bridge the gap between pretend play and real job description and terminology. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A cheerful series of career books aimed at younger readers, each begins with a child imagining what he or she will do as a grownup. Overall, the series' cast is eclectic in gender and race, and there's welcome diversity in the occupations represented. The job descriptions are clear, and the cartoony illustrations are appealing. A hands-on craft activity is included. Glos. [Review covers the following When I Grow Up titles: When I Grow Up I'll Be a Chef, When I Grow Up I'll Be a Doctor, When I Grow Up I'll Be a Firefighter, When I Grow Up I'll Be a Musician, When I Grow Up I'll Be a Paleontologist, and When I Grow Up I'll Be a Veterinarian.] (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.