What do you think?
Rate this book
Mrs. Madoff's Class
Career Day: A Classic Picture Book About Work and Community for Kids
A picture book classic from mom-and-daughter creators Anne and Lizzy Rockwell—helping kids begin to explore careers. On Career Day the children in Mrs. Madoff's class take turns introducing special visitors. Every visitor has something interesting to share, and together the class learns all about the different work people do, from writing books, to working in construction to being a veterinarian. In the fourth Mrs. Madoff book, Anne and Lizzy Rockwell revisit Mrs. Madoff's class as they help young readers explore the question "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
40 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2014
5 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Read
December 3, 2019Text to teaching
The book "Career Day" could be used for numerous activities in a classroom setting. This book could preempt having guest speakers talk about their occupations to the class. It could also be used as a tool to introduce gender rights to a class such as there are male nurses, female truck drivers, female construction workers and other types of jobs that are thought of as mainly for a specific sex. Another activity that could be used with this book is having students discuss their ambitions when they grow up and explore the similarities and differences in their choices.
The book "Career Day" could be used for numerous activities in a classroom setting. This book could preempt having guest speakers talk about their occupations to the class. It could also be used as a tool to introduce gender rights to a class such as there are male nurses, female truck drivers, female construction workers and other types of jobs that are thought of as mainly for a specific sex. Another activity that could be used with this book is having students discuss their ambitions when they grow up and explore the similarities and differences in their choices.
Read
December 5, 2017Text-To-World
The cute community helper book, “Career Day,” by Anne Rockwell is a colorful book about what children want to be when they grow up. Many books are written today about community helpers and career based children’s books, but this one connects the children to their parents. Most books I have read connects the children to the careers and not necessarily their parent’s and their jobs. I would use this book in my classroom during our thematic unit on community helpers. Also, I would ask for parent volunteers to come in and share their daily activities for duties and responsibilities for their job. I would then ask the students to create on writing/drawing paper what they want to be. The writing assignment would be hung in the hallway so their peers could see their work.
The cute community helper book, “Career Day,” by Anne Rockwell is a colorful book about what children want to be when they grow up. Many books are written today about community helpers and career based children’s books, but this one connects the children to their parents. Most books I have read connects the children to the careers and not necessarily their parent’s and their jobs. I would use this book in my classroom during our thematic unit on community helpers. Also, I would ask for parent volunteers to come in and share their daily activities for duties and responsibilities for their job. I would then ask the students to create on writing/drawing paper what they want to be. The writing assignment would be hung in the hallway so their peers could see their work.
Read
June 9, 2017Opening Narrative:
We have been learning about different community helpers and community places where we live. Today I have a story about students just like you that are having special visitors come to their classrooms to talk about the special jobs they do. These special visitors might be moms, dads, grandparents, or teachers! Who can tell me about the jobs of your moms, dads or grandparents? (Have each student share the career of someone they know.) Thank you for sharing! Let's begin reading. As I read today, let's listen for all of the different types of jobs these workers do in their community. Let's also think about where these people may work.
Opening Moves:
Activate Background Knowledge
Invite Personal Connections
Prompt Listeners to Notice Details
Rationale:
I would use this book at the beginning of my community helpers unit. Students would have recently learned about the various types of community helpers, and this book would help to reiterate these vocabulary words. This book would also lead students into discussing what they want to be when they grow up.
References:
Pinnell, G.S., & Fountas, I.C. (2006)Engaging readers in thinking and talking about texts through interactive read aloud. Teaching for comprehending and fluency: Thinking, Talking, and writing about reading, k-8. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Publishing.
We have been learning about different community helpers and community places where we live. Today I have a story about students just like you that are having special visitors come to their classrooms to talk about the special jobs they do. These special visitors might be moms, dads, grandparents, or teachers! Who can tell me about the jobs of your moms, dads or grandparents? (Have each student share the career of someone they know.) Thank you for sharing! Let's begin reading. As I read today, let's listen for all of the different types of jobs these workers do in their community. Let's also think about where these people may work.
Opening Moves:
Activate Background Knowledge
Invite Personal Connections
Prompt Listeners to Notice Details
Rationale:
I would use this book at the beginning of my community helpers unit. Students would have recently learned about the various types of community helpers, and this book would help to reiterate these vocabulary words. This book would also lead students into discussing what they want to be when they grow up.
References:
Pinnell, G.S., & Fountas, I.C. (2006)Engaging readers in thinking and talking about texts through interactive read aloud. Teaching for comprehending and fluency: Thinking, Talking, and writing about reading, k-8. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Publishing.
February 23, 2020
This book was really good. I think that if I were to have career day in my classroom I would read this book earlier during the week, and then throughout the week incorporate other career books. Along with incorporating other career books I would have my students do various assignments over different careers throughout the week. At the end of the week we would have guest as shown in the book come into our classroom and explain the importance of their job. I would also like my students to create a book on if they could have any job what would it be, and the type of work you would do within your job.
