Working in Math

April 1, 2018

Gr 3-6-Right away these titles apply real-life connections to the fields and dispel generalizations by featuring a wide variety of jobs, from air traffic controllers to animators to forensic scientists. Each title is a cover-to-cover read, but chapter headings organize work by types rather than specific jobs. In Sports and Music, the glamour of pro athletes and pop stars is acknowledged but downplayed to focus on the myriad support positions such as coaches, trainers, agents, composers, and sound engineers. Education includes several types of teachers and paraprofessionals, emphasizing technology and STEM skills. One section links job function with desirable traits, while "Think About It" asks readers to reflect on whether this work fits their personality. The narrative text winds around captioned photos, numerical data, and sidebars. Salary, training, and outlook appear in grayscale boxes throughout, and a QR code in the back links to ebooks, content feeds, videos, graphics, and more. VERDICT A sizable variety, well suited for upper-elementary students perusing a field of interest.

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