Easy Reader Review: If You Love (activity) You Could Be…

Posted on September 29, 2020 at 10:32 am by Gene Ambaum

If You Love Cooking You Could Be… (Ready To Read Level 2) by Elizabeth Dennis, Illustrated by Natalie Kwee. Simon Spotlight, 2019. 9781534454545. 32pp.

If You Love Dolphins You Could Be… (Ready To Read Level 2) by May Nakamura, Illustrated by Natalie Kwee. Simon Spotlight, 2019. 9781534444690. 32pp.

If You Love Video Games You Could Be… (Ready To Read Level 2) by Thea Feldman, Illustrated by Natalie Kwee. Simon Spotlight, 2019. 9781534443990. 32pp.

If You Love Fashion You Could Be…. (Ready To Read Level 2) by May Nakamura, Illustrated by Natalie Kwee. Simon Spotlight, 2019. 9781534448773. 32pp.

Each of these easy readers goes into a bit of detail about three careers, and has a list of more cool jobs at the back. The stars of each are Kwee’s happy, simple drawings. Everyone is smiling, and it feels like every little thing she draws is, too.

The book full of dolphin love is probably my favorite of the four — it has a subtle, pro-environmental message as it contains details about being an aquatic veterinarian, marine biologist, and underwater filmmaker. (The other careers mentioned briefly at the end are oceanographer, aquarium curator, underwater archaeologist, environmental lawyer, and environmental social scientist.)

In 2020, it’s hard to argue that it’s ever too early for kids to start thinking about a career and a couple of fallbacks.

Worth noting: the next books in the series are If You Love Robots.., and If You Love Books…. — I hope librarians made the cut in the latter.