There is no single path to the job of your dreams. What does it take to become a stuntperson? How does a
mathematician spend her days? When does a barber become the center of a
community? In this refreshing take on a careers book, meet twenty-five
individuals of different backgrounds, genders, and abilities who have found
their careers through a wide range of experience, education, intention, and
inspiration. From Joshua Jones, who built a business where he could thrive as a
Deaf interior designer, to Teresa Tam, whose hunger for knowledge led her to
the position of Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, each of these dreamers found
ways to dig deep into their passion, to gain experience and knowledge, and to
turn that into a job.
In
If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It, Colleen
Nelson, middle-school teacher and award-winning author of The Harvey
Stories and
The Undercover Book List, teams up with children's librarian
and literacy advocate
Kathie MacIsaac to show young readers that there
are many paths to a dream job. Education may come from university, college,
trade school, apprenticeship, specialized training, or simply asking questions
and getting involved. Your career may be something you're already dreaming
about or something you've never even heard of. No matter what, success means
feeling happy with the work you do.
If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It includes full-color photographs and
illustrations, informative sidebars, tips for trying out a field of interest, a
glossary, an index, and an interactive quiz. Spotlight features on children and
youth who are already gaining experience for their own dream jobs round out
this inspirational resource.
An author and junior high school teacher,
Colleen
Nelson earned her Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in
her hometown of Winnipeg. Her recent works include
The Undercover Book List,
the award-winning Harvey Stories, which include the Governor General's
Literary Award finalist
Harvey Holds His Own, and the picture book
Teaching
Mrs. Muddle. Colleen writes daily in between appearances at hockey rinks
and soccer fields in support of her two sports-loving sons. The family's West
Highland Terrier Rosie adds an extra-loveable dose of liveliness, squirrel-chasing,
and shoe-chewing to their lives.
Kathie
MacIsaac is an
award-winning literacy advocate who is passionate about books for middle-grade
readers. She is a co-author of the blog
Bit About Books and a co-founder
of the website
MG Book Village, which facilitates connection between
members of the middle-grade community. Kathie manages the children's department
of the Headingly Municipal Library near Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she lives with
her husband and daughter. Her first book is
If You Can Dream It, You Can Do
It: How 25 inspiring individuals found their dream jobs.