This brightly illustrated book is filled with an amazing array of information about the nature of work, from its history to its future. The writing is clear, interesting, and even entertaining. While Montréal author Monique Polak does not shy away from topics like slavery, the caste system, child labour, or the sex trade, she does so in measured ways that explore without preaching. Every page contains colourful, cartoon-like images and engaging info sidebars, as well as photographs of real people working at their jobs. And these jobs cover the spectrum of work from clown to plumber, with examples including scientist, lawyer, junk collector, make-up artist, and more. All varieties of people are depicted, with a nice balance of males and females, persons of colour, and people with disabilities. Part of the Orca Think series, this book is sure to inspire many.

Other End Matter: Glossary
Images: Colour photographs, Colour illustrations
Bibliography: Yes
Index: Yes

Source: Books BC - BC Books for Schools

MONIQUE POLAK écrit régulièrement pour le Montreal Gazette et a été publiée dans de nombreux autres quotidiens de renom tels que le Globe and Mail, le National Post et Newsday. Dans la collection SideStreets, elle a écrit All In et On the Game, ainsi que Flip Turn pour la collection Sports Stories. D’ailleurs, ces deux derniers ouvrages ont figuré sur la liste des meilleurs livres pour enfants du Centre du livre jeunesse canadien. Monique enseigne l’écriture ainsi que la littérature anglaise. Elle vit à Montréal, au Québec, avec son mari et sa fille.

MONIQUE POLAK is the author of 26 novels for young readers, as well as two non-fiction titles and a board book. Her books Hate Mail, Room for One More, and the historical novel What World is Left, which was inspired by her mother’s experience during the Holocaust, were all winners of the Quebec Writers’ Federation Prize for Children’s and YA Literature.

Her books have also been nominated for the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People and the Arthur Ellis Award, and several have been selected as Best Books for Children and Teens by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.

She is also a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, Macleans, and Postmedia newspapers across the country, and is a columnist on ICI Radio-Canada’s Plus on est de fous, plus on lit Monique lives in Montreal, Quebec, where she teaches English and Humanities at Marianopolis College.

Monique Polak's profile page

Suharu Ogawa is a Toronto-based illustrator. Her love for drawing started in a kindergarten art school after being kicked out of calligraphy class for refusing to convert to right-handedness. Formally trained in art history and cultural anthropology, she worked for several years as a university librarian until her passion for illustration called her out of that career and into the pursuit of a lifelong dream. Since then, Suharu has created illustrations for magazines, public art projects and children's books, including Why Humans Work: How Jobs Shape Our Lives and Our World in the Orca Think line. She also teaches illustration at OCAD University in Toronto.

Suharu Ogawa's profile page

“ A realistic, trustworthy narration...Elementary and middle school librarians would find this to be an easy fit for their collections. Recommended.”

School Library Connection

“Situates work squarely within our wondering, playful, and imaginative worlds...There are many reasons to like and welcome this book. Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials