How to Be a Vet and Other Animal Jobs
How To Be A... Series
What’s inside...
A friendly and fascinating book about how to work with animals, for children from 6+, written by vet and CBeebies presenter Dr. Jess French. Do you have what it takes to become a vet, a horse trainer, or to work at a nature reserve? Find out all about the incredible animal jobs you could do, from training to becoming an animal behaviorist or a wildlife rehabilitator to working at a zoo or even becoming a bug wrangler! This fully illustrated book will inspire any child with an interest in animals. 'How to Be a Vet' is the first in the 'How to Be a…' series, authored exclusively by women, which explores a wide range of careers for young readers to aspire to.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-10
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think is the most exciting part about being a vet?
Which animal job would you choose if you could, and why?
How do you think vets help animals and people?
What qualities do you think are important for someone who works with animals?
If you could ask a vet any question, what would it be?
Tip: Role play these questions
Create a comfortable reading nook and explore the book together, letting your child lead the discussion.
Use a world map to locate different places where the featured animal jobs are practiced to add a geographical learning layer.
Encourage your child to draw or describe their ideal animal job and discuss the responsibilities it would involve.
After reading, watch a documentary or video related to one of the animal jobs discussed to see real-life examples.
Reinforce empathy by discussing how taking care of animals can also affect people's lives and the environment.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy towards animals
Explanation: Through various stories of veterinarians and animal caregivers, the book demonstrates the importance of treating animals with kindness and understanding their needs.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by caring for pets at home or observing and respecting wild animals in their natural environments.
Example Lesson: Importance of education
Explanation: The book outlines the different educational paths one can take to work with animals, emphasizing the role of learning in achieving career goals.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to value their schooling and see it as a stepping stone towards achieving their own career dreams, especially if they involve working with animals.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Profiles of animal jobs highlight tasks such as feeding, treating, and caring for animals, teaching children about the responsibilities involved in these roles.
Real-World Application: Kids can take on more responsibilities at home, such as feeding or walking the family pet, to develop a sense of duty and caretaking.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: The book shows how vets often work in teams with other professionals to care for animals, illustrating the importance of collaboration.
Real-World Application: Children learn to work cooperatively in group settings, whether in school projects or in team sports, understanding that teamwork can achieve greater results.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: It discusses complex situations animal professionals encounter, such as diagnosing an illness, requiring critical and creative thinking.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be applied when children face challenges in their own lives, encouraging them to think critically and creatively to find solutions.