Working With Computers

Children's Literature

When kids are little, they dream big. They want to grow up to be astronauts, firemen, and actors all at once. As kids grow into young adults, they start to think more seriously about what career might interest them. This book, one of the "My Future Career" series, profiles seven different careers that relate to computers. The jobs range from the popular, such as software designer, to the less well known, such as technical sales specialist. Each profile follows a set format that makes it very easy to read. It includes a description and responsibilities of the job, the pros and cons, and an hour-by-hour account of a day in the life of someone with that job. The book is visually pleasing and information is easy to find. The text is very easy to read. For middle school students, this is a plus, but for high school students who are facing college or tech-school, it is not nearly comprehensive enough. 2005, Gareth Stevens Publishing, Ages 11 to 15.
—Heather Mason

School Library Journal

Gr 6-10-These excellent books will be attractive to browsers, and the detailed indexes make them accessible to readers looking for specific topics. Each one includes seven jobs, from animal groomer to zookeeper in Animals, from games designer to Web site developer in Computers. The fields are broad, but each volume gives a diverse range of possible careers, with some requiring advanced education and some not. Each chapter begins with a description of the job and then moves on to discuss the responsibilities, qualifications, and best personality type for each one. Interesting sidebars include quotes of favorable and unfavorable points of the positions and hour-by-hour descriptions of a typical day. The page for further information includes books, Web sites, and useful addresses of professional associations. The writing is clear and interesting, and the books are visually well organized. Stock photos serve to break up the text but add very little visual interest.-Sonja Cole, Briarcliff Middle School, Mountain Lakes, NJ Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.