Book: "Night Job"
This book, “Night Job” by Karen Hesse and illustrated by Brian Karas, provides a unique perspective on work and how it relates to raising a family. I haven’t yet come across a children’s book that gives this feeling of work— work that is not glamorous but commonplace and yet crucial, invisible yet grueling— and does it not in service of promoting the work, but rather the worker as a parent.
In the story, a father and son ride a motorcycle across the city as the sun sets, arriving at a school to open the door and begin the night. The dad is a custodian, and without any pomp he begins his nightly work cleaning floors, emptying bins, sweeping. Meanwhile, the boy shoots hoops in the gym, eats snacks, and pitches in to help his dad.
The book casts no aspersions on the custodial career, but neither does it glorify it— it is just something that is done honestly every night. The boy has no trouble understanding what it is his dad does, nor any problem with helping. I wish I found more books like this.
In terms of readability, black text on white/light gray background is easy to read in any light, there are no speech bubbles to bounce around between, and the meter has a good rhythm. It is an exceptionally smooth book, but offers opportunities for a lively reading. The motorcycle bits are particularly ripe for loud and funny noises.
I recommend it.