Customer Reviews

How to Get a Job...by Me, the Boss (How To Series)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Boss is ready to give us some well thought out advice on how to get a job. OK, so the Boss might not even be out of first grade yet, but she definitely knows what she's talking about. She knows the definition of a job, "A Job is so you can have something to do and get money for your family. And sometimes a Job is so you can get all dressed up and wear your new shoes to work." She knows what isn't a Job: "Sitting in you chair eating cookies (school is a sort of job because you do homework. Except they don't pay you ANY MONEY.)" She also has plenty of hilarious advice as to the jobs you could have when you grow up: a Super-Ballerina-Soccer-Mermaid-Fairy Princess, a Cowboy or Explorer and even a Penguin "but that's just silly." "Except you shouldn't be a Robber. It's not allowed." The most important advice the Boss has though, is to do something that you love and "something you're GOOD at or no one will want you to do it for them."
If I tried to describe all the parts I liked of How to Get a Job...by Me, the Boss, this will be a very long blog entry. My favorite, and I know I'm being bias here, is the Boss's description of the job of a teacher:

If you are a Teacher,
first you need to find some kids
and make them all come to your School
and Behave.
[...]
Teachers MUST know all the answers
and how to be NOT BORING.

How to Get a Job...by Me, the Boss is delightful, clever and funny. It's a great classroom read-aloud with great vocabulary and hilarious illustrations. I can't wait to check out the other books in this series.

The third in a series of fun books narrated by a know-it-all little girl, How to Get a Job... by Me, the Boss is child's eye view on the process of employment. From brainstorming about what you'd like to be to the practical steps to get there, it's all covered in this volume. Both my seven-year-old and five-year-old really enjoyed it. We have read the other books in the series, so they were familiar with the concept, lots of insight wrapped in wit and child-like goofiness.

The girls comprehended enough to laugh at all the right places and to ask good questions. However, the ground covered was more complex than How to Be a Baby . . . by Me, the Big Sister (How To Series) and How to Get Married ... by Me, the Bride (How To Series) so I am not sure it will be as easily comprehended by preschoolers as those are, but now my kids know about resumes!

Both my girls are very interested in art, and they loved Sue Heap's illustrations. My eldest spent a while studying to try to decide what mediums she used (Publisher's Weekly says crayon and acrylic paint.) Of course, this is great fodder for talking about what kids want to be when they grow up, and the steps it will take to get there. Sally Lloyd-Jones is a great storyteller, and we are all glad when we share her gifts together. We've read this several times already and I'm sure we will continue to enjoy it for many years to come.

I gave How to Get a Job to two of my friends as graduation presents, and they loved it. At some point, every kid wants to be the boss. Sally Lloyd-Jones captures the know-it-all, six-year-old we've all been, the crazy career aspirations we've all had, and the playroom good times we all miss. Great for kids and adults.

We were fortunate enough to have Ms. Lloyd Jones come share an advanced copy of this book with our Kindergarten class recently. She read it to the students and had a Q and A session afterward. While the children all were delighted by the story, the teachers in the room were just as enchanted. We were deeply moved by some of the more poignant moments and then laughing out loud at other portions. This is not just a children's book!

The illustrations complement her honest, dry wit and her sharp insights perfectly. We all hope that you, with or without small children, enjoy it too!

I have often expressed my concern for the lack of career education offered in our schools. We teach our children to read and write, but don't teach them much about choosing a career or getting a job when they graduate. Then along comes How to Get a Job: By Me the Boss. This book introduces the youngest readers to the subject of careers and jobs, in a most adorable, original and entertaining way. Cleverly written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and imaginatively illustrated by Sue Heap, you will love reading this book to your children. It combines pertinent information about specific careers and resume writing with some silly tidbits, supported by darling, colorful illustrations. For example, "If you are Mommy or Daddy first you get some children...You MUST be good at changing diapers and not throw up." Then there's a list of what else you must be good at to be a Mommy or Daddy such as "liking your children more than other people like them."

Go ahead and get this book and read it to your kids, or even to yourself. I promise you'll get a good chuckle, and you'll learn a thing or two, too.

The little, blond pigtailed girl from the cover is the narrator, dispensing advice and providing job descriptions. She kicks it off a with a pretty great definition of job: something you do to get money for your family. Not to mention, a handy place to go when you feel like getting dressed up and have new shoes to show off. Some days, that's a good as reason as any to push yourself out the door.

This book is a cross between silly, childlike suggestions on jobs and some pretty solid advice. When you are just starting out, you are allowed to choose any job you wish. It's a good idea to stick with something you love to do and you are good at. No sense trying to be a world famous chef if you can't even cook cereal. Do you think you might like wearing white coats and giving advice? Be a doctor. If you enjoy bossing others around and handing out projects, might want to consider becoming a teacher.

After you figure out which job you want, the next step is creating the perfect resume. You write down every single thing you excel at, and tell everyone how marvelous you are. Don't stop talking about your greatness until you land a job interview. This is where the boss asks you tons of questions to find out your secrets and hidden talents. Be on your best behavior here - no biting, or sitting in his lap. Then you get the job, work really hard, and become the boss!

The whole book is cute and funny, and probably really close to what children really believe about the workforce. I would imagine readers will pipe up fairly quickly with their own ideas on jobs they are considering and what they entail. If you glean nothing else from this book, at least remember never to take your gerbils on a job interview.