January 29, 2019
I liked this book a lot because it shines light on various different professions that parents have. It has the ability to spark interest in children to make them wonder what they will be when they grow up. Illustrations are also used to show the readers what a day in different professions would look like. Some children may have parents in these same professions which would allow for this book to really hit home for them.
April 15, 2020
Great book for learning about different community helpers and community places where we live, various jobs that people have, or what do you want to be in the future. The book has a rich vocabulary. It is a good book to use to show children how to be confident when talking or during show and tell. And of course, this is a good book to use to get children ready for career day. Illustrations are bright and colorful.
March 9, 2021
I read this book to my class to prepare them for career day as most of my students did not know what career day was and only a few actually knew what a career was. The book was great for introducing different careers but it actually gets boring. Half way through I had them guess the careers so that I didn’t lose their attention! I will still be using this book as a way to understand what career day is.
October 3, 2018
My class loved this intro to thinking about the grownups around us and the work that they do. There was a nice variety of career choices without going into too much detail. The most lovely part of reading this with my class was the open discussion about what we thought the person did for their work during the day.
April 5, 2018
I give this book 5 stars because it is well written with great illustrations. It also teaches kids about different career paths they can choose when they grow up. I chose this book because it is interactive and teaches kids how to be an active part of society.
Read
May 5, 2023My personal reaction to this book was how cute it was. This is a book I would recommend to a younger audience such as 2nd grade and under. This I feel would be a really good educational book. To teach younger kids about the adult world.
April 2, 2024
Intended Audience: The intended audience for this book is ages 4-8 years old.
Key Themes & Topics: In this book, Mrs. Madoff's class takes turns introducing special visitors. Every visitor has something interesting to share and the class learns about the different work people do.
Why This Book: I think this book is a great book for young children because it introduces some of the careers that people have. I think this book gives them the idea that they can be anything they want to be as long as they put their mind to it. I think this also shows them that people do all sorts of jobs and every job is okay! Some people talk down on certain jobs, but as long as you are happy doing what you love no one's opinion matters.
Key Themes & Topics: In this book, Mrs. Madoff's class takes turns introducing special visitors. Every visitor has something interesting to share and the class learns about the different work people do.
Why This Book: I think this book is a great book for young children because it introduces some of the careers that people have. I think this book gives them the idea that they can be anything they want to be as long as they put their mind to it. I think this also shows them that people do all sorts of jobs and every job is okay! Some people talk down on certain jobs, but as long as you are happy doing what you love no one's opinion matters.
February 28, 2017
Should work well for a 'jobs' story time!
August 25, 2017
One classroom has decided to bring in someone special and tell all about the persons careers. Nice introduction to a variety of careers. Preschool and up for length
April 15, 2020
I like how colorful this book is. I also like how this teaches children about different careers. I would read this book and invite guest speakers to talk about their jobs to the children.
August 21, 2020
Book was informative when discussing various occupations. More geared for ages 4 and older.
Read
December 2, 2021I enjoyed reading this book. Each page had a different parents explain what their career is. I feel like this book will keep children attention.
December 5, 2022
This book shines a light on various different professions that parents have. Gives a spark of interest to students who wonder what they want to be when they grown up.
December 7, 2022
Key words: Realistic fiction, careers, discovery, interest, playful, importance of having a job.
April 5, 2023
It's career day at school, and the kids bring in all different kinds of workers.
October 5, 2016
Mrs. Madoff's class has a lot of special visitors on career day. Everyone has brought in a guest to tell about his or her job. Pablo's dad, Mr. Lopez, is a construction worker who drives a bulldozer. Kate's father is a bass player in an orchestra and also a stay at home dad. Sarah's grandmother is the school crossing guard. As the children hear each guests's presentation, they wonder what they might be when they grow up.
The story opens with two students, Sarah and Pablo, standing next to a big red chair. This chair becomes the central focus of the verso side of each page, as the visiting adults sit in it with their students and introduce themselves to the class. Each recto page then shows a scene of the adult doing his or her job, giving the reader a better understanding of that career.
This book is the fourth in the series that includes several other titles by Anne Rockwell and Lizzy Rockwell. I haven't read the others very carefully, but this volume has a lot of really great strengths. Though there are few pages actually focused on the classroom, the pages that depict that environment are rich with details schoolkids will recognize from their own lives. My favorite is the job chart that appears on the second page of the book, showing each child's name and a little white card indicating the job they are currently assigned. I also liked seeing the blocks and toy people from that page reappear in various parts of the room on the two-page spread at the end where all the adults and kids interact together.
Another strong point of this book is the diversity of the cast of characters. The kids are not just racially diverse, but their parents work in a variety of career fields. Each figure's face is unique and has attributes that cause that character to stand out from the others. Right down to their clothes and accessories, these characters have their own personalities and styles, which makes the entire classroom come to life on the page. Even the way the kids sit or crouch on the floor tells something about them.
