“When I grow up, I want to be…”, every child has that moment where they try to imagine what they might be when they grow up. It is up to us to inspire them to be anything, and to do anything they want. It’s never too early or too late to dream!
Here are five picture books for dreamers –
1. The ABCs of What I Can Be –
“A fun, imaginative, and boldly illustrated book that gets kids thinking about life’s possibilities. A diverse group of children play-acts grown-up occupations, some familiar and others quite far-out. Dressing up in grown-up work clothes, the children try on occupations such as astronaut, artist, archaeologist, and athlete for A and ballerina, beekeeper, biochemist, and bus driver for B to zipper maker, Zumba instructor, and zen gardener for Z.”
2. My Mom Has Two Jobs –
“My Mom Has Two Jobs celebrates the work that women do both inside and outside of the home. On each page, children proudly describe how their moms care for them in a special way, while also making the world better through their careers. The book highlights moms in a wide range of professions, including a teacher, engineer, police officer, doctor, secretary, dentist, firefighter, nurse, lawyer, waitress, military sergeant, veterinarian, and pilot. This book gives parents a platform to talk with their kids about their work and to help kids see how parents bring the same love, passion, and dedication to both their parenting jobs and their professional jobs. The book is beautifully illustrated to embrace diverse moms of different races and ethnicities and to show the wide range of important roles that women play.”
3. When I Grow Up: I Want to Be#: With 30 fun-filled flaps –
“Lift the flaps in this bright and creative board book to learn about all types of exciting careers. Discover a whole world of exciting careers in this bright and creative lift-the-flap board book. With amazing flaps and simple facts, this is the perfect book for young, curious minds.”
4. Night Job –
“When the sun sets, Dad’s job as a school custodian is just beginning. What is it like to work on a Friday night while the rest of the city is asleep? There’s the smell of lilacs in the night air, the dusky highway in the moonlight, and glimpses of shy nighttime animals to make the dark magical. Shooting baskets in the half-lit gym, sweeping the stage with the game on the radio, and reading out loud to his father in the library all help the boy’s time pass quickly. But what makes the night really special is being with Dad. Newbery Medalist Karen Hesse’s quietly powerful story of a boy and his father is tenderly brought to life by G. Brian Karas in this luminous tribute to an enduring, everyday sort of love. “
5. Think Big, Little One (Vashti Harrison) –
“This board book edition of Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World by New York Times bestselling author Vashti Harrison is a beautiful first book to teach your little dreamers to follow all their biggest ideas. Featuring eighteen women creators, ranging from writers to inventors, artists to scientists, this board book adaptation of Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World introduces trailblazing women like Mary Blair, an American modernist painter who had a major influence on how color was used in early animated films, environmental activist Wangari Maathai, and architect Zaha Hadid. The irresistible full-color illustrations show the Dreamers as both accessible and aspirational so reader knows they, too, can grow up to do something amazing.”
6. COMING SOON: THIS COULD BE YOU by Cindy Williams Schrauben, illustrated by Julia Seal
Will you be an astronaut? Farmer? An Artist? A Nurse? No matter where your dreams take you, your own unique flair will get you there. Keep pushing…it could be you!
Catherine is a marketing intern at Cardinal Rule Press this summer and also a student at Oakland University. She is currently in her senior year, and will be graduating with a BA in Graphic Design, May of 2022.