Review 5 star

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You Could Be a Police Officer! by Patricia Harman is an educational picture book about the exciting job of working in law enforcement. Marcela Estrada’s cheerful, bright illustrations emphasize women and people of different ethnicities working together as police officers, showing how accessible and interesting police work is for girls and what an equal opportunity workplace it is for everyone. Police officers are presented in an encouraging way as helpful members of the community who attend a special school and receive special training so they can assist others. The book introduces kids to several categories of police work: traffic, security, K-9 units, crime investigation, answering emergency calls, police supervisors, and more.
 
You Could Be a Police Officer is an excellent, straightforward, very clear book for teaching young kids about police work. Although police officers are adults, they are described in a way that makes children feel close to them. Police activity in daily life with children, traffic, and animals is emphasized as kids will be encouraged to look around them and recognize the police officers they see each day. Patricia Harman effectively uses familiar town, school, and event settings (such as policemen on motorcycles at parades) to add color and sparkle to a very serious profession so children will see it can be a fun path in life as well. Who wouldn’t want to fly a helicopter for their job? A lot of young children might not be aware how many things police officers really do and after reading this book they could find something about police work that they’d be interested in pursuing as a career. 

Review 5 star

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KeeKee’s Big Adventures in London, England is part of a series of European travel picture books starring KeeKee the cute and curious little cat. Author Shannon Jones joins up with illustrator Casey Uhelski to unfold for a small child’s eyes what sightseeing in the amazing metropolis of London is like. KeeKee has been to several big cities in Europe and now, starry-eyed and excited, she drifts with her little hot-air balloon (what a fun way to travel) over London. After going on a tour of major locations with a local, KeKee runs into a sedate little woman in a blue hat who takes KeeKee to tea—the Queen, of course. After learning a lot about England, the cheerful kitty drifts off in search of more places to explore.
 
This is a great way for kids to learn about some of the major tourist attractions in London. Every Londoner KeKee meets is a little animal like herself, presented as mostly her size and very friendly. Shannon Jones nailed a panoramic glance over most of the attractions you might visit during a day touring London and how fun it to be there for the first time.  KeeKee feels special as she is guided by friendly Shakespearean actor Will through a beautifully illustrated medley of sleek modern subways, old stone buildings, and unique British cuisine, and she is genuinely excited and spontaneous as she learns about this great city. A happy tone of really enjoying oneself laces gently through the book and that made me have as much fun with KeeKee’s Big Adventures in London, England as KeeKee herself did. 

Review 5 star

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The Kid Who Wants to Become an Engineer by Sannette Viljoen is about a child named Alvin and takes kids through a simple series of explorations of the engineering world around them—sights and sounds they see every day. Alvin is traveling to spend Christmas with his grandparents and is an observant child. He notices the bridges they cross, the airplanes and airport, the harbor from the air as they land. Like every child, he is curious about the things he sees. Once his family has arrived in South Africa for Christmas his grandmother, and his grandfather--a retired civil engineer—explain to him the different kinds of engineers and the skill and work that have created each of the things he’s noticed.
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Sannette Viljoen packs a meaty amount of information into this picture book, making it a perfect introduction to engineering for little kids. I think it’s an excellent companion to a child’s natural observations—kids can be reminded of how many times they’ve seen these things as they go around their home and city. Engineering is something they’ve thought about all the time and just never been aware! Alvin’s personality jumps off the page, enhanced by light-hearted, cheery illustrations that bring Alvin’s world to life, complete with lots and lots of bridges, boats, trains, and Christmas lights. Topics covered include aviation, mechanical, civil, chemical, marine, and electrical engineers, with terse descriptions of what each one does. I found this to be pretty useful for refreshing my knowledge as well, as it is both concise and detailed. This well-handled, focused book will certainly help some kids discover that they’re The Kid Who Wants to Become an Engineer.