And most important is the content. There are a lot of books for kids about jobs and careers, but this one is especially well-done. It covers a spectrum of careers, from crossing guard and garbage truck driver to veterinarian and paleontologist, and portrays each one as an important contribution to the community. Reading this book will show kids that the adults in their own lives do interesting things during the day, and that the work they do now, whatever it is, will someday prepare them to do those things, too.
I look forward to using this book in a community helpers story time for preschoolers, and I'm also glad to have it in my library collection to recommend to parents and teachers who want stories about careers, and not just informational books.
The story opens with two students, Sarah and Pablo, standing next to a big red chair. This chair becomes the central focus of the verso side of each page, as the visiting adults sit in it with their students and introduce themselves to the class. Each recto page then shows a scene of the adult doing his or her job, giving the reader a better understanding of that career.
This book is the fourth in the series that includes several other titles by Anne Rockwell and Lizzy Rockwell. I haven't read the others very carefully, but this volume has a lot of really great strengths. Though there are few pages actually focused on the classroom, the pages that depict that environment are rich with details schoolkids will recognize from their own lives. My favorite is the job chart that appears on the second page of the book, showing each child's name and a little white card indicating the job they are currently assigned. I also liked seeing the blocks and toy people from that page reappear in various parts of the room on the two-page spread at the end where all the adults and kids interact together.
Another strong point of this book is the diversity of the cast of characters. The kids are not just racially diverse, but their parents work in a variety of career fields. Each figure's face is unique and has attributes that cause that character to stand out from the others. Right down to their clothes and accessories, these characters have their own personalities and styles, which makes the entire classroom come to life on the page. Even the way the kids sit or crouch on the floor tells something about them.
And most important is the content. There are a lot of books for kids about jobs and careers, but this one is especially well-done. It covers a spectrum of careers, from crossing guard and garbage truck driver to veterinarian and paleontologist, and portrays each one as an important contribution to the community. Reading this book will show kids that the adults in their own lives do interesting things during the day, and that the work they do now, whatever it is, will someday prepare them to do those things, too.
I look forward to using this book in a community helpers story time for preschoolers, and I'm also glad to have it in my library collection to recommend to parents and teachers who want stories about careers, and not just informational books.
December 4, 2023
Realistic-fiction, career, school
October 8, 2019
This book summarized careers that could possibly be in your community. It listed many jobs adults may have and how they help people in the town they live in. This book is great because it has great illustrations for young readers to predict what the job may be without even reading the book yet. It has great colors and detailed drawings so students can relate to the job the book is explaining. I think a great teaching tool would be when you are discussing community helpers in your class. This books gives great examples of what each job does and how they work.
March 24, 2015
This would be a great book, if the class was doing a career day. I would help explain to the students that all jobs are important to make this world run. I would also be a good book, if the class was studying about different occupations. In this book, it has people from the following careers: bulldozer driver, a judge, a musician, an author, a paleontologist, a crossing guard, a nurse, a veterinarian, sanitation truck driver, a carpenter, a manager at a grocery store, and a professor. I thought that it was neat that the kids asked about a teacher (grown-up) being taught by a teacher.
November 22, 2009
This is a fun book about Career Day at school. Each student (as well as the teacher) brings in a special guest who discusses their career and how it helps people. It's a nice tale and every class should be so fortunate to have such an interesting variety of careers to learn about from the people who are doing them. Our girls really enjoyed this story and we had a good discussion afterward about what career they wanted to pursue when they grow up.
April 24, 2011
This is a great book for teachers to use when teaching about career applications. I read this to my kindergarteners for a read-aloud and they really enjoyed it. After reading it the kids were very excited to discuss what they want to be when they grow up. We did an assignment that allowed them to draw a picture of what the want to be to share with their parents. -Also would be great to read and have parents come into the class to share about their careers.
September 16, 2012
I rated this book a 5, i thought this book was a great book it taught kids about different careers and what they could possibly be when they grew up. I thought this book would be a great story for first and second graders and you could ty in a lesson plan about what they wanted to be when they grow up.
March 28, 2012
Career day is a great book where the students are having a career day. At the career day, each student's parents share what they do in the community and the different aspects of their jobs. This books gives children a good idea of what different people do.
May 14, 2009
Another great "Whatcha going to be when you grow up?" book!
July 6, 2010
Each child in Mrs. Madoff's class brings a visitor who tells the group about his or her job. www.hcpl.net
Love Mrs. Madoff's classroom!
Love Mrs. Madoff's classroom!
December 5, 2010
A book about a class who introduces their parents and their professions.
This book could lead into a lesson about what children want to be when they grow up.
This book could lead into a lesson about what children want to be when they grow up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews