Laura Driscoll

Look up at the sky! If you have ever watched an airplane soaring through the clouds and thought you might want to fly one someday, this is the perfect story for you. Flying airplanes is an exciting job, and there are many different ways to do it. When a young child visits the Air Fair with Aunt Ro, they meet amazing people who fly all kinds of machines. You will discover that pilots do not just fly huge passenger jets. Some fly seaplanes that land on the water, some steer hot air balloons, and others zoom through the air in giant cargo planes. Step behind the scenes and find out what it takes to do this important job. Explore the world of aviation and see how pilots help our communities.

Hear the sirens ringing? If you have ever dreamed of riding in a big red fire engine and helping people stay safe, this is the perfect story for you. When special visitors from Fire District 1 arrive at school for Fire Safety Day, a young student and their brother realize they both want to be firefighters when they grow up. But there is a big question: what kind of firefighter should they be? You will learn that firefighters do much more than just spray water on burning houses. Some highly trained firefighters battle massive wildfires in the forest, while others work at busy airports to help with airplane emergencies. There are even clever firefighters who investigate how a blaze started in the first place. Step behind the scenes and meet the brave men and women who protect our towns. This exciting look at community helpers proves there are many amazing ways to save the day.

Do you love figuring out how things work and dreaming up new ideas? If you want to build the future, stepping into the shoes of an engineer is a fantastic place to start. When a young child's big brother goes off to school for engineering, they discover that building bridges and designing giant rockets are just the beginning. You will be amazed to learn about the huge variety of engineering jobs out there. Environmental engineers find clever ways to keep our planet clean, plumbing engineers design complex water systems for big cities, and robotic engineers create incredible machines that can move and think. This engaging look behind the scenes introduces you to the brilliant problem solvers who help our communities run smoothly. Explore the exciting world of design and invention, and see if you might want to become an amazing engineer, too.

Do you love animals and want to help them feel their absolute best? If you dream of taking care of furry, scaly, or feathered friends, you might make a fantastic veterinarian one day. When a young child and their father bring their dog, Gus, into the clinic for his check-up, they get a fascinating peek behind the scenes of an animal hospital. They quickly discover that being a pet vet is just one way to do this important job. Some veterinarians travel to farms to work with massive cows and horses, while others work in zoos or nature reserves to heal exotic, wild animals. Step into the examining room and learn all about the caring doctors who treat sick and injured creatures. Discover the tools they use and the big responsibilities they have in keeping animals happy and healthy in our communities.

Do you love learning new things and helping others understand the world around them? If you have ever thought about becoming a teacher when you grow up, this story will show you just how exciting the job can be. When a young child's family brings home an energetic new puppy, they head to a special training class. There, they realize that teaching is not something that only happens in a regular classroom. You will discover that there are teachers for almost everything you can imagine. Some teachers help dogs learn to sit and stay, some dive into the pool to teach kids how to swim, and others show students how to play beautiful music on instruments. Take a gentle look behind the scenes and meet the wonderful people who guide us every day. See how many incredible ways there are to share knowledge and support our community.

Do you want to help people feel their best? If you dream of wearing a white coat and taking care of those who are sick or hurt, stepping into the shoes of a doctor might be the perfect path for you. When little brother Jack accidentally hurts his foot, his family heads to the hospital and meets all kinds of amazing medical professionals. You will quickly discover that being a doctor means much more than just checking heartbeats. There are special doctors who focus entirely on healing broken bones, clever doctors who help fix smiles and teeth, and dedicated doctors who solve microscopic mysteries inside busy laboratories. Take a gentle, behind-the-scenes look at the people who keep us healthy. Learn about the special tools they use and see how these caring community helpers work hard to heal their patients every single day.

Do you love being outside in the fresh air and learning where our food comes from? If you have a green thumb or love taking care of animals, you might want to be a farmer when you grow up. When a curious daughter visits the exciting State Fair with her dad, they take a walk through the bustling stalls and meet all kinds of incredible agricultural workers. You will discover that farming is a huge job with many different paths. You can meet grain farmers who grow tall fields of wheat, dairy farmers who take care of gentle cows, and even specialized beekeepers who harvest sweet honey. There are also farmers who grow colorful flowers, raise fluffy alpacas, and harvest delicious fruits. Explore the diverse careers in agriculture and see how these hardworking community helpers protect the environment and provide the food we eat every day.

Grab your paintbrushes and let your imagination soar! If you love drawing, creating, and making the world a more colorful place, you might want to be a professional artist when you grow up. When a curious grandchild heads out for a fun day with Papa, they visit bustling art shows and messy workspaces. Along the way, they discover that there are so many unique ways to build a career in the arts. You will meet sculptors who shape heavy clay, graphic designers who create cool digital logos, and animators who bring your favorite cartoons to life on the screen. There are even muralists who paint giant pictures on the sides of buildings! Take a creative journey behind the scenes to meet these talented community helpers. Explore the tools they use and find out how artists share their beautiful visions with everyone around them.

Do you love asking big questions about how the universe works? If you are always observing the world around you and searching for answers, you already think like a scientist! Take an exciting trip on a research boat to the icy North Pole and get an accessible, child's-eye view of incredible STEM careers. You will quickly discover that being a scientist means doing all sorts of fascinating jobs. You could become a marine biologist studying whales in the ocean, an astronomer searching for new planets in the night sky, or a seismologist tracking powerful earthquakes under the ground. You might even want to be a zoologist working closely with wild animals. Step into the lab and head out into the field with these amazing community helpers. Learn about the important research they do to protect our planet and keep everyone safe and healthy.