Air Traffic Controller

November 1, 2016

Gr 4-7-These titles lean toward jobs that are physically demanding, artistic, or require more technical skills than most. Practical and informative, these books weave facts about the nature of the work, earnings, and educational requirements into the narrative. Quotes from real people about their career paths accompany discussions on efficiency, work ethic, problem solving, and being a team player. The captioned color photos of diverse workers underscore the type of daily tasks associated with the job, and fact boxes tie to "21st Century Content" or "Life & Career Skills." "Think About It" offers questions to ask adults about the job or web search ideas.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2016
Grades 5-8 Clear and succinct, this Cool Vocational Careers series entry briefly reflects upon the history of flight, before going into a more thorough examination of various interconnected air traffic control roles. Labrecque concisely explains the duties, training, physical requirements, and expectant salaries of the bevy of workers who keep planes flying and landing smoothly and safely. There's no sugarcoating here: Working in air traffic control is one of the most stressful jobs a person can have. . . . People's lives are your responsibility. Photos of air traffic controllers at work and occasional boxed anecdotes on different decades of aviation history round out the text. The level of detail might dissuade casual browsers, but for readers interested in vocational careers, especially more modern ones, this is full of valuable information.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)