Odd Jobs

March 1, 2018
Grades 4-7 A hamster that hangs out with a snake? Someone who gets paid to hug pandas? It may sound fantastical, but as the Stranger Than Fiction series attests, sometimes the truth is just weird. In short, straightforward sentences geared toward struggling and low-level readers, the series presents a high-interest, easily digestible look at some of the more curious aspects of our world. Strange careers are on display in Odd Jobs, which features the gross (vomit cleaners), the enviable (panda huggers) and the bizarrely boring (paint-drying watchers). The high/low text can sometimes feel extremely abbreviated, and the illustrations consist primarily of stock photos. Still, this is accessible for a wide range of reading levels, the high-interest topics will spur further research, and questions at the end of each volume prompt further thought.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)