I Want to Be a Scientist

K-Gr 2–This early reader opens with a young person who uses crutches accompanying their mom on a research trip to the North Pole. The main character invites readers along on this trip and explains different practices of research scientists. “Like all scientists, they watch, listen, and collect facts. They test ideas to see if they are right. Some scientists try to find the cause of a problem. Some of them try to solve problems. All scientists want to learn more about our world.” Digital illustrations look like watercolors, showcasing the artist’s style with shadow, texture, and depth. The characters are racially diverse and there is inclusion of disability but not much variation of body type. Driscoll distills complicated ideas about science professions into simple sentences for understanding and readability. The “I Can Read My Community” series explores professions such as engineer, firefighter, and veterinarian.