Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) -
Having lived in the city of Dunedin, Florida for almost 30 years, the title of the book Maya & Filippo Learn About Careers in Dunedin certainly caught my eye. The fact that the book was talking about the towns namesake in New Zealand didnt matter; I figured it was a chance to learn a little more about what might exist on the other side of the world.
The two children in the books title were taken to two specific locations the chocolate factory and the university. (The appendix clarified why these two locations were selected and why they were significant in the city of Dunedin as an adult reading a childrens book, I really appreciated this extra insight. I think a sentence or two in the main text would have been nice, if done in an age-appropriate manner.)
I was a little disappointed by two things. First of all, the life of the factory worker was portrayed as monotonous. This may be a valid point, but I wish the author had counterbalanced the thought by showing why people chose to work there perhaps salary, perhaps it allowed them to live in their preferred location, etc. Alternatively, the author could have told of jobs such as machine maintenance or management where the daily tasks may not be as repetitive. (Given that my family worked in factories when I grew up, I would at least wonder about those things had I read this book in my youth. This may have lead to a household conversation that, given a typical childs lack of tact, could have caused some embarrassment.)
Secondly, given the title, I had expected the book to discuss a little more about potential careers. Laborer at the Chocolate Factory and University Student were the only two explored, although others were referenced. It is true that these were specifically tied to important sites in Dunedin, but Im sure there are others in that city, such as the doctor and fireman mentioned by other children early in the narrative.
Overall, it was a nice easy-to-read story that Im sure will appeal to its target audience. The accompanying artwork each page is illustrated is well done in a style that appears childlike but with some adult sensitivities towards perspective and dimension that demonstrate an accomplished artist is really behind the work.
RATING: 4 Stars. It successfully reaches the audience it is aiming for, and its minor flaws are more from an adult perspective anticipating what messages he might wish to bestow on a child reading this book.
DISCLOSURE: This book was provided free of charge in return for an honest, unbiased, and prompt review.
The two children in the books title were taken to two specific locations the chocolate factory and the university. (The appendix clarified why these two locations were selected and why they were significant in the city of Dunedin as an adult reading a childrens book, I really appreciated this extra insight. I think a sentence or two in the main text would have been nice, if done in an age-appropriate manner.)
I was a little disappointed by two things. First of all, the life of the factory worker was portrayed as monotonous. This may be a valid point, but I wish the author had counterbalanced the thought by showing why people chose to work there perhaps salary, perhaps it allowed them to live in their preferred location, etc. Alternatively, the author could have told of jobs such as machine maintenance or management where the daily tasks may not be as repetitive. (Given that my family worked in factories when I grew up, I would at least wonder about those things had I read this book in my youth. This may have lead to a household conversation that, given a typical childs lack of tact, could have caused some embarrassment.)
Secondly, given the title, I had expected the book to discuss a little more about potential careers. Laborer at the Chocolate Factory and University Student were the only two explored, although others were referenced. It is true that these were specifically tied to important sites in Dunedin, but Im sure there are others in that city, such as the doctor and fireman mentioned by other children early in the narrative.
Overall, it was a nice easy-to-read story that Im sure will appeal to its target audience. The accompanying artwork each page is illustrated is well done in a style that appears childlike but with some adult sensitivities towards perspective and dimension that demonstrate an accomplished artist is really behind the work.
RATING: 4 Stars. It successfully reaches the audience it is aiming for, and its minor flaws are more from an adult perspective anticipating what messages he might wish to bestow on a child reading this book.
DISCLOSURE: This book was provided free of charge in return for an honest, unbiased, and prompt review.
