POLICE OFFICER

Exactly what do police officers do?

This latest installment in the Canadian author-illustrator team’s Busy People series focuses on a day in the life of a police officer. Officer Seth, who is black, and his partner, Officer Thea, who is white, set out to fulfill their mission of protecting people by patrolling the grounds of a fun-filled festival. There is much work to be done (testing out their equipment, providing directions, freeing a car that is stuck in the mud, keeping a path clear), but the most pressing task is helping a little lost white boy find his parents. Intended to inspire trust and respect, the story focuses on the helpful, friendly nature of its two heroes. Straightforward, informative text peppered with dialogue provides general description, while the colorful cartoon pictures provide an appropriate amount of detail and include a realistically racially diverse population. Consistent with other books in the series, the backmatter contains details regarding associated occupations as well as the tools and other tasks of a police officer and follow-up questions.

A good, general description of the job and a nice choice for early units of study involving occupations and the community