Incredible Jobs You've (Probably) Never Heard of

Gr 1-4--This fascinating exploration of different ways people make a living features more than 60 incredible occupations. Each job description relays a few fun facts and includes a colorful image. From the submarine chef wielding his spatula through a porthole to a sloth nanny pushing a pram full of fuzzy orphans, the jobs span the globe and even outer space. Parts of the book feel like a museum experience, complete with statues and artifacts. The illustrations are diverse and whimsical. Numerous interactive elements, such as spotting hidden objects (like the golf balls sought by the official golf ball diver) and matching games to sort out whose uniform belongs to whom (the sparkly jumpsuit must go to the Elvis impersonator), add extra fun. While the book doesn't dive into salary or benefits, it does provide the valuable takeaway that there are myriad paths to fulfillment. From the adventurous (smoke jumper), creative (cheese sculptor), and even the slightly spooky (body farmer), there is a perfect job out there for everyone. VERDICT This book is a playful reminder that everyone is unique, not only in their appearance and background, but also in the way they contribute to the world and workforce.--Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State University, OH

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From funeral clown to cheese sculptor, a tally of atypical trades. This free-wheeling survey, framed as a visit to "The Great Hall of Jobs," is designed to shake readers loose from simplistic notions of the world of work...the author closes with the perennial insight that it's essential to love what you do and the millennial one that there's nothing wrong with repeatedly switching horses midstream. The many adult figures and the gaggle of children (one in a wheelchair) visiting the "Hall" are diverse of feature, sex, and skin color. Chicken sexer? Breath odor evaluator? Cryptozoologist? Island caretaker? The choices dazzle!
—Kirkus Reviews

This fascinating exploration of different ways people make a living features more than 60 incredible occupations...From the adventurous (smoke jumper), creative (cheese sculptor), and even the slightly spooky (body farmer), there is a perfect job out there for everyone. This book is a playful reminder that everyone is unique, not only in their appearance and background, but also in the way they contribute to the world and workforce.
—School Library Journal

This oversize picture book suggests a variety of slightly off-the-beaten-path occupations for young readers...This might not seem like a first choice for the career section, but the important message about following your passion—breath odor evaluator? Imax screen cleaner?—comes through loud and clear.
—Booklist